Good morning
We have recently received a number of customer emails and MyHome/website regarding the year‑end adjustment. I wanted to set out the position clearly so that your members have the correct information and can avoid any credit‑control fees or referrals to external collection agencies.
We have now completed our responses to all queries raised regarding the 2023/24 and 2024/25 accounts, including those relating to CHP performance, allocation of shared costs, developer contributions and associated expenditure. Any required financial adjustments (including the revised 37/63% allocation and corrections identified during the review) will be incorporated into the audited year‑end accounts for the financial year ending 31 March 2026. This ensures all amendments are made consistently, transparently and in line with the requirements of your lease.
Under the terms of the lease, all residents must pay the Maintenance Charge and Local Service Charge “without any deduction (whether by way of set off lien charge or otherwise)” (Third Schedule, clause 1(a)(i)). The lease requires payment of the demanded sums, and any adjustments or credits identified through the formal accounting process will be issued via the certified year‑end accounts, as set out in the Sixth Schedule (clause 3). The lease does not allow withholding of payments while accounting queries are being examined, particularly where the mechanism for adjustments is clearly defined.
The temporary pause on credit control was applied previously to allow time to respond to queries, obtain clarifications and ensure the accounting position was fully reviewed. As adjustments will be made through the audited accounts to 31 March 2026, there is no requirement to pause billing. All outstanding amounts, including year‑end adjustments, are therefore now payable in full. Any credits due will be reflected in the audited accounts and applied accordingly.
We appreciate your engagement during this process and confirm that all queries raised have now been addressed through the appropriate channels. Please ensure payment of the outstanding amounts to avoid interest or recovery procedures, as required under the lease (Third Schedule, clause 1(a)(ii)).
I’m sorry if this comes across as unsympathetic, that is not our intention. We have been fully engaged with our customers, Taylor Wimpey and the MP’s office. We welcome a meeting to response matters amicably once a date is agreed. We simply need to ensure we can continue to maintain and manage the development without interruption and in accordance with the lease.
If further updates arise during finalisation of the 2025/26 year‑end accounts, we will provide them to your directly or via MyHome.
Kind Regards
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Good morning
We have recently received a number of customer emails and MyHome/website regarding the year‑end adjustment. I wanted to set out the position clearly so that your members have the correct information and can avoid any credit‑control fees or referrals to external collection agencies.
We have now completed our responses to all queries raised regarding the 2023/24 and 2024/25 accounts, including those relating to CHP performance, allocation of shared costs, developer contributions and associated expenditure. Any required financial adjustments (including the revised 37/63% allocation and corrections identified during the review) will be incorporated into the audited year‑end accounts for the financial year ending 31 March 2026. This ensures all amendments are made consistently, transparently and in line with the requirements of your lease.
Under the terms of the lease, all residents must pay the Maintenance Charge and Local Service Charge “without any deduction (whether by way of set off lien charge or otherwise)” (Third Schedule, clause 1(a)(i)). The lease requires payment of the demanded sums, and any adjustments or credits identified through the formal accounting process will be issued via the certified year‑end accounts, as set out in the Sixth Schedule (clause 3). The lease does not allow withholding of payments while accounting queries are being examined, particularly where the mechanism for adjustments is clearly defined.
The temporary pause on credit control was applied previously to allow time to respond to queries, obtain clarifications and ensure the accounting position was fully reviewed. As adjustments will be made through the audited accounts to 31 March 2026, there is no requirement to pause billing. All outstanding amounts, including year‑end adjustments, are therefore now payable in full. Any credits due will be reflected in the audited accounts and applied accordingly.
We appreciate your engagement during this process and confirm that all queries raised have now been addressed through the appropriate channels. Please ensure payment of the outstanding amounts to avoid interest or recovery procedures, as required under the lease (Third Schedule, clause 1(a)(ii)).
I’m sorry if this comes across as unsympathetic, that is not our intention. We have been fully engaged with our customers, Taylor Wimpey and the MP’s office. We welcome a meeting to response matters amicably once a date is agreed. We simply need to ensure we can continue to maintain and manage the development without interruption and in accordance with the lease.
If further updates arise during finalisation of the 2025/26 year‑end accounts, we will provide them to your directly or via MyHome.
Kind Regards
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
The RTA does not accept that the issues raised in relation to the 2023/24 and 2024/25 accounts have been resolved. The historic 50/50 allocation, the subsequent 37/63 revision, developer contributions and associated expenditure remain disputed. In our view, leaseholders have been asked to fund sums that are subject to material challenge and may in fact represent overpayments.
Members are understandably concerned about the threat of further administration charges, interest and referral to recovery agents. In order to prevent escalation, some leaseholders are prepared to make payment of the demanded year-end adjustment sums.
For the avoidance of doubt, any such payments will be made strictly under protest and without prejudice to leaseholders’ rights. Payment does not amount to acceptance that the charges are properly due, reasonably incurred or correctly apportioned. All rights to challenge the sums, their allocation and recoverability are expressly reserved.
We require written confirmation that:
• All credit-control, administration and penalty fees applied during the disputed period (including, but not limited to, the £90 and £95 charges currently appearing on accounts) will be removed in full and without delay; and
• No further administration, interest or recovery fees will be added in respect of these disputed adjustments.
To be clear, any payments made by leaseholders will exclude all administration, penalty or interest charges incurred during the period in which the accounts were under legitimate dispute. Leaseholders will not fund fees arising solely from the exercise of their statutory and contractual rights to query and inspect service charge accounts.
The previous pause on credit control was implemented because substantive accounting issues were under review. It would be unreasonable to reinstate penalties now, particularly where the underlying sums remain contested.
We remain willing to meet and resolve matters constructively (proposal of any date from 19 March was sent to Dan Tomlinson). However, we will not accept the imposition of further fees in circumstances where the core accounting issues remain disputed.
Please confirm removal of all disputed-period fees and the position on future charges in writing.
[Name]
On behalf of the RTA
Proposed reply:
Hi BethThank you for your email.
The RTA does not accept that the issues raised in relation to the 2023/24 and 2024/25 accounts have been resolved. The historic 50/50 allocation, the subsequent 37/63 revision, developer contributions and associated expenditure remain disputed. In our view, leaseholders have been asked to fund sums that are potentially subject to material challenge legally and may in fact represent overpayments.
Members are understandably concerned about the threat of further administration charges, interest and referral to recovery agents. In order to prevent escalation, some leaseholders have made, or are prepared to make payment of the demanded year-end adjustment sums.
For the avoidance of doubt, any such payments are
will bemade strictly under protest and without prejudice to leaseholders’ rights. Payment does not amount to acceptance that the charges are properly due, reasonably incurred or correctly apportioned. All rights to challenge the sums, their allocation and recoverability are expressly reserved.
Kind regardsAbbey
To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rtahdd5759-committee/1216942384.6547911.1772472905282%40mail.yahoo.com.
Hi Beth
Thank you for your email.
The RTA does not accept that the issues raised in relation to the 2023/24 and 2024/25 accounts have been resolved. The historic 50/50 allocation, the subsequent 37/63 revision, developer contributions and associated expenditure remain disputed. In our view, leaseholders have been asked to fund sums that are potentially subject to material challenge legally and may in fact represent overpayments.
Members are understandably concerned about the threat of further administration charges, interest and referral to recovery agents. In order to prevent escalation, some leaseholders have made, or are prepared to make payment of the demanded year-end adjustment sums.
For the avoidance of doubt, any such payments are made strictly under protest and without prejudice to leaseholders’ rights. Payment does not amount to acceptance that the charges are properly due, reasonably incurred or correctly apportioned. All rights to challenge the sums, their allocation and recoverability are expressly reserved.
We require written confirmation that:
· All credit-control, administration and penalty fees applied during the disputed period (including, but not limited to, the £90 and £95 charges currently appearing on accounts) will be removed in full and without delay; and
· No further administration, interest or recovery fees will be added in respect of these disputed adjustments.
