The public company Casa 47 has granted the UTE formed by Serveo Servicios and Factoría Gestión the operation of 218 Sareb housing units and the future 831 in Son Busquets. Tenant selection and rent collection will remain in public hands.
The central Government, through the public entity Casa 47 (formerly SEPES), has taken a key step to launch the ambitious public housing plan in the Balearics. The UTE formed by Serveo Servicios, S.A.U. and Factoría Gestión y Consultoría, S.L. has been awarded a contract that includes the operational management of 218 housing units from Sareb, in addition to the 831 planned in the former barracks of Son Busquets, in Palma. The news comes at a time when the demand for affordable rental housing on the island continues to soar, with prices constantly rising.
What will the private company do and what won't it?
The UTE will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the properties: from onboarding (reviewing and preparing each unit for rental) to minor repairs, tenant support, or incident management. It will also need to organise visits, formalise contracts using the model set by Casa 47, and maintain a tenant portal with a free call centre. However, tenant selection, contract duration, pricing, and rent collection will remain the exclusive responsibility of Casa 47. “No housing management is being privatised,” emphasise the public entity, which insists that the entire process is 100% controlled by its team.
For the Palma resident waiting for one of these homes, this means that daily communication will be with the private company, but the final decision on who moves in and how much they pay will be made by the administration. A red line that the Government has wanted to make clear to avoid criticisms of covert privatisation.
A contract that covers everything from the lock to the land registry
The awarded contract is broad and detailed. The UTE will have to check the physical, legal, and administrative status of each property, verify documentation, detect incidents, and generate diagnostic reports. If a unit requires registration or land registry regularisation, obtaining a certificate of occupancy or energy certificate, the company will take care of it. It will also change locks, safeguard keys, and certify that the flat is ready for rental.
In terms of repairs, tasks will range from painting and locksmithing to cleaning, removal of belongings, and adjustments to blinds or carpentry. When necessary, broader actions on installations or finishes will be addressed. All this with the aim of ensuring that the homes are in optimal condition for tenants. For the average reader, this means that if they are assigned a property, they can expect it to be in good condition and that any minor issues will receive a quick response through the call centre.
What about unpaid rents and daily life?
The management of unpaid rents also falls to the UTE, although always under the guidelines of Casa 47. The company will need to communicate with delinquent tenants, process documentation, and, ultimately, execute the actions determined by the public entity. In practice, the tenant who has payment problems will deal with the management company, but the final decision on possible evictions or payment plans will remain public.
The contract also includes the obligation to have a free call centre to address repairs, contractual queries, or payment issues. A service that, according to the specifications, must be operational 24 hours for emergencies. For those already renting in Mallorca, where often the landlord is private and support is lacking, this professional management could be a relief. That said, it will depend on the company meeting the promised timelines and quality.
The homes in Son Busquets, on the Valldemossa road, still have no start date for construction, but the awarding of management is a necessary administrative step. Meanwhile, the 218 Sareb flats are already in the portfolio and could start being rented in the coming months, once the UTE completes the onboarding. For the thousands of families seeking affordable rental housing on the island, any progress is good news. However, patience remains a necessary virtue.
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