Pensioner stops paying fees amid unresolved property repairs

Robert Edgar has stopped paying Glasgow-based Newton Property Management a factoring fee of between £16,000 and £18,000 a year – and claims the company has failed to deal with most of the items on a long list of repairs he says are needed to his Market Street flat.

The 71-year-old told the Telegraph that water leaks into his living room and kitchen during periods of heavy rain.

Robert Edgar, 71. (Image: George Munro)

He said he gave the company a list of 10 necessary repairs, but has seen just two of them carried out since he moved in to the flat in November 2024.

He also says the building’s roof, gutters and downpipes haven’t been properly maintained – and that Newton have told him that companies they’ve approached have said there are issues accessing the roof because of its height.

However, the pensioner said he reached out to a company independently and was quoted £1,500 for scaffolding to complete repairs.

Mr Edgar said: “We've had some heavy rainfall and when it rains, it comes in.

"[Newton] were out in August this year and took notes, pictures, took a reading, and I'm still waiting. We're seven weeks since then. Nothing's happened.

"I invited environmental control and they are going to submit a message to Newton about it. It's a health issue.”

One of the repairs he said had been completed involved lights in the communal stairwell, which Mr Edgar said were fixed in June after residents spent the winter without lighting.

Robert Edgar, 71, says water enters his Market Place during heavy rain. (Image: George Munro)

Another came months after a pane of glass from a roof skylight was blown out during a storm and fell downstairs.

He said: “There are stains all over the place where the water was coming in. It's on the landing floor. Three months to get a guy out and to put a bit of glass in.”

During another storm on August 17, 2025, he says, a rear gutter and downpipe separated.

Mr Edgar said two workers used a ladder and duct tape as a temporary repair on September 4.

He said he had called Newton 10 times to ask when permanent work would be done, but had received no answer.

Robert Edgar, 71. (Image: George Munro)

Mr Edgar said he stopped paying his factoring fee around May 2025. He said three debt collectors had since contacted him, but that they withdrew after he showed them information about the repairs.

He added: “These guys are an utter nightmare. I’m so fed up with them.

 “They're costing us between £16,000 and £18,000 a year. After two repairs done in almost two years, it's just unacceptable.”

A Newton Property Management spokesperson said: “We understand the concerns raised and recognise that ongoing repair issues can be frustrating for residents.

Robert said the gutter and the downpipe have been duct taped since September 2025. (Image: George Munro)

“Newton follows an established process when progressing communal repairs, including assessing the works required, obtaining appropriate contractor quotations and, where required, consulting with the wider ownership before significant works can proceed.

“Updates have continued to be provided to homeowners, with the most recent issued on Monday, September 21, and we remain in contact with contractors to progress the outstanding repairs.

“We take our responsibilities to customers seriously and remain committed to providing a professional and responsive service.

“Our customer service standards have also been independently recognised through the Customer Service Excellence standard, a nationally recognised quality mark.”