FirstPort Scotland Reviews 

My Auntie has lived in Knights Court since it first opened. She has always been very happy here. She has enjoyed the location in the centre of town having easy access to all the shops. There is also a large park nearby where she would walk everyday. The carpark and communal areas are all very clean and well maintained. There is always a very warm welcome from Frank the manager and Yvonne when people arrive to visit. The complex has a nice homely feel and social events get organised for the residents so they can mix and have entertainment. Frank and Yvonne are very approachable and are always available with help or any advice. I am very grateful to them both for the kindness they have shown me when I have needed their help.

My mother bought a flat at Midstocket Mews Aberdeen Scotland and was extremely happy there until she passed away in 2020. She enjoyed the social life, felt very safe and was especially fond of the Manager Dawn. Dawn is extremely professional inher role she is consistently friendly approachable and helpful to every resident, even if they fisplay challenging behaviour. She has also been hugely supportive to my family during the time my mum lived there and beyond. It is a lovely place made special by the efforts of an amazing manager. We'll done first port, she's a keeper!

My mother lives in the Eden court complex in Cupar and over the last year, during of course still in the time of Covid, we have felt confident in all the guidelines put in place and the support given to residents and visitors alike. Activities, as appropriate, have been arranged and residents have been supported to attend, residents and relatives have been listened to as well. The atmosphere at all activities and even just the encouragement to just come into the lounge and chat or have a coffee, has been relaxed and welcoming and very inclusive.
Management are very approachable, friendly and efficient.
I am made to feel that my mum is well supported and feel happy to leave, knowing she is safe and happy.

My husband and I have lived at Ferryhill court Aberdeen for the last 3 years we enjoy being here there are lots of different events going on , it’s a very friendly place to live the people here are so kind and helpful we have a very dedicated manager Billy McKinney nothing is to much trouble for him he is always available to help us. Living here gives you freedom to enjoy retirement at its very best .

Yet again, I must commend Billy McKinney, manager of Ferryhill Court, AB11 7WF.
My mother, who will be 98 in August, is a resident there and has been for 14 or 15 years. Billy is held in high esteem and is constantly overlooking his residents with care, compassion and good humour. In all the years I’ve known him, I’ve never heard of an ill word from him nor about him.
A few weeks ago, I was tested positive for Covid the day before I was driving up frm Edinburgh. My mother has carers now x3/day and I’m anxious about how she’s managing this change, being fiercely independent. However, Billy’s ‘on the job’, her friends in the building keep an eye on her, and I’m at ease because of this. Billy’s door is always open as is his phone!
Ferryhill Court is wonderful and I know that under Billy, all’s well.

Our Manager at Ericht Court Blairgowrie deserves the 5 stars allocated.
Heather is caring, competent digitally, can maintain confidentiality and is extraordinarily patient and diplomatic in dealing with us, her elderly residents, and our varied problems.
Brian Whyte says it all!

However First Port our Factoring agent whose main base is in England is about to be acquired by a European based company.
Just how will we elderly be better served when we are part of a big property company in which Retirement Developments constitute such a small part of the portfolio?
Negative reviews re First Port abound.
May be time to think about an alternative factoring agent?

They are overcharging residents with the service charge and not using it to the residents direct benefit,they are unresponsive to requests and queries, and uninvolved with residents on site. Poor management,corporate thinking and profit first.

Sandra is our manager and very good she is too. Nothing is too much trouble. Very caring and helpful
When she is around the atmosphere is one of a big family. And laughter is not very far away.
I have never found her to be anything. Others than an excellent manager.
Connie forrest Annan

Sarah, our Manager, is very willing, helpful, friendly and does a really good job of looking after the development and especially keeping an eye on the residents' wellbeing.
Just one things that I would like to point out - feedback from family. The guest room definitely needs a makeover. If at all possible, new beds.
Preferably DIVAN singles with zip lock mattresses to make them into super king size as an when required. The present mattresses tend to slide very easily and it's a wonder nobody has fallen out of bed! Proper headboards as opposed to metal ones which are not conducive to bedtime reading.

Reference: Trustpilot Reviews for Muirfield Court
Our development manager is Yan Tennant. She is friendly and, when she is in her office, she always greets you with a smile and a hello when you pass by. She is always working about the development making sure it looks smart and tidy. She is also very good at getting things that need attending done promptly. For example, getting a broken washing machine replaced within a couple of days.
I think you are lucky to have her on your team.

With regards to the development itself, I would like to say that I am happy with what we have. The development is 29 years old but still looks fresh. First Port is always looking at ways at ways to keep the development up to date and the latest thing that they are looking at is the lighting in the communal areas. For example, a report indicates that changing the communal lighting from existing lights to LED lights could save about £2500 annually.
Regards,
David Cree
Flat 7

I moved to Wellside Court, Falkirk in Feb 2021. I have settled in and been warmly welcomed by the other residents and staff. Now that the lockdown restrictions have been lifted it is good to socialise with everyone. I have made a lot of new friends.
All residents appear to look after one another.
Janet is an exemplary manager and treats everyone like her family. Nothing is too much bother.
I feel safe and secure living here.