To be clear, any payments made by leaseholders will exclude all administration, penalty or interest charges incurred during the period in which the accounts were under legitimate dispute. Leaseholders will not fund fees arising solely from the exercise of their statutory and contractual rights to query and inspect service charge accounts.
The previous pause on credit control was implemented because substantive accounting issues were under review. It would be unreasonable to reinstate penalties now, particularly where the underlying sums remain contested.
Compliance with the lease cannot operate in only one direction. Leaseholders continue to experience service deficiencies and limited communication, including on urgent and security-related matters. Obligations under the lease apply equally in respect of proper service provision and transparent accounting.
We remain willing to meet and resolve matters constructively (proposal of any date from 19 March was sent to Dan Tomlinson). However, we will not accept the imposition of further fees in circumstances where the core accounting issues remain disputed.
Please confirm removal of all disputed-period fees and the position on future charges in writing.
Good morning
We have recently received a number of customer emails and MyHome/website regarding the year‑end adjustment. I wanted to set out the position clearly so that your members have the correct information and can avoid any credit‑control fees or referrals to external collection agencies.
We have now completed our responses to all queries raised regarding the 2023/24 and 2024/25 accounts, including those relating to CHP performance, allocation of shared costs, developer contributions and associated expenditure. Any required financial adjustments (including the revised 37/63% allocation and corrections identified during the review) will be incorporated into the audited year‑end accounts for the financial year ending 31 March 2026. This ensures all amendments are made consistently, transparently and in line with the requirements of your lease.
Under the terms of the lease, all residents must pay the Maintenance Charge and Local Service Charge “without any deduction (whether by way of set off lien charge or otherwise)” (Third Schedule, clause 1(a)(i)). The lease requires payment of the demanded sums, and any adjustments or credits identified through the formal accounting process will be issued via the certified year‑end accounts, as set out in the Sixth Schedule (clause 3). The lease does not allow withholding of payments while accounting queries are being examined, particularly where the mechanism for adjustments is clearly defined.
The temporary pause on credit control was applied previously to allow time to respond to queries, obtain clarifications and ensure the accounting position was fully reviewed. As adjustments will be made through the audited accounts to 31 March 2026, there is no requirement to pause billing. All outstanding amounts, including year‑end adjustments, are therefore now payable in full. Any credits due will be reflected in the audited accounts and applied accordingly.
We appreciate your engagement during this process and confirm that all queries raised have now been addressed through the appropriate channels. Please ensure payment of the outstanding amounts to avoid interest or recovery procedures, as required under the lease (Third Schedule, clause 1(a)(ii)).
I’m sorry if this comes across as unsympathetic, that is not our intention. We have been fully engaged with our customers, Taylor Wimpey and the MP’s office. We welcome a meeting to response matters amicably once a date is agreed. We simply need to ensure we can continue to maintain and manage the development without interruption and in accordance with the lease.
If further updates arise during finalisation of the 2025/26 year‑end accounts, we will provide them to your directly or via MyHome.
Kind Regards
|
| |||||||||
Proposed reply:
Hi BethThank you for your email.
The RTA does not accept that the issues raised in relation to the 2023/24 and 2024/25 accounts have been resolved. The historic 50/50 allocation, the subsequent 37/63 revision, developer contributions and associated expenditure remain disputed. In our view, leaseholders have been asked to fund sums that are potentially subject to material challenge legally and may in fact represent overpayments.
Members are understandably concerned about the threat of further administration charges, interest and referral to recovery agents. In order to prevent escalation, some leaseholders have made, or are prepared to make payment of the demanded year-end adjustment sums.
For the avoidance of doubt, any such payments are
will bemade strictly under protest and without prejudice to leaseholders’ rights. Payment does not amount to acceptance that the charges are properly due, reasonably incurred or correctly apportioned. All rights to challenge the sums, their allocation and recoverability are expressly reserved.
Kind regardsAbbey
To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rtahdd5759-committee/1216942384.6547911.1772472905282%40mail.yahoo.com.
Hi Beth
Thank you for your email.
The RTA does not accept that the issues raised in relation to the 2023/24 and 2024/25 accounts have been resolved. The historic 50/50 allocation, the subsequent 37/63 revision, developer contributions and associated expenditure remain disputed. In our view, leaseholders have been asked to fund sums that are potentially subject to material challenge legally and may in fact represent overpayments.
Members are understandably concerned about the threat of further administration charges, interest and referral to recovery agents. In order to prevent escalation, some leaseholders have made, or are prepared to make payment of the demanded year-end adjustment sums.
For the avoidance of doubt, any such payments are made strictly under protest and without prejudice to leaseholders’ rights. Payment does not amount to acceptance that the charges are properly due, reasonably incurred or correctly apportioned. All rights to challenge the sums, their allocation and recoverability are expressly reserved.
We require written confirmation that:
· All credit-control, administration and penalty fees applied during the disputed period (including, but not limited to, the £90 and £95 charges currently appearing on accounts) will be removed in full and without delay; and
· No further administration, interest or recovery fees will be added in respect of these disputed adjustments.
To be clear, any payments made by leaseholders will exclude all administration, penalty or interest charges incurred during the period in which the accounts were under legitimate dispute. Leaseholders will not fund fees arising solely from the exercise of their statutory and contractual rights to query and inspect service charge accounts.
The previous pause on credit control was implemented because substantive accounting issues were under review. It would be unreasonable to reinstate penalties now, particularly where the underlying sums remain contested.
Compliance with the lease cannot operate in only one direction. Leaseholders continue to experience service deficiencies and limited communication, including on urgent and security-related matters. Obligations under the lease apply equally in respect of proper service provision and transparent accounting.
We remain willing to meet and resolve matters constructively (proposal of any date from 19 March was sent to Dan Tomlinson). However, we will not accept the imposition of further fees in circumstances where the core accounting issues remain disputed.
Please confirm removal of all disputed-period fees and the position on future charges in writing.
Good morning
We have recently received a number of customer emails and MyHome/website regarding the year‑end adjustment. I wanted to set out the position clearly so that your members have the correct information and can avoid any credit‑control fees or referrals to external collection agencies.
We have now completed our responses to all queries raised regarding the 2023/24 and 2024/25 accounts, including those relating to CHP performance, allocation of shared costs, developer contributions and associated expenditure. Any required financial adjustments (including the revised 37/63% allocation and corrections identified during the review) will be incorporated into the audited year‑end accounts for the financial year ending 31 March 2026. This ensures all amendments are made consistently, transparently and in line with the requirements of your lease.
Under the terms of the lease, all residents must pay the Maintenance Charge and Local Service Charge “without any deduction (whether by way of set off lien charge or otherwise)” (Third Schedule, clause 1(a)(i)). The lease requires payment of the demanded sums, and any adjustments or credits identified through the formal accounting process will be issued via the certified year‑end accounts, as set out in the Sixth Schedule (clause 3). The lease does not allow withholding of payments while accounting queries are being examined, particularly where the mechanism for adjustments is clearly defined.
The temporary pause on credit control was applied previously to allow time to respond to queries, obtain clarifications and ensure the accounting position was fully reviewed. As adjustments will be made through the audited accounts to 31 March 2026, there is no requirement to pause billing. All outstanding amounts, including year‑end adjustments, are therefore now payable in full. Any credits due will be reflected in the audited accounts and applied accordingly.
We appreciate your engagement during this process and confirm that all queries raised have now been addressed through the appropriate channels. Please ensure payment of the outstanding amounts to avoid interest or recovery procedures, as required under the lease (Third Schedule, clause 1(a)(ii)).
I’m sorry if this comes across as unsympathetic, that is not our intention. We have been fully engaged with our customers, Taylor Wimpey and the MP’s office. We welcome a meeting to response matters amicably once a date is agreed. We simply need to ensure we can continue to maintain and manage the development without interruption and in accordance with the lease.
If further updates arise during finalisation of the 2025/26 year‑end accounts, we will provide them to your directly or via MyHome.
