Serco Contract Experience

fatboyonadiet

Hi, has anyone had experience of letting a property out through a Serco contract?

A friend of mine has done a few and it's worked very well for him, but everything I have read online seems quite negative and makes me thinkg I should avoid it...

And was wondering if anyone here has had any direct experience?

eddddy

I don't have experience of this specific company, but I assume you are talking about leasing to the company, for housing asylum seekers. Considerations include...

• If the property is mortgaged, most lenders would not agree to this arrangement.

• If the property is leasehold, you usually need freeholder consent. One freeholder told me that they would not give consent for this type scheme. (Whether they can legally refuse is another question, but it depends whether you're happy to fight at a tribunal.)

And two issues to check in the contract...

• If the property is very badly trashed, will you get the full cost of repairs? Many contracts limit how much will be paid.

• What happens if the lease ends, but the tenants won't move out? Who's responsible for evicting them? If it takes 6 months to get them out, will you receive rent for those 6 months?

fatboyonadiet

Cheers eddddy, yeah I was.

Considered most of that (and had read similar online)

G_M

Have you used a search engine to read any press reports?

fatboyonadiet

G_M wrote: »

Have you used a search engine to read any press reports?

Yes, I have, but wanted more direct opinion too