UPDATE
It is claimed on the Peverel website that the lifts at Ferndown Grange were finally fixed over the weekend of October 5-6.
By Michael Epstein
It emerges that pensioners living in Peverel retirement leasehold blocks have been trapped by broken lifts on four other occasions over the past two years, according to local press reports.
This breakthrough news means that the stranded pensioners of Ferndown Grange in Bristol are far from being an isolated case and are, in fact, the fifth.
Ferndown Grange yesterday featured on BBC radio news: originally BBC Radio Bristol at breakfast time, with national coverage at 1pm.
Yet the same issues have been faced by Ash Court, in Knutsford in November 2011 – currently the centre of a dispute over ownership of the house manager’s flat – Homemead House, in Romsey, in May 2012, Broadway House in Newcastle, in July 2012, and Homesmith House in Evesham in May 2013.
At Homesmith House the excuses were exactly the same as those now being offered to residents at Ferndown Grange: a specialist part for the lift had to be manufactured.
“We apologise for the inconvenience. Unfortunately, a specialist piece of equipment is required to fix the lift, which needs to be manufactured specifically for Homesmith House.”
It is not thought that any of the buildings involved here are older than 10-15 years.
Peverel Retirement has commented to LKP / Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation:
“In cases such as Ferndown Grange, the lift breakdown has involved parts that have become obsolete well before the end of the lift’s operational lifetime.
“In such cases, our first priority is work with our contractor to get the lift fixed as quickly as possible and to do all that we can to help residents with shopping in the meantime. If we feel this has not happened within an acceptable timeframe, we will address this with our contractors.
“Peverel Retirement has no say over the choosing or installation of major equipment such as lifts in the developments it manages.
“As property manager, our role is to work with what is already at the development over the course of its operational lifetime. We do this through the appointment of specialist contractors who carry out regular servicing and maintenance. In the case of lifts at the developments we manage, they will be serviced at least four times a year.”
Related posts:
What IS going on with Peverel’s lifts? Yet more residents are stuck indoors for weeks – we are up to NINE cases in two years!
Pensioners stuck in flats for five weeks at Ferndown Grange … while spare-part for lift is made in Italy!
Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation interview with BBC raises Peverel price-fixing scandal and AgeUK logos
McCarthy and Stone proud of 35 years of ‘fairness and respect’
Three years ago Peverel sacked their long time lift servicing company Orana (formerly Liftserve) after (allegedly) getting cheaper quotes elsewhere. As Orana were the original lift installers for most of McCarthy & Stone’s retirement flats it is perhaps no wonder Peverel is now having problems sourcing spares. Although lift companies are supposed to make spares available to each other, there is no doubt there is a reluctance to do this and this could account for the delays some developments are now having.
Cheaper quotes? Or larger kickbacks?
“As property manager, our role is to work with what is already at the development over the course of its operational lifetime. We do this through the appointment of specialist contractors who carry out regular servicing and maintenance. In the case of lifts at the developments we manage, they will be serviced at least four times a year.”
Translation:
As property manager we are not to blame for anything (check your lease and you will see that you cannot charge us for any costs arising from our failures). We blame the builder. Or the contractor. Or anyone but us. We do not develop plans and budget for long term capital expenditure. The purpose of reserves, if they exist, is for us to help balance the books when funds are low (RICS allows this so we can get away with it). Specialist contractors (contributions to overhead being our preferred speciality) are useful for taking the blame. Of course, sometimes we ignore their advice through incompetence but if it will jack up the bill and we get a commission on the works then they’re welcome to come as often as they like, not just four times a year.
Someone should investigate Peverel Retirement throughout the country. They will discover this is just the tip of the iceberg. Peverel are renowned for not repairing broken equipment and services.
An idea
Might it just be possible that the lift manufacturers’ and their suppliers want to be paid first, and also probably have all their outstanding debts paid …
happy days