Kind Regards
Associate Director, London
Customer Services: Contact Us here or Call 0333 321 4080
Good morning
Thank you for your email. I will respond in full ASAP.
From: RTA5759HDD <rta57...@gmail.com>
Sent: 04 March 2026 10:37
To: Beth Lancaster <Beth.La...@firstport.co.uk>
Cc: Vicky Hirani <Vicky....@firstport.co.uk>; rtahdd5759...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Millbrook Park Phase 4C - year end adjustment collections
|
CAUTION: This is an external email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and know the content is safe. When in doubt, forward this email to sp...@emeria-uk.com |
Customer Services: Contact Us here or Call 0333 321 4080
Unless we state otherwise the information contained in this message (including any attachments) is confidential and may be protected by legal privilege. If you have received this message in error, disclosure, copying, distribution and use are prohibited. Please notify us immediately and delete this copy from your system. FirstPort Group Limited and each of its subsidiaries makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in this message and excludes any liability of any kind for the information contained in it for the transmission, receipt, storage or use of such information in any way whatsoever.
Any confirmation contained in this email (or in any other form of communication) that any contractual terms or the content of any document are settled, confirmed or agreed (or other language to the same or equivalent effect) is therefore made expressly subject to contract. The use of any signature including, without limitation, an auto-signature on any emails from FirstPort Group Limited does not constitute an offer or acceptance of contract.
We believe, but do not warrant, that this email and any attachments are virus free, but please be careful as emails do not always originate from the source they purport to be from. We do not accept any liability for losses that result from malicious correspondence, or that you sustain as a result of software viruses.
Where this message relates to the business of FirstPort Group Limited or its subsidiaries, responsibility for its contents remains with FirstPort Group Limited and not the individual author. Where this message is not related to the business of FirstPort Group Limited or its subsidiaries, any opinions expressed in the message are entirely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FirstPort Group Limited.
Unless expressly stated otherwise, this communication is from or relates to whichever of the companies is identified in the body of the email above.
Email communications may be monitored by us, as permitted by applicable law and regulations.
FirstPort Group Limited. Registered in England No. 04352396. Registered Office: Fifth Floor, The Lantern, 75 Hampstead Road, London, NW1 2PL.
Please visit www.firstport.co.uk for more information.
Good afternoon
Thank you very much for your email of 4 March 2026 and for setting out your members’ concerns so clearly. I fully appreciate the anxiety and frustration that year-end adjustments, historical allocations and ongoing reviews can cause. Our intention throughout has been to treat all residents fairly, respond to every query raised, and ensure the final accounting position is both transparent and consistent with the lease and relevant legislation. I hope the following helps reassure you of our approach.
First, with regard to the 2023/24 and 2024/25 accounts, all queries relating to CHP performance, the 50/50 amended to 37/63 allocations, developer contributions and associated expenditure have been reviewed in detail with the internal accounting team, Taylor Wimpey and other relevant stakeholders. The correct and legally prescribed method for applying any corrections or reallocations is through the certified annual accounts. Those adjustments will be included in the audited year-end accounts for the period ending 31 March 2026, ensuring that any credits or corrections are captured in a single, consistent cycle for all residents. This approach is required by the lease and is in line with the service charge framework under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
I understand that several residents feel the sums may be disputed or potentially overstated. Leaseholders absolutely retain the legal right to challenge the reasonableness or payability of any charge under section 27A of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, and nothing in this correspondence affects that right. However, both statute and case law make clear that charges must still be paid in the meantime where the lease requires it. The lease for your development states that service charges must be paid “without any deduction, set-off or abatement” (Third Schedule, clause 1(a)(i)). This contractual obligation is widely applied in residential service charge matters and ensures the ongoing management of the development is not disrupted while any disputes are resolved. Paying service charges under protest | Lease advice
Regarding members who wish to pay “under protest”, I completely understand that this is intended to protect their position. While such wording does not alter the contractual obligation to pay, it does not prejudice any future challenge. If, following finalisation of the audited accounts, credits are due, they will be applied automatically to residents’ accounts.
On the matter of administration fees, interest and recovery charges, I want to reassure you that we acted reasonably by previously placing credit control on hold while the accounting review was underway. Now that all queries have been addressed and the route for finalising adjustments is confirmed, we have returned to standard lease provisions. Under the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 (Schedule 11) and the terms of the lease, administration charges and interest may be applied where sums remain unpaid after becoming due. However, these charges must always be reasonable, and residents retain the right to challenge them at the First-tier Tribunal. We recognise the concerns residents have expressed around fairness. To support residents constructively, no further fees will accrue provided balances are paid in full. Charges that were correctly applied in accordance with the lease remain payable, but no additional administration or recovery fees will be added if payment is made promptly.
I note the issues you raise around communication and service standards. These matters are taken seriously, and I will ensure they are discussed with the operational team. While such concerns do not affect the legal requirement to pay service charges, they are important, and we want to continue improving the service residents receive.
We remain very willing to meet and continue discussions in a constructive and collaborative spirit. I understand you have already proposed dates from 19 March; once a confirmed date is agreed, we will make sure the right participants are present so that we can work through these matters in detail.
In summary, I fully appreciate the concerns raised by residents and want to reassure you that all queries have been addressed, the correct statutory and contractual processes are being followed, and all leaseholders’ rights remain fully protected. Payment of the outstanding amounts is required under the lease, but this does not prevent any resident from pursuing a tribunal challenge should they later decide to do so. We remain committed to transparent communication and to working with the RTA to resolve matters constructively.
Dear Beth,
Thank you for your detailed response.
We note your position regarding the service charge framework and lease provisions. However, there is a separate and significant issue regarding the administration charges applied during the disputed period which remains unresolved.
It has now come to our attention that residents have been charged differing sums, £85, £90 and £95, for what appears to be the same category of credit control or administration activity. At least one resident has had the charge removed entirely, while another has been informed that the £95 fee will be credited if payment of the outstanding balance is made.
This inconsistency is difficult to reconcile with your statement that the charges were “correctly applied in accordance with the lease.”
Further, on 27 November 22025 you confirmed in writing (email attaced):
“The scheme was not marked as ‘on pause,’ so late payment charges were applied. The relevant internal request form has now been completed and is awaiting approval. Once approved, these fees will be reviewed and removed. Vicky will update you once this is arranged. Apologies for the oversight and inconvenience.”
That assurance was clear. It acknowledged that fees were applied because the scheme had not been correctly marked as on pause, and that once the internal process was completed, those fees would be reviewed and removed.
On that basis, residents reasonably expected that administration and late payment charges arising during the accounting dispute would not ultimately be pursued.
The current position that charges “correctly applied” remain payable unless balances are cleared directly conflicts with that earlier assurance and, given the variation in amounts applied and selective removals, raises concerns about fairness and consistency.
Before members take further steps, we require:
• A clear explanation for the differing amounts (£85 / £90 / £95) applied across accounts
• Confirmation of the criteria under which some fees have already been removed
• Confirmation that all administration and late payment charges incurred during the period in which credit control should have been paused will now be removed consistently across the scheme.
This is not about disputing the existence of administration charge provisions in principle. It is about whether they were applied fairly and consistently in circumstances where you have already acknowledged an internal oversight.
We look forward to your clarification.
Good afternoon
Thank you very much for your email of 4 March 2026 and for setting out your members’ concerns so clearly. I fully appreciate the anxiety and frustration that year-end adjustments, historical allocations and ongoing reviews can cause. Our intention throughout has been to treat all residents fairly, respond to every query raised, and ensure the final accounting position is both transparent and consistent with the lease and relevant legislation. I hope the following helps reassure you of our approach.
