Secure your empty property and save money
An empty property quickly becomes a target for vandals, squatters and metal thieves. Property Guardians can protect your property and save you money. It’s the most cost effective solution to secure empty property.
Our property guardian scheme provides occupation for all property types. This includes residential, retail and office premises. It’s safe, secure and socially conscious.
Using property guardians can save property owners
100% of the cost of traditional security services,
as well as substantial savings on empty property rates.
Despite new legislation outlawing squatting, the costs of undertaking repairs from potential damage caused can quickly spiral. Empty properties can also become a target for drug abusers and fly-tippers.
According to the most recent government figures released in November 2022, there are 257,331 empty homes in England classed as long-term empty. In London alone, there were 19,845 homes sitting idle for over six months.
Our solution
Our Property Guardian service can save property owners thousands of pounds on empty property rates, private security and maintenance costs. By using live-in property guardians to secure an empty property and provide vacant property security, maintenance and upkeep can be provided at no cost.
How it works
Property owner enters into an Agreement with Property Guardians authorising us to provide services to secure empty property.
Property Guardians grants non-exclusive licences to live in guardians to occupy and secure the empty property, including a 30 day break clause.
On termination of the agreement between Property Guardians and the owner, our licence with the live-in guardians automatically terminates, ensuring they do not acquire any tenancy rights.
FAQs:
Who are the guardians?
We have a strict selection criteria to ensure that only the most reliable and trustworthy individuals act as Property Guardians to secure empty property. Our live in guardians are young professionals and, preferably, key workers.
Guardians go through a vetting process which includes face-to-face interviews, CRB checks, employment and housing references. Additionally, we only recruit Guardians who are non-smokers and do not have household pets, or children.
The guardians' responsibilities
The primary responsibility of a property guardian is to ensure the upkeep and protection of the property during their term of occupation. As part of this they are required to undertake regular checks of the property and reporting any issues to us.
Our property guardians are also required to adhere to Fire, Health & Safety guidelines which are provided by us at the start of each occupation.
How much does it cost?
Depending on the property type and length of time that it is handed over for, we usually do not charge a management fee. In some circumstances our service can actually be profit-making for the property owner.
What is the notice period?
Guardians vacate with 30 days notice, and viewings, inspections, and renovations can be carried out at anytime whilst the property is under our care.
How does the process work?
If you decide to proceed with our service, you would sign a legal agreement with Property Guardians authorising us to provide our services to provide security by occupation. We would then grant non-exclusive licences to our live in guardians allowing them to occupy and protect your vacant property.
Our legal structure ensures guardians do not acquire any Tenancy rights.
Why use property guardians?
At the heart of our property guardian scheme is a commitment to provide the highest level of service when we protect your vacant property. In addition, our business is concerned with the wider issues around the housing crisis.
We aim to use any profits to eventually put into property helping homeless charities in London. Putting your property into use through security by occupation also helps combat ‘broken window theory’ and could retain the value of property in the area.
You can read some testimonials from our clients sharing their experience of using property guardians.
What other services do you provide?
Our trusted house sitters service is perfect for property owners who want someone on hand to move in, feed and look after pets and maintain their home while away on holiday. Our house sitters go through the same vetting process as live-in guardians.
Other services we offer include on-site security using SIA accredited guards. Our vacant property protection services include a maintenance and restoration service for property owners whose assets have fallen into a state of major disrepair.
Find out more
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