Family run operation - Building Manager Centro (UK) Employee Review

Near the station. Other than that nothing.

The property management side of this business is declining rapidly due to toxic and abhorrent management from the 86 year old owner. The staff that are left are miserable, constantly reprimanded like children and totally unsupported (there is no HR department). If the owner takes a dislike to you (you could just say something slightly not to his liking and that’s your cards marked), you are worked out of the business one way or another very quickly. When approximately 8 people in the group leave within 6 months you know there is a problem. Looking at the reviews on other websites, all seems ok but that is a different part of the business (Sales and Lettings), rather than the property management side. The owner is very controlling and checks everything (including all works orders) resulting in a very unproductive and slow output, and he will only do this when it suits him and. It can take months to resolve simple issues because he is very stuck in his ways and hasn’t updated his knowledge in the last 20 years and always believes he is right - his way or the high way is the general feel. Just don’t do it. I have worked in offices for over 20 years and this place is shocking, it’s hard to believe companies like this still exist.

Centro is a medium sized family run company. There are a number of elements of the business. Primarily Commercial Lettings, Residential Lettings, Residential Property Management, and Contract Services (gardening, cleaning, maintenance). The Commercial Lettings element of the business is very well ran and is highly regarded. The Residential Lettings/Sales is OK also.

The CEO has zero trust in his Residential Property Managers, and consequently micro-manages everything. Staff are unable to send any correspondence outside of the organisation without passing it via the CEO - which is complete madness when things are time sensitive. He is also disrespectful of his staff in general and is generally stuck in the mindset of the 1970s workplace. Residential Property Managers rarely stay for more than a few months due to the working conditions no hand-overs are given - just pick up the pieces and hope for the best.