First, with regard to the 2023/24 and 2024/25 accounts, all queries relating to CHP performance, the 50/50 amended to 37/63 allocations, developer contributions and associated expenditure have been reviewed in detail with the internal accounting team, Taylor Wimpey and other relevant stakeholders. The correct and legally prescribed method for applying any corrections or reallocations is through the certified annual accounts. Those adjustments will be included in the audited year-end accounts for the period ending 31 March 2026, ensuring that any credits or corrections are captured in a single, consistent cycle for all residents. This approach is required by the lease and is in line with the service charge framework under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
I understand that several residents feel the sums may be disputed or potentially overstated. Leaseholders absolutely retain the legal right to challenge the reasonableness or payability of any charge under section 27A of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, and nothing in this correspondence affects that right. However, both statute and case law make clear that charges must still be paid in the meantime where the lease requires it. The lease for your development states that service charges must be paid “without any deduction, set-off or abatement” (Third Schedule, clause 1(a)(i)). This contractual obligation is widely applied in residential service charge matters and ensures the ongoing management of the development is not disrupted while any disputes are resolved. Paying service charges under protest | Lease advice
Regarding members who wish to pay “under protest”, I completely understand that this is intended to protect their position. While such wording does not alter the contractual obligation to pay, it does not prejudice any future challenge. If, following finalisation of the audited accounts, credits are due, they will be applied automatically to residents’ accounts.
On the matter of administration fees, interest and recovery charges, I want to reassure you that we acted reasonably by previously placing credit control on hold while the accounting review was underway. Now that all queries have been addressed and the route for finalising adjustments is confirmed, we have returned to standard lease provisions. Under the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 (Schedule 11) and the terms of the lease, administration charges and interest may be applied where sums remain unpaid after becoming due. However, these charges must always be reasonable, and residents retain the right to challenge them at the First-tier Tribunal. We recognise the concerns residents have expressed around fairness. To support residents constructively, no further fees will accrue provided balances are paid in full. Charges that were correctly applied in accordance with the lease remain payable, but no additional administration or recovery fees will be added if payment is made promptly.
I note the issues you raise around communication and service standards. These matters are taken seriously, and I will ensure they are discussed with the operational team. While such concerns do not affect the legal requirement to pay service charges, they are important, and we want to continue improving the service residents receive.
We remain very willing to meet and continue discussions in a constructive and collaborative spirit. I understand you have already proposed dates from 19 March; once a confirmed date is agreed, we will make sure the right participants are present so that we can work through these matters in detail.
In summary, I fully appreciate the concerns raised by residents and want to reassure you that all queries have been addressed, the correct statutory and contractual processes are being followed, and all leaseholders’ rights remain fully protected. Payment of the outstanding amounts is required under the lease, but this does not prevent any resident from pursuing a tribunal challenge should they later decide to do so. We remain committed to transparent communication and to working with the RTA to resolve matters constructively.
Kind Regards
|
|
|
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From: Beth Lancaster
Sent: 04 March 2026 11:40
To: RTA5759HDD <rta57...@gmail.com>
Cc: Vicky Hirani <Vicky....@firstport.co.uk>; rtahdd5759...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: Millbrook Park Phase 4C - year end adjustment collections
Good morning
Thank you for your email. I will respond in full ASAP.
Kind Regards
|
|
|
| ||||||
Customer Services: Contact Us here or Call 0333 321 4080
Unless we state otherwise the information contained in this message (including any attachments) is confidential and may be protected by legal privilege. If you have received this message in error, disclosure, copying, distribution and use are prohibited. Please notify us immediately and delete this copy from your system. FirstPort Group Limited and each of its subsidiaries makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in this message and excludes any liability of any kind for the information contained in it for the transmission, receipt, storage or use of such information in any way whatsoever.
Any confirmation contained in this email (or in any other form of communication) that any contractual terms or the content of any document are settled, confirmed or agreed (or other language to the same or equivalent effect) is therefore made expressly subject to contract. The use of any signature including, without limitation, an auto-signature on any emails from FirstPort Group Limited does not constitute an offer or acceptance of contract.
We believe, but do not warrant, that this email and any attachments are virus free, but please be careful as emails do not always originate from the source they purport to be from. We do not accept any liability for losses that result from malicious correspondence, or that you sustain as a result of software viruses.
Where this message relates to the business of FirstPort Group Limited or its subsidiaries, responsibility for its contents remains with FirstPort Group Limited and not the individual author. Where this message is not related to the business of FirstPort Group Limited or its subsidiaries, any opinions expressed in the message are entirely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FirstPort Group Limited.
Unless expressly stated otherwise, this communication is from or relates to whichever of the companies is identified in the body of the email above.
Email communications may be monitored by us, as permitted by applicable law and regulations.
FirstPort Group Limited. Registered in England No. 04352396. Registered Office: Fifth Floor, The Lantern, 75 Hampstead Road, London, NW1 2PL.
Please visit www.firstport.co.uk for more information.
To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rtahdd5759-committee/1068003522.11388252.1773166030206%40mail.yahoo.com.
To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rtahdd5759-committee/1068003522.11388252.1773166030206%40mail.yahoo.com.
Kind Regards
Customer Services: Contact Us here or Call 0333 321 4080
From: Beth Lancaster
Sent: 04 March 2026 11:40
To: RTA5759HDD <rta57...@gmail.com>
Cc: Vicky Hirani <Vicky....@firstport.co.uk>; rtahdd5759...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: Millbrook Park Phase 4C - year end adjustment collections
Good morning
Thank you for your email. I will respond in full ASAP.
Kind Regards
Associate Director, London
Customer Services: Contact Us here or Call 0333 321 4080
Customer Services: Contact Us here or Call 0333 321 4080
We note your position regarding the service charge framework and lease provisions. However, there is a separate and significant issue regarding the administration charges applied during the disputed period which remains unresolved.
It has now come to our attention that residents have been charged differing sums, £85, £90 and £95, for what appears to be the same category of credit control or administration activity. At least one resident has had the charge removed entirely, while another has been informed that the £95 fee will be credited if payment of the outstanding balance is made.
This inconsistency is difficult to reconcile with your statement that the charges were “correctly applied in accordance with the lease.”
Further, on 27 November 2025 you confirmed in writing (email attaced):
“The scheme was not marked as ‘on pause,’ so late payment charges were applied. The relevant internal request form has now been completed and is awaiting approval. Once approved, these fees will be reviewed and removed. Vicky will update you once this is arranged. Apologies for the oversight and inconvenience.”
That assurance was clear. It acknowledged that fees were applied because the scheme had not been correctly marked as on pause, and that once the internal process was completed, those fees would be reviewed and removed.
On that basis, residents reasonably expected that administration and late payment charges arising during the accounting dispute would not ultimately be pursued.
The current position that charges “correctly applied” remain payable unless balances are cleared directly conflicts with that earlier assurance and, given the variation in amounts applied and selective removals, raises concerns about fairness and consistency.
Before members take further steps, we require:
• A clear explanation for the differing amounts (£85 / £90 / £95) applied across accounts
• Confirmation of the criteria under which some fees have already been removed
• Confirmation that all administration and late payment charges incurred during the period in which credit control should have been paused will now be removed consistently across the scheme.
This is not about disputing the existence of administration charge provisions in principle. It is about whether they were applied fairly and consistently in circumstances where you have already acknowledged an internal oversight.
We look forward to your clarification.
Good afternoon
Thank you very much for your email of 4 March 2026 and for setting out your members’ concerns so clearly. I fully appreciate the anxiety and frustration that year-end adjustments, historical allocations and ongoing reviews can cause. Our intention throughout has been to treat all residents fairly, respond to every query raised, and ensure the final accounting position is both transparent and consistent with the lease and relevant legislation. I hope the following helps reassure you of our approach.
