team.marley said:
Has anyone actually had a hire period for under 12 months? Or does anyone know who it is up to when deciding how long the hire period is for?
Many thanks.
Many of the 'facilitators' (Cyclescheme etc.) force a set period, usually 12 months, but that aside it's up to whoever runs the scheme (employer). Practically speaking the maximum is 18 months because hire regulations demand a break clause after 18 months which would make the scheme unworkable.
I think there's also confusion about what happens to the bike at the end. Cycle to Work says NOTHING about the ultimate fate of the bike, it's simply a hire; what happens to the bike afterwards is outside the scheme and entirely up to you & whoever's running it. As Rich K says, 'You will
probably be offered the opportunity to buy the bike at a
fair market value'.
A lot of people equate 'Cyclescheme' with the cycle to work scheme but they're just a facilitator; their rules (5% buy back or 5% disposal fee) only apply if it happens that the scheme you're on uses them.