If you’re a landlord or property decision-maker and you have a lot of questions about Property Guardianship, you’ve come to the right place. We’re here to clear up any confusion and save you further Googling.
Here are some of the questions we get asked most often:
Didn’t I read about property guardians in the Guardian once?
Property Guardianship is a relatively new sub-sector within the security industry. There was some bad press about it a few years back, before the industry grew highly competitive and the meaning of ‘property guardian’ changed from ‘someone who pays low rent’ to ‘responsible, committed individual with excellent references’. So if your first exposure to the concept left you a little suspicious, rest assured that times have changed. The industry is properly regulated and Blue Door Property Guardians is proud to maintain the highest standards of safety for our guardians and your property.
What makes Blue Door Property Guardians stand out?
We are one of the few companies that offer zero-cost security, and when we say zero-cost, we mean it. We secure your property 24/7, 365. You pay zero pounds.
Why should I consider Blue Door over 24hr security?
Traditional security measures can cost thousands of pounds per year. We’ve totted up the average annual costs on our website. With Blue Door Property Guardians, you get the peace of mind that comes with 24hr security, plus a range of other savings and benefits, without having to pay a cent.
What other potential savings are there?
While the most significant saving for landlords comes in the form of zero-cost security for your building, there are plenty of other ways that property guardianship can save you money. Most of these savings come from the fact that while your property is in our care, it is not considered ‘vacant’ by councils and insurers… because, well, it isn’t! It’s a temporary home to guardians.
Council tax is paid by the guardians who reside at the building. You can also save on property rates because your building will be occupied, so empty rates generally won’t apply. Property rates liability is a tricky area but we have a dedicated member of the team who can help you get the reductions you’re entitled to.
Another significant expense you could avoid is vacant property insurance. To understand the threats posed to vacant property, simply ask your insurer—they’re about as clued up as it gets on the subject! (Or you could check out our blog post on the Top Ten Threats to Vacant Property. Increased risk means higher premiums, so it’s no surprise that vacant property insurance can cost a lot more than you’re used to paying. But of course you won’t need this if your building is not vacant, which is where Blue Door Property Guardians comes in.
A discussion of the savings that come with property guardianship would not be complete without a mention of the potential damages that your asset could otherwise incur. For example, squatters can be costly to remove, once you include the legal proceedings and the repair/clean-up that will be necessary once they vacate. While insurance may cover large-scale damage like fires, you will still have a hefty excess to pay, and your insurance pay-out for potentially avoidable damage like maintenance mishaps will depend on whether you took reasonable steps to avoid their occurrence. Demonstrating due diligence can be difficult when you’re not regularly onsite.
My commercial building doesn’t have a kitchen or showers. Is that okay?
Absolutely! If the building has a supply of electricity and water, we can put in temporary facilities for our guardians to use while they secure your property. That said, the property does need a roof, but beyond that, we don’t require very much! As long as it’s watertight and wind-proof, we can secure almost any building.
Do I have to register a ‘change of use’ permission for the building?
No. The building’s primary use remains the same.
Are guardians tenants?
No. Guardians differ from tenants in a few key ways—most importantly: no lease. Guardians have a licence to temporarily reside at the property. That licence extends only until the property owner terminates their contract with Blue Door, at which point guardians are given one month’s notice to vacate. The guardians’ contract is with Blue Door Property Guardians in our capacity as a security company, not as a letting agent. This brings us to another principal distinction between tenants and guardians, namely the role of a property guardian. Unlike a tenant, guardians provide a service in the form of live-in security. When a guardian undertakes an agreement with us, they understand that it is their responsibility to protect our client’s asset by remaining alert and behaving responsibly. If you’d like to fully understand the differences between guardians and tenants, we have a blog post that goes into more detail.
How do you choose your guardians?
Potential guardians apply via our website. We typically select key workers, postgraduates and responsible professionals who demonstrate good security awareness, a reliable attitude and a clear understanding of their role. We also check references and evidence of employment.
Our guardian community naturally attracts people who share an affinity for communal living. They tend to be interested in skills-sharing and community building, and share our passion for sustainability (our guardian community boasts more bicycles per capita than Beijing!). So when we read applications, we look for people who will be a good fit with our existing community.
We’re also proud to be part of the solution to structural inequality in the UK housing market by ensuring fair and equal opportunities to candidates from all backgrounds. While this has always been our policy, attending the Black Lives Matter protest in London on the 6th of June was a great opportunity for us to reaffirm our commitment to upholding racial equality. You can read our reflections on that event here:
What if I need to access my property?
No problem at all. Just give us 24 hrs notice so we can arrange for someone to welcome you.
Do I have to deal with guardians?
No. We take care of guardian recruitment, onboarding and management. One of the joys of property guardianship is that you don’t have to think about your vacant property. We conduct regular inspections (both scheduled and unscheduled) to make sure the property is secure and in good condition, and to liaise with our Head Guardians. We offer clients a report of these visits for your peace of mind.
How do I get my property back?
Your property is returned to you within 30 days of giving notice. We always ensure we return property both clean and tidy.
Who does the maintenance work on the building?
We can carry out day-to-day maintenance, but we’ll get you involved if major works are needed.
How many property guardians will secure the building?
That depends on the size of the building. Our priority is securing your property, so there will always be enough guardians to provide the security that is required. We keep within the perimeter of the Decent Homes Standards and never ‘crowd’ a building as guardians need storage space.
Do you follow health and safety regs?
Yes. We are members of CHAS and meet their strict safety criteria.
Do you have ISO 9001: 2015 certifications?
Yes, we were certified in 2018. You can view all our certifications here.
How long does it take to secure my vacant property?
We can have your property managed and secure in a very short time frame. Just get in touch to discuss your needs and we’ll have your property secured asap.
Phew, that’s all for now! We hope we’ve answered all your questions about property guardianship, and more specifically, what we offer here at Blue Door. But if not, please give us a buzz or drop us a line. We’ll call you back today!