First, with regard to the 2023/24 and 2024/25 accounts, all queries relating to CHP performance, the 50/50 amended to 37/63 allocations, developer contributions and associated expenditure have been reviewed in detail with the internal accounting team, Taylor Wimpey and other relevant stakeholders. The correct and legally prescribed method for applying any corrections or reallocations is through the certified annual accounts. Those adjustments will be included in the audited year-end accounts for the period ending 31 March 2026, ensuring that any credits or corrections are captured in a single, consistent cycle for all residents. This approach is required by the lease and is in line with the service charge framework under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
I understand that several residents feel the sums may be disputed or potentially overstated. Leaseholders absolutely retain the legal right to challenge the reasonableness or payability of any charge under section 27A of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, and nothing in this correspondence affects that right. However, both statute and case law make clear that charges must still be paid in the meantime where the lease requires it. The lease for your development states that service charges must be paid “without any deduction, set-off or abatement” (Third Schedule, clause 1(a)(i)). This contractual obligation is widely applied in residential service charge matters and ensures the ongoing management of the development is not disrupted while any disputes are resolved. Paying service charges under protest | Lease advice
Regarding members who wish to pay “under protest”, I completely understand that this is intended to protect their position. While such wording does not alter the contractual obligation to pay, it does not prejudice any future challenge. If, following finalisation of the audited accounts, credits are due, they will be applied automatically to residents’ accounts.
On the matter of administration fees, interest and recovery charges, I want to reassure you that we acted reasonably by previously placing credit control on hold while the accounting review was underway. Now that all queries have been addressed and the route for finalising adjustments is confirmed, we have returned to standard lease provisions. Under the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 (Schedule 11) and the terms of the lease, administration charges and interest may be applied where sums remain unpaid after becoming due. However, these charges must always be reasonable, and residents retain the right to challenge them at the First-tier Tribunal. We recognise the concerns residents have expressed around fairness. To support residents constructively, no further fees will accrue provided balances are paid in full. Charges that were correctly applied in accordance with the lease remain payable, but no additional administration or recovery fees will be added if payment is made promptly.
I note the issues you raise around communication and service standards. These matters are taken seriously, and I will ensure they are discussed with the operational team. While such concerns do not affect the legal requirement to pay service charges, they are important, and we want to continue improving the service residents receive.
We remain very willing to meet and continue discussions in a constructive and collaborative spirit. I understand you have already proposed dates from 19 March; once a confirmed date is agreed, we will make sure the right participants are present so that we can work through these matters in detail.
In summary, I fully appreciate the concerns raised by residents and want to reassure you that all queries have been addressed, the correct statutory and contractual processes are being followed, and all leaseholders’ rights remain fully protected. Payment of the outstanding amounts is required under the lease, but this does not prevent any resident from pursuing a tribunal challenge should they later decide to do so. We remain committed to transparent communication and to working with the RTA to resolve matters constructively.
Kind Regards
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From: Beth Lancaster
Sent: 04 March 2026 11:40
To: RTA5759HDD <rta57...@gmail.com>
Cc: Vicky Hirani <Vicky....@firstport.co.uk>; rtahdd5759...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: Millbrook Park Phase 4C - year end adjustment collections
Good morning
Thank you for your email. I will respond in full ASAP.
Kind Regards
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Customer Services: Contact Us here or Call 0333 321 4080
Unless we state otherwise the information contained in this message (including any attachments) is confidential and may be protected by legal privilege. If you have received this message in error, disclosure, copying, distribution and use are prohibited. Please notify us immediately and delete this copy from your system. FirstPort Group Limited and each of its subsidiaries makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in this message and excludes any liability of any kind for the information contained in it for the transmission, receipt, storage or use of such information in any way whatsoever.
Any confirmation contained in this email (or in any other form of communication) that any contractual terms or the content of any document are settled, confirmed or agreed (or other language to the same or equivalent effect) is therefore made expressly subject to contract. The use of any signature including, without limitation, an auto-signature on any emails from FirstPort Group Limited does not constitute an offer or acceptance of contract.
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Where this message relates to the business of FirstPort Group Limited or its subsidiaries, responsibility for its contents remains with FirstPort Group Limited and not the individual author. Where this message is not related to the business of FirstPort Group Limited or its subsidiaries, any opinions expressed in the message are entirely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FirstPort Group Limited.
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FirstPort Group Limited. Registered in England No. 04352396. Registered Office: Fifth Floor, The Lantern, 75 Hampstead Road, London, NW1 2PL.
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We note your position regarding the service charge framework and lease provisions. However, there is a separate and significant issue regarding the administration charges applied during the disputed period which remains unresolved.
It has now come to our attention that residents have been charged differing sums, £85, £90 and £95, for what appears to be the same category of credit control or administration activity. At least one resident has had the charge removed entirely, while another has been informed that the £95 fee will be credited if payment of the outstanding balance is made.
This inconsistency is difficult to reconcile with your statement that the charges were “correctly applied in accordance with the lease.”
Further, on 27 November 2025 you confirmed in writing (email attaced):
“The scheme was not marked as ‘on pause,’ so late payment charges were applied. The relevant internal request form has now been completed and is awaiting approval. Once approved, these fees will be reviewed and removed. Vicky will update you once this is arranged. Apologies for the oversight and inconvenience.”
That assurance was clear. It acknowledged that fees were applied because the scheme had not been correctly marked as on pause, and that once the internal process was completed, those fees would be reviewed and removed.
On that basis, residents reasonably expected that administration and late payment charges arising during the accounting dispute would not ultimately be pursued.
The current position that charges “correctly applied” remain payable unless balances are cleared directly conflicts with that earlier assurance and, given the variation in amounts applied and selective removals, raises concerns about fairness and consistency.
Before members take further steps, we require:
• A clear explanation for the differing amounts (£85 / £90 / £95) applied across accounts
• Confirmation of the criteria under which some fees have already been removed
• Confirmation that all administration and late payment charges incurred during the period in which credit control should have been paused will now be removed consistently across the scheme.
This is not about disputing the existence of administration charge provisions in principle. It is about whether they were applied fairly and consistently in circumstances where you have already acknowledged an internal oversight.
We look forward to your clarification.
Dear RTA 57/59 HDD Committee,
This email sets out the procedures and requirements that apply to all leaseholders in relation to service charge payments, administration charges, and arrears management. It reflects the obligations contained within the lease and the statutory framework and is issued to ensure clarity and consistency across the development.
Administration charges applied to individual accounts, including values such as £85, £90 and £95, arise from the specific credit‑control stage reached within each account. Administration and recovery charges are permitted under Schedule 11 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, and the lease provides for the recovery of reasonable costs associated with overdue accounts. Variations in charge amounts correspond to the progression of individual accounts through different credit‑control triggers. Where charge adjustments have been made for individual residents, these were determined by the specific circumstances of those accounts and do not extend scheme‑wide.
The correspondence issued in November 2025 addressed charges generated solely because the scheme was not marked as “on pause.” That review has now been completed and relevant adjustments have been applied. The correspondence did not suspend lease obligations, remove charges unrelated to that specific oversight, or establish a general waiver of administration or late‑payment charges.
The review of queries relating to the 2023/24 and 2024/25 accounts has concluded. Under the lease and applicable statutory provisions, any required corrections will be incorporated into the audited accounts for the year ending 31 March 2026. Leaseholders are required to pay charges when demanded. Section 27A of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 provides a statutory route for any leaseholder who wishes to challenge reasonableness once audited figures are issued. Payment obligations remain in force during this period.
Requests to remove administration charges on a blanket basis cannot be applied. Only charges directly linked to the temporary pause oversight have been reviewed and adjusted. Administration charges correctly applied under the lease remain payable, and the presence of accounting disputes does not negate payment obligations. No further administration charges will accrue where accounts are brought up to date promptly.
The following arrears‑management procedures apply where accounts remain outstanding. Additional administration and recovery charges may be applied in accordance with the lease and Schedule 11 of the CLRA 2002. Where arrears persist, accounts progress to external recovery agents, which may result in recovery fees, tracing activity where required, and costs associated with the recovery process; these costs are recoverable from the leaseholder. Where arrears remain, an LPE1 pack cannot be issued, which may delay or prevent the progression of property sales or mortgage applications, as lenders frequently require confirmation that no arrears are outstanding. Where arrears continue, legal recovery proceedings may be initiated. Depending on the lease terms, associated legal costs may be recoverable from the individual leaseholder. Court action may result in a County Court Judgment if sums remain unpaid. Leaseholders wishing to preserve their rights may pay under protest while pursuing statutory challenge routes. Non‑payment does not protect any position and may result in additional costs.
