What is Property Guardianship and Why More Owners are Choosing It
Got an empty property gathering dust? You’re not alone, and you’re not stuck.
Whether it’s a disused office, a vacated commercial space, or a residential property waiting on planning permission, leaving a building empty in London can cost a fortune. That’s where Property Guardianship in London comes in.
Instead of paying out for ineffective security or dealing with the risks of squatters, you could turn to guardianship as a smarter, more cost-effective way to protect your space.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is Property Guardianship?
Property guardianship is all about creating a win-win setup. Property owners allow responsible individuals, known as guardians, to live in their vacant buildings. In return for heavily reduced living costs, guardians help protect the building simply by living in it.
Guardians aren’t tenants in the traditional sense. They sign a license agreement, not a tenancy. This gives flexibility to both sides and ensures the building stays active, maintained, and secure while it waits for sale, renovation, or redevelopment.
Why Property Guardianship in London is a Smart Choice
Unfortunately, owning a vacant property in London can get seriously expensive. Empty properties bleed cash every month on security and upkeep, insurance, and business rates.
Here’s how property guardianship can help to turn this around.
Eliminate Security Costs
Hiring 24/7 security can run into tens of thousands per year. And not only is security expensive, it’s not an entirely reliable deterrent.
Property guardians are a more effective, more budget-friendly alternative to security. They live in the space, so their very presence keeps squatters, trespassers, and antisocial behaviour out.
While they’re not security guards, they do keep your building lively, cared for, and occupied. It’s one of the easiest ways to prevent issues.
Reduce Council Tax and Business Rates
An empty property means you’re likely paying an eye-watering amount on council tax and business rates. But once it’s officially occupied by guardians, you can often qualify for major reductions, or even exemptions, depending on your local authority.
Stay Ahead with Reactive Maintenance
Vacant buildings are vulnerable. Things like leaks go unnoticed, pests move in, and small maintenance issues quickly turn into major repair bills.
Guardians are the eyes and ears that property owners need to stay on top of these issues.
When guardians are in place, they identify and deal with problems before they snowball. It’s all about being proactive and staying on top of issues before they get worse.
Lower Your Insurance Premiums
Empty buildings are high-risk. At least, that’s how insurers see it. But a lived-in building? That’s a different story.
With property guardians in place, owners often see their property insurance premiums drop. So, not only do guardians make your building more secure and easier to maintain, but they also vastly reduce the ongoing costs of vacant properties.
Common Myths Surrounding Property Guardianship
We get it, property guardianship sounds a little out there if you’re new to it. So let’s go over a few common myths.
Myth: “It’s just squatting with a fancy name”
Guardians sign legal agreements, go through strict vetting processes, and pay a monthly license fee. It’s all fully above board.
Myth: “Guardians must live in rough, neglected buildings”
At City Guardians, we carry out full inspections and fit-outs before anyone moves in. Guardians live in clean, safe, and unique spaces with serious character.
Myth: “It’s unstable, they could leave at any moment”
We provide 28 days’ notice for any changes and often relocate guardians to another building if one closes.
Myth: “They’re expected to act like security staff”
Guardians are residents, not security guards. Their role is to care for the space like they would their own home, not confront criminals or work shifts. However, property guardians do report any problems and instantly flag any security issues. Plus, guardians perform regular inspections to ensure properties remain secure and maintained.
Secure Your Property the Smart Way
Owning an empty property in London comes with a long list of headaches. But at City Guardians, we step in to make vacant property management a seamless process.
Quite simply, we turn unused spaces into lived-in, well-looked-after homes for trusted key workers and professionals. So, you get a secure, maintained property with zero security costs, while guardians get affordable accommodation in unique locations.
We can return your property with just 32 days’ notice. So if you need the space back, we handle the move-out process smoothly, including maintenance checks and a full clean-up.
Our in-house team handles regular inspections and deals with minor repairs. We’ll also send you monthly reports so you’re always in the loop.
And the best part? In some cases, you might even see a share of the revenue generated from the guardianship, turning an empty liability into an active asset.
Get in touch with us today to see how guardianship can save you thousands.