Wellside Court in Falkirk is a homely well cared for place with lovely gardens. When I visit my parents I stay in the guest room which is very comfortable and always spotless. Janet the manager goes that extra mile for everyone whether residents or family alike and she does this with great care and sensitivity. I feel very fortunate that my parents found a great place to spend their retirement years especially as they are now in their 80’s and being so close to town with supermarkets and shops is a bonus.

Development is very central to shops, trains & theatre/cinema. Manager Janet Hamilton is very caring and attentive to all who live in Wellside Court. She goes above and beyond her duties to help everyone.

My father (now only a couple of months from turning 97 yet still very independently minded) moved to Wellside Court in February 2020, just prior to lock-down. We were delighted when he decided to move there. He loves his flat. The facilities are top-notch including the laundry, the beautiful rear garden, and the spacious and well-equipped lounge. Wellside Court's manager Janet Hamilton is a diamond. It's very well run and has a fantastic sense of community.

A year or so after my wife's death a good friend of mine suggested I move into a local McCarthy stone retirement development. Which I duly did some 7 years ago. Although not providing medical care these development all have an onsite manager who act as a first point of contact and a friendly neighbor. While primarily managing the communal areas and the development budget. We are very lucky, our manager at Ericht Court is absolutely brilliant. Heather Johnstone is probably the youngest development manager in the country, married with two young children, who works 9am to 3pm Mon to Fri without a lunch break. She has all the necessary I.T skills required in business today, and frequently leads the most efficient manager listings. Her greatest assets are her bubbly personality - her charming smile - her ability to turn sadness into laughter and control a busy room simply by her presence. Her office door is rarely closed and every resident/owner is equally important to her. Heather now also trains all new managers in our area as she is - SIMPLY THE BEST!

We have been asked to give an honest review and inevitably this can be difficult however ,we at Caiystane Court have an excellent house manager who keeps the complex running smoothly and efficiently . She is friendly, caring and displays a high degree of diplomacy and integrity while maintaining confidentiality . She has a challenging role and it can be very difficult dealing with older people who often have differing opinions. My experience with Firstport as a company has not always been the best as we often feel that we are not dealt with as well as might be. ie We are the customers and pay handsomely in management fees and do not always feel we are listened to appropriately by head office . Another point which has been mentioned in reviews is that this is retirement property and residents should be independent especially when they come in at first. Obviously health needs change and residents need more care. This can be managed especially when people have established themselves for sometime in a development but it is not fair to place someone here who needs more care than is provided. It is deemed a cheaper option for many families and can seems more prevalent in recent times due to perhaps high social and healthcare costs. With external carers coming in there is often less care taken with community facilities ie laundry and refuse. Having said all this Linsey Middleton our house manager is special and deserves 5 stars..

Hays Court Inverurie

I have lived here for eight years and can thoroughly recommend it. The neighbours are friendly and supportive, and the manager is extremely able and helpful. There is regular entertainment in the lounge, quiz nights, film shows, craft and exercise classes, etc. Something for everyone!

My mother in law has been in the Falkirk McCarthy Stone establishment for over 10 years and my mum was also here for a few years until last year when sadly she passed away. Janet Hamilton, who is the Manager there, is one of the nicest and kindest people we as a family have met. Janet goes over and above to help in every situation. The public areas in the flats are immaculate and it is always a pleasure to visit.
We also feel our family are very safe and cared for here and we have never had to worry about them.
I would highly recommend these flats to anyone

After reading a one star review regarding Knight’s Court in Perth, I felt it only fair to submit my thoughts and opinion on this excellent retirement complex.

My mother has lived here very happily for over 21 years. Immediately she moved in, she felt safe and secure in the building. Along with a close friend and neighbour, she actively took part, and organised, many social occasions in the communal lounge. However, over the last few years, her health has deteriorated and she is no longer able to participate in the social aspect of the development. She has multiple conditions, one of which is dementia. I sincerely hope the person who submitted the one star review was not including my mother in her submission when she stated people were ‘dumped’ here as my mother is looked after solely by family and is not dependent on anyone else. When she moved here all those years ago she did not know she would suffer from this heartbreaking condition.

She continues to feel safe and secure in her own home. She still has many friends in the building who continue to ask after her. We, her family, also have peace of mind that she is safe here. Frank, the House Manager, is always available to answer our many queries. He is very friendly, patient and approachable with a great sense of humour. This is essential as I often seek his advice. Between him and Yvonne, the development’s cleaner, it all seems to run very smoothly and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them simply for being there.

Hays Court in Inverurie is an excellent retirement complex to live in everyone is very friendly. The manager is very helpfull. We also have lots of social occasions in the residents lounge something most weeks. The grounds are kept neat and tidy. Since moving here 3 years ago I have been very happy

Alistair Ingram