Engagement with residents, Taylor Wimpey and representatives from Dan Tomlinson’s office will continue; we look forward to hearing from Dan’s office with a suitable date.
Your response sets out the general legal framework but does not address the central issue: whether the administration charges applied in this case are reasonable, fairly applied, and consistent in practice.
The timeline is critical. Administration charges were first applied on 21 November 2025, prior to your email of 27 November 2025 confirming that the scheme had not been marked as “on pause”. Charges were therefore applied before the acknowledged internal error was identified and communicated.
Your current position also departs from the clear assurance given on 27 November 2025:
“The scheme was not marked as ‘on pause,’ so late payment charges were applied… Once approved, these fees will be reviewed and removed.”
The natural reading of this is that charges arising from that error would be removed. Your current statement that the correspondence did not establish any general removal of such charges is inconsistent with that assurance and has not been explained.
In addition, the application of charges across the scheme is demonstrably inconsistent:
The statement that adjustments are based on “specific circumstances” but do not extend scheme-wide raises further concerns regarding fairness and equal treatment.
Under Schedule 11 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, administration charges must be reasonable. The lease further requires that costs are applied on a fair and proportionate basis. On the information available, those standards are not met.
This position also sits alongside ongoing management issues which remain unresolved:
Compliance with the lease cannot operate in one direction only.
We therefore require:
Absent a clear and consistent position, leaseholders will need to consider formal routes to determine the reasonableness and recoverability of these charges.
We remain willing to resolve this constructively and await your response.
Kind regards
RTA 57/59 HDD Committee
Dear RTA 57/59 HDD Committee,
This email sets out the procedures and requirements that apply to all leaseholders in relation to service charge payments, administration charges, and arrears management. It reflects the obligations contained within the lease and the statutory framework and is issued to ensure clarity and consistency across the development.
Administration charges applied to individual accounts, including values such as £85, £90 and £95, arise from the specific credit‑control stage reached within each account. Administration and recovery charges are permitted under Schedule 11 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, and the lease provides for the recovery of reasonable costs associated with overdue accounts. Variations in charge amounts correspond to the progression of individual accounts through different credit‑control triggers. Where charge adjustments have been made for individual residents, these were determined by the specific circumstances of those accounts and do not extend scheme‑wide.
The correspondence issued in November 2025 addressed charges generated solely because the scheme was not marked as “on pause.” That review has now been completed and relevant adjustments have been applied. The correspondence did not suspend lease obligations, remove charges unrelated to that specific oversight, or establish a general waiver of administration or late‑payment charges.
The review of queries relating to the 2023/24 and 2024/25 accounts has concluded. Under the lease and applicable statutory provisions, any required corrections will be incorporated into the audited accounts for the year ending 31 March 2026. Leaseholders are required to pay charges when demanded. Section 27A of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 provides a statutory route for any leaseholder who wishes to challenge reasonableness once audited figures are issued. Payment obligations remain in force during this period.
Requests to remove administration charges on a blanket basis cannot be applied. Only charges directly linked to the temporary pause oversight have been reviewed and adjusted. Administration charges correctly applied under the lease remain payable, and the presence of accounting disputes does not negate payment obligations. No further administration charges will accrue where accounts are brought up to date promptly.
The following arrears‑management procedures apply where accounts remain outstanding. Additional administration and recovery charges may be applied in accordance with the lease and Schedule 11 of the CLRA 2002. Where arrears persist, accounts progress to external recovery agents, which may result in recovery fees, tracing activity where required, and costs associated with the recovery process; these costs are recoverable from the leaseholder. Where arrears remain, an LPE1 pack cannot be issued, which may delay or prevent the progression of property sales or mortgage applications, as lenders frequently require confirmation that no arrears are outstanding. Where arrears continue, legal recovery proceedings may be initiated. Depending on the lease terms, associated legal costs may be recoverable from the individual leaseholder. Court action may result in a County Court Judgment if sums remain unpaid. Leaseholders wishing to preserve their rights may pay under protest while pursuing statutory challenge routes. Non‑payment does not protect any position and may result in additional costs.
Engagement with residents, Taylor Wimpey and representatives from Dan Tomlinson’s office will continue; we look forward to hearing from Dan’s office with a suitable date.
Kind Regards
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Kind Regards
Customer Services: Contact Us here or Call 0333 321 4080
From: Beth Lancaster
Sent: 04 March 2026 11:40
To: RTA5759HDD <rta57...@gmail.com>
Cc: Vicky Hirani <Vicky....@firstport.co.uk>; rtahdd5759...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: Millbrook Park Phase 4C - year end adjustment collections
Good morning
Thank you for your email. I will respond in full ASAP.
Kind Regards
Associate Director, London
Customer Services: Contact Us here or Call 0333 321 4080
Customer Services: Contact Us here or Call 0333 321 4080
Unless we state otherwise the information contained in this message (including any attachments) is confidential and may be protected by legal privilege. If you have received this message in error, disclosure, copying, distribution and use are prohibited. Please notify us immediately and delete this copy from your system. FirstPort Group Limited and each of its subsidiaries makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in this message and excludes any liability of any kind for the information contained in it for the transmission, receipt, storage or use of such information in any way whatsoever.
Any confirmation contained in this email (or in any other form of communication) that any contractual terms or the content of any document are settled, confirmed or agreed (or other language to the same or equivalent effect) is therefore made expressly subject to contract. The use of any signature including, without limitation, an auto-signature on any emails from FirstPort Group Limited does not constitute an offer or acceptance of contract.
We believe, but do not warrant, that this email and any attachments are virus free, but please be careful as emails do not always originate from the source they purport to be from. We do not accept any liability for losses that result from malicious correspondence, or that you sustain as a result of software viruses.
Where this message relates to the business of FirstPort Group Limited or its subsidiaries, responsibility for its contents remains with FirstPort Group Limited and not the individual author. Where this message is not related to the business of FirstPort Group Limited or its subsidiaries, any opinions expressed in the message are entirely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FirstPort Group Limited.
Unless expressly stated otherwise, this communication is from or relates to whichever of the companies is identified in the body of the email above.
Email communications may be monitored by us, as permitted by applicable law and regulations.
FirstPort Group Limited. Registered in England No. 04352396. Registered Office: Fifth Floor, The Lantern, 75 Hampstead Road, London, NW1 2PL.
Please visit www.firstport.co.uk for more information.
Unless we state otherwise the information contained in this message (including any attachments) is confidential and may be protected by legal privilege. If you have received this message in error, disclosure, copying, distribution and use are prohibited. Please notify us immediately and delete this copy from your system. FirstPort Group Limited and each of its subsidiaries makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in this message and excludes any liability of any kind for the information contained in it for the transmission, receipt, storage or use of such information in any way whatsoever.
Any confirmation contained in this email (or in any other form of communication) that any contractual terms or the content of any document are settled, confirmed or agreed (or other language to the same or equivalent effect) is therefore made expressly subject to contract. The use of any signature including, without limitation, an auto-signature on any emails from FirstPort Group Limited does not constitute an offer or acceptance of contract.
We believe, but do not warrant, that this email and any attachments are virus free, but please be careful as emails do not always originate from the source they purport to be from. We do not accept any liability for losses that result from malicious correspondence, or that you sustain as a result of software viruses.
Where this message relates to the business of FirstPort Group Limited or its subsidiaries, responsibility for its contents remains with FirstPort Group Limited and not the individual author. Where this message is not related to the business of FirstPort Group Limited or its subsidiaries, any opinions expressed in the message are entirely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FirstPort Group Limited.
Unless expressly stated otherwise, this communication is from or relates to whichever of the companies is identified in the body of the email above.
