Desenzano Municipal Housing Managed by Aler Brescia: New Partnership
News in the management of Desenzano’s municipal housing. In recent days, the Municipality and the Azienda Lombarda per l’Edilizia Residenziale (Aler, formerly Iacp) di Brescia signed an agreement regarding the management of public housing owned by the municipality: 125 apartments located on Gherla, Mezzocolle, Stretta Castello, Annunciata, Garibaldi, Goito, Michelangelo, Monti, Manzoni streets, and via di Francia in San Martino della Battaglia.
In summary, the agreement provides that Aler manages the municipal real estate assets, then releasing about 15 percent of the total rental income to the Municipality, and an additional 24 percent for routine maintenance works. For the Municipality, this operation comes at no cost.
“Yes, that’s exactly it,” confirms the Budget Councillor Mario Marchioni. “The Municipality is freeing itself from the management responsibilities of this large asset, which previously required staff and resources. The agreement, which is the result of lengthy negotiations by the Municipal Executive and the municipal offices, provides for the outsourcing of housing administration to Aler, which has just finalized a global service agreement with Asm for maintenance through the new company named Gesi. Additionally, it establishes a unified, organizational, and legal management of all public residential real estate assets in our territory.”
Total number of apartments and future simplifications
In addition to the 125 municipal homes, there will be 155 properties owned by Aler, making a total of 280 units.
Will this simplify the relationship between citizens and public offices? “Certainly,” Marchioni resumes, “because from now on there will be only one point of contact and management.” But what guarantees are there for tenants? “The Municipality will review Aler’s management after one year, and there will be an option to apply penalties in case of non-compliance. We will monitor all communications sent by Aler to tenants.”
There will also be a designated operator from the new management company present at the municipal offices for at least 4 hours a week to meet with tenants facing issues. Lastly, funds allocated for maintenance will be set aside in a dedicated reserve. However, the assignment of apartments will remain under municipal jurisdiction.