So, your tenants have moved out and suddenly you have an empty property on your hands - what do you do now?
All properties are at risk of maintenance-related damage and criminal threat but empty properties, whether commercial or residential, find themselves particularly vulnerable. Meaning that while your property is vacant, it’s crucial you find an effective, flexible, and affordable way to keep your building safe.
Here at Blue Door Property Guardians, we offer a zero-cost guardian property solution that benefits both landlords and the community. If you’ve not heard of property guardianship before, here’s a quick definition:
Property guardianship is a relatively new sub-sector of the security industry, where guardians move into vacant properties in order to provide 24-hour, live-in security. It’s a simple solution to the increasingly difficult problem of securing a vacant property.
So, should you consider property guardian security for your empty property? We personally think there are hundreds of reasons why property guardianship is such a great solution for landlords with empty properties but (because we know you’re busy) we’ve narrowed it down to our top four.
1. A Zero Cost Solution
Property guardianship is far cheaper than other security methods. In fact, at Blue Door we offer our service at zero cost to the landlord.
But how do we keep our costs so low? When an empty property is secured with property guardians, the guardians actually pay a small amount of rent. This then goes towards the maintenance and security costs of looking after the vacant space. With the guardian property solution; the guardians benefit from lower than market rental costs in prime locations, and the landlord benefits from zero-cost 24/7 on-site security.
When compared to traditional security methods, such as security guards and monitored CCTV, we estimate that the average commercial landlord could save up to £105,000/year on security fees alone by switching to Blue Door Property Guardians.
Plus, with property guardians, there is no longer any need for vacant property insurance and you may not have to pay empty property business rates. So, not only will you spend less – but you could also make valuable savings.
Photo by Faris Mohammed on Unsplash
2. 24/7 On-Site Security
Guardian property solutions are unique in that you will have constant on-site protection at your property.
An empty property in the UK that is maintained and secured with property guardians is far less likely to become a target for criminal behaviour. This is due to the simple fact that a consistent, around-the-clock, manned presence (in the form of on-site guardians) makes your property far less appealing to criminals who prefer secluded and quiet sites. Although a guardian is never expected to put themselves in harm's way, just their presence prevents squatting, arson, metal theft, and vandalism among other criminal threats.
Property guardians also share the responsibility of keeping the property clean, tidy, and well maintained. Organised by the head guardian at each site, property guardians will make regular patrols around your property and report any maintenance issues as they arise. From a water leak to a broken window pane, these regular patrols mean you can avoid any small issues turning into big problems.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
3. Flexible Contracts & Easy Hand Back
At Blue Door, all of our contracts are fully flexible and tailored to your needs.
This is largely because guardians are not the same as tenants, instead, they are considered Licences who live on the property in their capacity to protect and secure it. This means that you don’t need to register a change of use for the empty property. It also means that you will have complete access to your building at any time, we just ask that you give us 24 hours notice so we can make sure someone is available to greet you.
Additionally, at Blue Door, we have a quick and simple 30-day hand back system. Meaning that as soon as you find the next tenant or use for your property, you can have your keys back within a month. It’s as easy as that.
Photo by Samuel Foster on Unsplash
4. Supports Local Communities
In our opinion, the top reason you should consider property guardians for your empty property is that it is the only maintenance and security solution that also gives back to the community.
In towns or cities with a high proportion of poorly managed long-term vacant property, the negative social and economic impact can have lasting effects. Which in turn, ends up bringing down the value of your property. However, with property guardianship schemes, landlords and property owners have the opportunity to support their community by providing affordable living solutions to key workers and young professionals.
At Blue Door, we are also engaged effectively with local charities and community groups to optimise the use of previously underutilised community resources. Our aim has always been to support places, and the people who live there, all while saving you money.
Photo by Henry & Co. on Unsplash
If you’d like to know more about our community-focused, zero-cost, and flexible approach to property guardianship, then get in touch today. A member of the team will be happy to answer any of your questions and discuss your empty properties security requirements.