Email communications may be monitored by us, as permitted by applicable law and regulations.
FirstPort Group Limited. Registered in England No. 04352396. Registered Office: Fifth Floor, The Lantern, 75 Hampstead Road, London, NW1 2PL.
Please visit www.firstport.co.uk for more information.
To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rtahdd5759-committee/1146802224.2344801.1774186404864%40mail.yahoo.com.
Your response sets out the general legal framework but does not address the central issue: whether the administration charges applied in this case are reasonable, fairly applied, and consistent in practice.
The timeline is critical. Administration charges were first applied on 21 November 2025, prior to your email of 27 November 2025 confirming that the scheme had not been marked as “on pause”. Charges were therefore applied before the acknowledged internal error was identified and communicated.
Your current position also departs from the clear assurance given on 27 November 2025:
“The scheme was not marked as ‘on pause,’ so late payment charges were applied… Once approved, these fees will be reviewed and removed.”
The natural reading of this is that charges arising from that error would be removed. Your current statement that the correspondence did not establish any general removal of such charges is inconsistent with that assurance and has not been explained.
In addition, the application of charges across the scheme is demonstrably inconsistent:
The statement that adjustments are based on “specific circumstances” but do not extend scheme-wide raises further concerns regarding fairness and equal treatment.
Under Schedule 11 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, administration charges must be reasonable. The lease further requires that costs are applied on a fair and proportionate basis. On the information available, those standards are not met.
This position also sits alongside ongoing management issues which remain unresolved:
Compliance with the lease cannot operate in one direction only.
We therefore require:
Absent a clear and consistent position, leaseholders will need to consider formal routes to determine the reasonableness and recoverability of these charges.
We remain willing to resolve this constructively and await your response.
Kind regards
RTA 57/59 HDD Committee
MONDAY 23 MARCH
I am out of the office today. If there is anything really urgent, that cannot wait, please contact your property manager directly or contact us via the webform at www.firstport.co.uk or via MyHome.
Customer Services tel: 0333 321 4080
Otherwise I will respond on my return.
Regards
Beth Lancaster
Associate Director, FirstPort
Further to our previous email, there is an additional point which highlights a fundamental imbalance in the current position.
You have confirmed that the 63/37% allocation was applied incorrectly, resulting in leaseholders being overcharged, but that no correction will be made until the 2025/26 accounts are finalised.
At the same time, leaseholders are being required to make full payment now, with administration and recovery charges applied where payment is not made in line with your demands.
In effect:
This is not an equitable position. Leaseholders are being required to comply immediately, while corrections arising from your own acknowledged error are deferred.
Please explain how this approach is considered fair and reasonable in practice.
Kind regards,
RTA 57/59 HDD Committee
Kind Regards
Customer Services: Contact Us here or Call 0333 321 4080
Kind Regards
Customer Services: Contact Us here or Call 0333 321 4080
From: Beth Lancaster
Sent: 04 March 2026 11:40
To: RTA5759HDD <rta57...@gmail.com>
Cc: Vicky Hirani <Vicky....@firstport.co.uk>; rtahdd5759...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: Millbrook Park Phase 4C - year end adjustment collections
Good morning
Thank you for your email. I will respond in full ASAP.
Kind Regards
Associate Director, London
Customer Services: Contact Us here or Call 0333 321 4080
Customer Services: Contact Us here or Call 0333 321 4080
Further to our previous email, there is an additional point which highlights a fundamental imbalance in the current position.
You have confirmed that the 63/37% allocation was applied incorrectly, resulting in leaseholders being overcharged, but that no correction will be made until the 2025/26 accounts are finalised.
At the same time, leaseholders are being required to make full payment now, with administration and recovery charges applied where payment is not made in line with your demands.
In effect:
Further to our previous email, there is an additional point which highlights a fundamental imbalance in the current position.
You have confirmed that the 63/37% allocation was applied incorrectly, resulting in leaseholders being overcharged, but that no correction will be made until the 2025/26 accounts are finalised.
At the same time, leaseholders are being required to make full payment now, with administration and recovery charges applied where payment is not made in line with your demands.
In effect:
Please explain how this approach is considered fair and reasonable in practice.
Kind regards,
RTA 57/59 HDD Committee
Thank you for your email.
To close this matter, I would like to reiterate our position clearly. Administration fees are applied on a case‑by‑case basis according to the specific credit‑control stage reached within each individual account. Any subsequent credits or adjustments are also assessed on the same basis. The case you have referenced did not relate to the same circumstances or triggers as the charges being raised here, and therefore cannot be used as a comparison.
For clarity, there is no scheme‑wide waiver of administration fees, and no precedent has been set for their removal beyond those charges that were directly linked to the temporary ‘pause’ oversight already addressed.
This concludes our position on the matter.
Good afternoon
The late payment fees vary over the years, they increased gradually over the course of a number of years in line with rising costs which is why in 2024 it was £85, 2025 was £90 and 2026 it is £95.
The admin fees applied were shortly before it was put on pause, it was on pause from 29th November 2025 to 23rd January 2026. We cannot just blanket remove admin fees across a whole site though if no errors have been made by Credit Control and as far as we can see the fees applied in February 2026 were applied correctly.
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Vicky Hirani Property Manager |
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For clarity:
On 27 November 2025, you confirmed in writing:
“The scheme was not marked as ‘on pause,’ so late payment charges were applied. The relevant internal request form has now been completed and is awaiting approval. Once approved, these fees will be reviewed and removed. Vicky will update you once this is arranged. Apologies for the oversight and inconvenience.”
That was a clear acknowledgement that late payment and administration charges had been applied because FirstPort failed to mark the scheme as on pause during an active accounting dispute. That dispute concerned charges which FirstPort has since partly accepted were incorrectly allocated between this block and GH, while other elements remain unresolved and in dispute. In that context, the natural reading of the 27 November email is that charges arising during that period would be removed because credit control should not have been active at all.
Your current position is also inconsistent with the explanation now being given to individual leaseholders. In the email shown on the screenshot below, it is stated:
“I asked the Collections team if they will credit the administration fee dated 13 February 2026 in full. They have responded to say ‘If the outstanding amount of £90.30 is paid, we will credit the final administration fee of £95. No additional administration charges will be applied after this.’”
That wording underlines the inconsistency. One leaseholder has had £185 removed. Another has had a £95 charge removed following a phone call. Another is offered a conditional credit only if payment is made. Others are told charges remain payable. These are not materially different scenarios. They arise from the same disputed adjustment process and the same category of charges.
No objective or transparent criteria have been provided to justify this variation. The assertion that these cases are not comparable is not supported by the evidence.
More fundamentally, FirstPort has already acknowledged that the cost allocation between this block and GH was applied incorrectly, resulting in overcharging for over 2 years. Other elements of the same accounting position remain disputed. Leaseholders are therefore being pressed to pay sums which remain under dispute, while FirstPort still owes and is withholding leaseholders money arising from its own admitted error.
Despite that, leaseholders are expected to make payment now and are subject to administration and recovery charges if they do not, even though the disputed balances arise in part from FirstPort’s own accounting error and the correcting credits have not yet been applied.
That position is neither balanced nor reasonable.
Under Schedule 11 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, administration charges are only recoverable to the extent that they are reasonable. On the facts above — including acknowledged error, lack of notice, inconsistent removal of charges, and the continued pursuit of leaseholders for sums while FirstPort itself remains indebted to them — that standard is not met.
In light of this, we require confirmation that:
If this position is not confirmed, leaseholders will proceed to challenge the reasonableness and recoverability of these charges through the appropriate statutory route.
We remain willing to resolve this constructively, but a consistent and evidenced position is required.
.jpg?part=0.1&view=1)
Thank you for your email.
To close this matter, I would like to reiterate our position clearly. Administration fees are applied on a case‑by‑case basis according to the specific credit‑control stage reached within each individual account. Any subsequent credits or adjustments are also assessed on the same basis. The case you have referenced did not relate to the same circumstances or triggers as the charges being raised here, and therefore cannot be used as a comparison.
