The contract has an option to be extended to 10 years and will see Willmott Dixon responsible for Guinness South properties in the east and west of the country.

The Willmott Dixon team will cover homes in Stevenage, Kings Lynn, Great Yarmouth and Basildon in the east, plus property in Milton Keynes, Aylesbury and Wycombe in the west.

Willmott Dixon Partnerships managing director Mick Williamson said: “We are delighted to be given this opportunity to work with Guinness and achieve the unique Willmott Dixon approach outlined in our ‘Transformational Change’ paper published this year.

“This focuses on how an outsourced company can deliver a real step change in service and value for money while creating major legacy benefits through skills training, apprenticeship investment and community involvement.

“Our focus is on giving Guinness South and its tenants an excellent service when we go live in January 2012.”