For many people, communal areas and facilities make up a huge part of the place they call home, and it’s important that these are kept clean, tidy and fully functional, to ensure that residents are happy and safe in their homes.
You can watch the below video to see exactly how FirstPort, the UK’s leading residential property service provider, cares for the homes it looks after.
Four Decades of Looking After the Places People Call Home
As a property manager, our job is to keep the areas that residents share with their neighbours safe, clean, comfortable and in great condition, which helps to protect the value of the properties themselves.
At FirstPort, we’ve been doing this for more than 40 years and our property management teams, whether visiting or based at a development, go the extra mile to make sure our residents can sit back, relax and enjoy their homes.
We make sure communal areas are looked after and kept clean and tidy. From replacing light bulbs in the corridors to making sure the gardens are planted and watered, we handle all of the day-to-day maintenance around of the development.
As well as day-to-day maintenance, including cyclical works, as a property manager, we make sure the big repairs get sorted too. If the lifts need refurbishing or replacing, a storm has damaged the roof, or the building needs a fresh coat of paint, we’ll get it sorted. This meant that residents don’t need to coordinate the complex process of finding the best person for the job, getting multiple quotes, or figuring out how to split the bill with their neighbours. We’ve brought together a network of experts, each approved by us with the right credentials to do the job safely and professionally.
Clear Communication
In order to ensure these processes are as effective and efficient as possible, clear and slick communication is vital. At FirstPort, we have embarked upon a transformational digital programme, which includes the rollout of a new platform, which allows maintenance issues to be logged and addressed quickly. With all relevant information being housed on a single portal, communication between residents, FirstPort staff and contractors is streamlined, meaning necessary work can be carried out as swiftly as possible, with up-to-date, transparent status updates throughout.
As a property manager, we also understand that emergencies can occur from time to time. Whether water gets cut off, the car park gates aren’t budging, or lightning strikes your building (it’s rare but it has happened!), having a specialist managing agent means that support can be accessible around the clock, whatever the emergency.
For the more complex maintenance issues, our staff on the ground are supported by specialist support teams, including Health and Safety, Accounting, Surveying, Human Resources and in-house legal expertise. Whether they’re taking calls at head office or looking after our IT, we ensure that every aspect of managing the homes under our care is carried out by expert professionals.
Safety First
With any maintenance work, the health and safety of our residents is always our number one priority. Whether recognising the exact requirements of each issue or ensuring that the most competent contractor is appointed to do the job, an experienced property manager will have the knowledge, the contacts and the attention to detail, to ensure this remains the case.
We’re the first property management business in the UK to receive a five-star rating from the British Safety Council – which we’ve achieved for four consecutive years, as well as the prestigious Sword of Honour.
Now in our fifth decade as a property manager, we recognise now, more than ever, the importance of feeling safe and happy in your home. By continuing to provide these services for households across the country, we can ensure that our customers continue to enjoy the best possible standards.