For clarity, there is no scheme‑wide waiver of administration fees, and no precedent has been set for their removal beyond those charges that were directly linked to the temporary ‘pause’ oversight already addressed.
This concludes our position on the matter.
Kind Regards
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Kind Regards
Customer Services: Contact Us here or Call 0333 321 4080
Kind Regards
Customer Services: Contact Us here or Call 0333 321 4080
From: Beth Lancaster
Sent: 04 March 2026 11:40
To: RTA5759HDD <rta57...@gmail.com>
Cc: Vicky Hirani <Vicky....@firstport.co.uk>; rtahdd5759...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: Millbrook Park Phase 4C - year end adjustment collections
Good morning
Thank you for your email. I will respond in full ASAP.
Kind Regards
Beth Lancaster
Associate Director, London
Customer Services: Contact Us here or Call 0333 321 4080
Customer Services: Contact Us here or Call 0333 321 4080
For clarity:
On 27 November 2025, you confirmed in writing:
“The scheme was not marked as ‘on pause,’ so late payment charges were applied. The relevant internal request form has now been completed and is awaiting approval. Once approved, these fees will be reviewed and removed. Vicky will update you once this is arranged. Apologies for the oversight and inconvenience.”
That was a clear acknowledgement that late payment and administration charges had been applied because FirstPort failed to mark the scheme as on pause during an active accounting dispute. That dispute concerned charges which FirstPort has since partly accepted were incorrectly allocated between this block and GH, while other elements remain unresolved and in dispute. In that context, the natural reading of the 27 November email is that charges arising during that period would be removed because credit control should not have been active at all.
Your current position is also inconsistent with the explanation now being given to individual leaseholders. In the email shown on the screenshot below, it is stated:
“I asked the Collections team if they will credit the administration fee dated 13 February 2026 in full. They have responded to say ‘If the outstanding amount of £90.30 is paid, we will credit the final administration fee of £95. No additional administration charges will be applied after this.’”
That wording underlines the inconsistency. One leaseholder has had £185 removed. Another has had a £95 charge removed following a phone call. Another is offered a conditional credit only if payment is made. Others are told charges remain payable. These are not materially different scenarios. They arise from the same disputed adjustment process and the same category of charges.
No objective or transparent criteria have been provided to justify this variation. The assertion that these cases are not comparable is not supported by the evidence.
More fundamentally, FirstPort has already acknowledged that the cost allocation between this block and GH was applied incorrectly, resulting in overcharging for over 2 years. Other elements of the same accounting position remain disputed. Leaseholders are therefore being pressed to pay sums which remain under dispute, while FirstPort still owes and is withholding leaseholders money arising from its own admitted error.
Despite that, leaseholders are expected to make payment now and are subject to administration and recovery charges if they do not, even though the disputed balances arise in part from FirstPort’s own accounting error and the correcting credits have not yet been applied.
That position is neither balanced nor reasonable.
Under Schedule 11 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, administration charges are only recoverable to the extent that they are reasonable. On the facts above — including acknowledged error, lack of notice, inconsistent removal of charges, and the continued pursuit of leaseholders for sums while FirstPort itself remains indebted to them — that standard is not met.
In light of this, we require confirmation that:
If this position is not confirmed, leaseholders will proceed to challenge the reasonableness and recoverability of these charges through the appropriate statutory route.
We remain willing to resolve this constructively, but a consistent and evidenced position is required.
Thank you for your email. Today is March 30th, please note I am currently out on site.
If your email is urgent, please give me a call on 07719005541 or send me a text and I will come back to you as soon as I can.
Thanks,
Vicky Hirani
Good morning and apologies for the delay.
This email is provided for clarity only and does not amend the lease, create any legitimate expectation, or establish precedent. We appreciate the time taken to raise these matters and hope the information below helps explain how the position is being managed.
1. Accounting Review and Adjustments
The review of the 2023/24 and 2024/25 service charge accounts, including cost allocation and related items, has now been completed. Any corrections or reallocations identified will be reflected through the audited accounts for the financial year ending 31 March
2026. This approach ensures that all adjustments are applied consistently and in line with the lease and statutory framework. For that reason, interim or account‑specific adjustments are not made outside the audited accounts process.
2. Payment Requirements
Service charges and year‑end adjustments remain payable when demanded, in accordance with the lease and without deduction, set‑off, or abatement. We understand that queries and reviews can be unsettling, however payment obligations remain in place while the
audit process is completed. Where credits are identified through the audit, these will be applied automatically once the certified accounts are issued.
3. Administration and Credit Control Charges
Administration and credit control charges are applied at an individual account level, based on the specific credit control stage reached, and in line with the lease and Schedule 11 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002. Differences in charge amounts
reflect variations in timing, account status, and procedural triggers.
Charges identified as arising solely from the temporary administrative oversight relating to the scheme pause have been reviewed and adjusted where applicable. There is no scheme‑wide waiver of administration charges, and adjustments made in connection with
that oversight do not extend beyond the specific circumstances already addressed.
4. Consistency and Comparisons
While we recognise that residents may compare outcomes, decisions taken on individual accounts do not create entitlement or precedent for others. Any credits, reversals, or conditional adjustments applied relate only to the specific account circumstances and
do not alter the wider process.
5. Ongoing Charges and Enforcement
Where balances remain outstanding, administration, interest, recovery, and enforcement steps may be applied in line with the lease. This can include referral to external recovery agents, recovery of associated costs, restrictions on the issue of LPE1 packs,
and legal recovery action. Prompt payment helps avoid further escalation, although it does not affect the validity of charges that have already been correctly applied.
6. Statutory Rights
Leaseholders continue to have the right to challenge the reasonableness or payability of service charges or administration charges through the First‑tier Tribunal once the audited accounts are issued. Exercising this right does not suspend interim payment obligations.
7. Engagement Framework
A meeting with the Member of Parliament’s authorised representative is scheduled for
24 April. This meeting provides an opportunity to discuss the matters raised, and it is intended that any further engagement takes place through that forum.
Subject to statutory or audit‑driven requirements, this email confirms the current process and position in relation to the issues raised. We hope this provides reassurance as to how the matter is being handled.
From: RTA5759HDD <rta57...@gmail.com>
Sent: 30 March 2026 15:28
To: Beth Lancaster <Beth.La...@firstport.co.uk>
Cc: Vicky Hirani <Vicky....@firstport.co.uk>; rtahdd5759...@googlegroups.com; dan.toml...@parliament.uk; simon.t...@parliament.uk
Subject: Re: Millbrook Park Phase 4C - yearend adjustment collections
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Hi Beth,
Your response does not address the substance of the issues raised and instead seeks to restate a general position which is not supported by the documented history of this matter.
For clarity:
·
On 27 November 2025, you confirmed in writing:
“The scheme was not marked as ‘on pause,’ so late payment charges were applied. The relevant internal request form has now been completed and is awaiting approval. Once approved, these fees will be reviewed
and removed. Vicky will update you once this is arranged. Apologies for the oversight and inconvenience.”
That was a clear acknowledgement that late payment and administration charges had been applied because FirstPort failed to mark the scheme as on pause during an active accounting dispute. That dispute concerned charges which FirstPort has since partly accepted were incorrectly allocated between this block and GH, while other elements remain unresolved and in dispute. In that context, the natural reading of the 27 November email is that charges arising during that period would be removed because credit control should not have been active at all.
· Administration charges were first applied on 21 November 2025, before that written acknowledgement was sent. Those charges were therefore applied during the very period which FirstPort subsequently accepted should have been treated as on pause.
· This is not a valid “case-by-case” distinction. We are asking for the same category of charges, applied for the same reason, during the same disputed period, to be treated consistently. That includes:
o the £185 already reversed under reference SR00979383, comprising £90 applied in November 2025 and £95 applied in February 2026
o a further £95 charge removed for another leaseholder following a phone call.