A government report revealed that there are nearly 25,000 long term vacant properties in London alone. This accounts for over 10% of all vacant properties across the whole of the UK - a worrying statistic for London based landlords. With this number steadily rising, there is a growing need for cheaper and more effective ways to protect these vacant properties. This is where property guardianship comes in.
Introduced in the early 2000s as an innovative solution that benefits landlords and communities, guardianship is quickly becoming a popular choice amongst property owners. In simple terms, professional live-in guardians move into vacant properties to provide 24-hour security & maintenance at very low costs to the landlord. In fact, at Blue Door, our property guardianship solutions cost a grand total of £0.00 for the property owner.
If you’ve clicked on this article, there’s a good chance you already have a rough idea of what property guardianship is. (If you don’t, no worries! – Click here for a full explanation). However, we often find that people are still confused or misinformed about how property guardianship actually works. So in this article, we’re going to resolve all your unanswered questions and tell you everything you’ve ever wanted to know about using property guardians.
Is Property Guardianship Really Free?
Yes, it is! At Blue Door Property Guardians, we provide our services at zero-cost to the landlord with no hidden fees. We’re one of the only property guardian services in London to offer this.
What About Council Tax and Empty Rates?
The property guardians pay the council tax, and we have an in-house financial advisor who can substantially reduce your empty rates liability for most properties.
Do I Have to Register a ‘Change of Use’ Permission for My Building?
No. The buildings primary use remains the same, so you won’t have to apply for any change of use permission. Saving you time and energy.
Do the Property Guardians Actually Live On-Site Full Time?
Yes! This is how they provide 24-hour maintenance and security. The guardians move into the site as if it was their home in order to protect and secure what would otherwise be a vacant, vulnerable property.
Do the Guardians Become Tenants of the Property?
No, guardians are not tenants. Rather than signing a traditional lease, guardians are licensed to occupy a property in their capacity as a guardian of your asset.
How Do the Guardians Keep the Property Safe?
Property guardians share the responsibility of keeping the property secure, clean and tidy. They make regular patrols of the site and report any maintenance issues as they arise. With Blue Door Property Guardians, every property has a Head Guardian who takes a leadership role in ensuring the property is in good shape.
What Does Blue Door do to Keep the Property Safe?
We carry out regular scheduled and unscheduled inspections to ensure your property is being well maintained. We also liaise with our Head Guardians regularly and offer clients a feedback report of each visit we make. We handle any small repairs but will involve the landlord if there are any big maintenance issues.
What If I Want Access to My Property?
You can still have access to your property at any time for visits or maintenance calls. We just ask that you give us 24 hours’ notice, so we can arrange for someone to welcome you.
What Happens When I Want the Property Back?
As soon as you let us know you want your property returned, we have a quick and simple 30-day hand back system. Meaning you can get the keys (and your tidy, well-maintained property) within a month.
Anything we didn’t answer? If you still have questions and queries about how property guardianship works (and how it could help your business) then get in touch with us today. Or, register your vacant property here and we’ll call you. We look forward to hearing from you.