Universal Properties Realty Government Services

Universal Properties Realty, which handled public nuisances in 22 municipalities, did not deposit the buyers’ money in an escrow account and is not responding to them now.

The Francis & Gueits law firm also lost its contract with the Municipality of Caguas’ public nuisance program.

In Puerto Rico, 22 municipalities have contracted the services of Universal Properties Realty Government Services.

Citizens are defenseless before a pattern in which mayors have given free rein to a group of companies to manage declarations of public nuisances, appraisals, legal representation in expropriation processes, and sales of expropriated properties.

The Municipality of Caguas canceled the contract with Universal Properties Realty Government Services, LLC., after an internal investigation confirmed irregularities in the process of declaring public nuisances and their sale by that company in Caguas, said Mayor William Miranda Torres in an interview with the Center for Investigative Journalism.