Welcome to Meadowbrook Court - 2 miles north of Oswestry; a Shropshire town bordering North Wales. The Court is an estate of almost 60 bungalows (3scorehomes). Almost because one has been mysteriously unoccupied for most of nine years and the council refuses to consider an EDMO. The estate is variously described as sheltered, retirement, warden controlled, close care and continuing care homes. The last is favoured by landlord Mr. D. W. Dulson, builder, who set up the estate from around 1996.

But close care or continuing care? I don’t think so.

After we moved in five years ago, I heard rumblings about the 22½ % that Dulson loaded on top of the total expenditure that the residents paid for running the estate. Other residents were not happy that he took nearly a quarter again of what he spent as a charge for managing. Imagine letting someone take nearly a quarter of the amount he managed to spend of your money; as a fee! The more he spends of residents' money, the more he gets. This is in addition to residents paying £28,000 p.a. for his manager cum nurse for her salary and benefits.

I went to the Tribunal about his fee being unreasonable and the upshot was he had to pay me back around £900. He got away with not reimbursing my £100 Tribunal fee through a muck-up by the Tribunal staff. But to rub salt in, Dulson did precisely the same thing the next year and charged 22½% again. Back I went to the Tribunal and again Dulson was found to have overcharged us. Some took their £500 refunds and he, or someone close, dreamed up a spiteful act of revenge. Last Christmas Eve, we received a hand delivered envelope from Dulson. No, it was not a seasons greeting card. The letter said that the care and other services that had brought us to Meadowbrook Court were no longer available to us. Merry Christmas!

So, if you are considering buying a home here at Meadowbrook Court be prepared to pay Dulson what he wants or fight him for what is right and have him withdraw from you the meals in the restaurant, guest suites for family and friends, extra cleaning, laundry and ironing, gardening, handyman and, most of all, the wonderful carers. You will still have to pay for all the water and electricity that Dulson uses for his private care and catering business and for the extra night carer and for the manager/nurse who runs his carers. You might think that the residents committee would have something to say to Dulson about the way he treats residents. The big clue is the consistent presence of a Mr. Moreton at every committee meeting. Moreton is Dulson’s building services manager. Nice as those earnest people on the committee might be, none seem brave enough to make a stand for those fellow residents who have had their legitimate expectations unilaterally and cruelly removed. One of these is a widow of more than ninety years of age who fondly remembers the meals she used to be able to take in the company of similarly senior friends and neighbours. Dulson has stopped that and any care she may need. The lady is more alone now and that seems to be pure spite.

The following link will take you to a website that extols the merits of living at Meadowbrook Court. The telephone number beside the logo of the CSCI is that of the residents' committee chairman! How much is his commission? No-one knows. The logo has been "borrowed". None of the above facts are mentioned in his spiel and the service charge is more than the quoted £270 per month! How much more? Who knows? Dulson won't tell us but IT WILL BE MORE! check here:- http://www.closecareretirement.co.uk/meadowbrook_focus.htm
There's a few of us serfs that will feel better getting this load off and warning others of this feudal landlord.

Seems a case of "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" ---
 If the 59 People could meet all together and to Discuss, what they would like to do. Possibly Form a Committee, with representation, to undertake Legal Advice, relative to their 'contracts' of Protection ?? They may well have a leg to stand on ?? -- Laws, seem to change so often and it is undoubtedly,difficult for the ordinary people to fully understand??  You already have experiance with The Tribunal --  A complicated affair this!! Now having noted you have a Residents Committee, perhaps they feel 'intimidated' by the presence of Mr. Moreton???
Are The Regulations not strict, for Residential Homes??
 Seems to be a 'sign' of our changing times -----

H
                       



HI NICK, TRY SAGA, THEY GIVE LEGAL ADVICE ON SUCH MATTERS.

Hi Nick
Try Age concern and your MP,and the social services,and offices of fair trading,and the human rights.
Failing all of that take him to court for unfair trading !

Hi Nick
Watchdog might look into it for you.