Residents take charge at care home...and slash service fees
FIVE women all aged over 80 have become directors of their care home after becoming fed up with expensive fees.
They set up a management company for services including gardening, cleaning and utilities for 44 flats.
Fellow residents yesterday said they have noticed an improvement at Rectory Court in Bishops Cleeve, Gloucestershire.
They say one of the biggest advantages is being able to use local contractors – who can get jobs done quickly and cheaply.
Rosemary Nelson, 81, Lesley Whitehead, 85, Caroline Taylor, 90, Muriel Adams, 88, and Marjorie Davis, 84, set up a “right to manage” company after bills mounted and residents endured long delays for minor repairs.
Ms Whitehead said: “We had people coming 50 miles to look at a job, charge us for the call-out and go away again to fetch the parts.”
Resident Wally Collinson, 90, said: “We have been paying unbelievable amounts for utilities because we couldn’t query the bills. Now we will have access to all the invoices and bills and change companies for better deals.”
Milly Carter, 90, said: “You can call the local contractors any time. And the window cleaner actually cleans the windows properly.”
Irene Beaver added: “The local contractors are much better. The garden has improved already.”
Leasehold rights campaigner Cherry Jones, from Home to Home Property Management partnered with the group.
She said: “The amount they were being charged was unrealistic. We were able to halve the service charge by taking on local contractors.”
Care provider Stonewater still owns the building but the management company has responsibility for all services that residents pay for.