Well managed, ethically-run property guardian services deliver a win-win for guardians and property owners alike, it’s claimed.
A decommissioned primary school in Deptford, south-east London, has provided low-cost housing for local workers, whilst keeping it free from squatters and saving the local council an estimated hundreds of thousands in security costs.
Squatting in Lewisham borough was a concern. As soon as the Mornington Centre in New Cross closed its doors it became a target, especially since an act was passed in 2012 making squatting in houses illegal. Lewisham, with its jey-holding and security contractor CIS Security, assessed the options and asked VPS Property Guardians to secure the property. By occupying the building, guardians deter squatters, VPS says.
Doug Edwards is General Manager for VPS’ Guardian Services, an arm of the void property protection company VPS. He says: “Many empty properties are not suitable for temporary live-in schemes: they may not be habitable, or they cannot meet insurance compliance or health and safety requirements. This is often particularly true for commercial or non-residential buildings like schools or like the hospital which forms the backdrop for Channel 4’s new sit-com Crashing, based around the lives of a group of property guardians.
“Appropriate properties need careful selection, then need to be converted to meet health, safety and live-in standards. If managed well, without taking short-cuts that limit the rights of those living in the properties, then property guardian schemes can deliver a balanced ‘win-win-win’ for the guardians, property owners and managers alike.”
The borough is still the owner of the property and responsible for it; VPS did the works, saving the council an estimated £5000 a month in security, and leaving the property in better condition than if left empty.
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