Property Guardians vs Security Guards: Which is Better for Vacant Property?
If you’re not careful, an empty building could be an open invitation.
There are many good reasons why a property may be standing vacant. But just because it’s not occupied doesn’t mean the property is safe. And considering your real estate is likely your most valuable investment, you certainly won’t want it exposed to crime, vandalism, and decay.
So, your property needs to be secure while it sits idle. That’s where the question of hard security vs property guardians comes in.
Traditional security, like guards and metal shutters, seems an easy solution. But in reality, they often can’t keep up. Instead, what if your best line of defence wasn’t behind a security badge, but behind your property’s front door?
Property guardianship offers a smarter, more human-first solution that not only protects buildings but also makes empty buildings more profitable.
Property Guardians vs Security: What’s the Difference?
Security guards are hired staff who are either stationed on-site or who conduct regular patrols of your property. Quite simply, they’re there to deter unauthorised access and respond to incidents.
The main issue with security guards is that their presence is limited — both in time and impact.
When their shift ends, they leave the property. Their routes are predictable. And they’re expensive to maintain.
Unlike hired security, property guardians live in the property full-time. These are vetted individuals who occupy otherwise vacant buildings under short-term agreements.
Like a security guard, their consistent presence deters antisocial behaviour and crime. But property guardians don’t just secure empty spaces, they look after them.
They’re also there to report maintenance issues, raise alerts, and establish a safer environment inside and around the property.
Both methods can protect your property, but one is passive and temporary. The other is proactive and continuous.
What is the Best Solution for Vacant Property Security?
Every year, thousands of buildings across the UK sit empty — sometimes for months, sometimes for years.
Clearly, these properties need to be secured against threats. But, which approach is best?
Security guards are generally deployed in high-risk, short-term scenarios. You’ll typically find them patrolling warehouses, construction sites, or properties with valuable assets inside.
Even in these scenarios, the gaps between patrols or the inability to provide a 24/7 presence without astronomical costs limit how effective they are.
Property guardians, on the other hand, offer an ideal solution for residential or mixed-use buildings, large spaces like former office blocks, or any property where constant, low-impact security is required.
They provide round-the-clock coverage by living in the space, adapting to changes in redevelopment plans, and responding instantly to emerging issues.
Finding the best solution isn’t only about preventing security issues. It’s also about responsiveness, responsibility, and long-term value. Property guardianship delivers all three.
Cost Effectiveness
First and foremost, security is essential. But, security shouldn’t cost you more than the property is worth to protect. That’s where guardianship offers a clear advantage.
Security guards cost upwards of £300 per day for full coverage. That’s over £100,000 per year.
Even with cheaper security alternatives like CCTV, the upfront installation and ongoing monitoring costs stack up quickly. Add in the potential legal liabilities of injury on-site and the risk of vandalism during off-hours, and your security investment has a lot of vulnerable holes.
Property guardianship, on the other hand, usually carries no direct cost to property owners.
Guardians pay a license fee to live in the space, while companies like City Guardians cover fit-out, installation, inspections, and ongoing maintenance.
This means your property is secured and maintained for free. Plus, you get the added option to generate revenue through the guardianship model.
Risk and Reliability
Security guards are not always as trustworthy as you might think.
The impact of a security guard depends entirely on how present and visible they are. The second they leave or take a break, your property is exposed.
Even regular patrols leave gaps, which experienced trespassers know how to exploit.
Guardians, however, are always there. They live on-site and have a continuous presence that naturally deters criminals, vandals, or squatters.
Think about it: a boarded-up building is an open invitation for squatters. A lived-in home is not.
So, property guardianship means your security is always on and always present. It gives you a level of reliability that no paid security service can match.
Flexibility
Managing an empty property is never a straightforward process.
Redevelopment plans change, timelines shift, and opportunities come and go. So, you need a security solution that can keep up with all this. A security solution that offers total flexibility.
A big problem with security guards is that they’re rigid. Their contracts are long, and their costs are fixed. If you need to make changes to your security plan, it will require renegotiation, downtime, and disruption.
Property guardianship is designed for this kind of changing environment. Most providers offer rolling contracts, which allow for quick onboarding, relocation, or withdrawal as your project evolves.
Need the building back in a month? No problem. Extending the guardianship by six more? Easy.
Adaptability like this gives you total control over your property without locking you into expensive security commitments.
Security Response and Prevention
Emergencies don’t wait for the next security patrol, and hard security solutions don’t always allow for real-time alerts.
Sure, CCTV might record the problem, but it won’t prevent it. Alarms might go off, but who’s responding?
Instead, property guardians are your first responders.
They notice small issues before they become big problems. Things like a leaking pipe, a broken window, or an unfamiliar face are identified immediately. And when they identify these issues, they act on them.
Property guardians are always there, and they care. They provide a level of responsiveness that’s not just reactive, but preventative.
Guardians are engaged, connected, and trained to alert support teams the moment something feels wrong. The difference here is that your property is genuinely looked after, and not just watched.
Community Impact
Neglected buildings send the wrong message to a community. Boarded windows and steel doors often breed fear, encourage crime, and erode trust in the organisations responsible for those spaces.
Property guardians turn that narrative around.
With property guardians present, empty buildings are brought back to life.
This restores communities. Streets feel safer, local economies benefit, and, as a real estate developer or owner, your organisation will hold more trust.
Beyond managing your property, guardians bring the benefit of actively contributing to the neighbourhood they live in.
Secure Your Property Smarter
Protecting your vacant property isn’t just a matter of cost or immediate security. It’s about securing what may well be your biggest investment, your reputation, and the well-being of the surrounding community.
The bottom line is that traditional security guards offer a short-term fix, while property guardians provide a more flexible, cost-effective, and human-centred solution. With a constant presence, proactive maintenance, and all the risks of hard security removed, guardianship gives property owners far more peace of mind.
At City Guardians, we specialise in placing trusted individuals who care for your property as if it were their own. Not only does this take the headache out of vacant property management, but it makes protecting your property far more affordable. Get in touch to secure your property the smarter way.
