Illegal graffiti is everywhere. Found on public, private, commercial, and residential property alike, some local communities are struggling to keep this criminal damage under control.

Although every property is at risk of antisocial vandalism, vacant property is particularly vulnerable. Without proper maintenance and monitoring, the blank canvas of an undisturbed vacant property can quickly become an easy target. Leaving vacant property owners with an annoying and expensive problem to fix.

The removal costs vary depending on the size and location of the graffiti, but the lasting, rippling effects could end up costing much more. So, in this article, we’re running through why graffiti is bad for business, the cost of graffiti removal, and some graffiti prevention methods to help protect your vacant property in the future.

Why is Graffiti Bad for Business?

Not everyone hates graffiti. In fact, in a YouGov survey it was found that 55% of Londoners think that some graffiti is acceptable, and we can see why. Some graffiti can be an artful form of social commentary that’s become a beloved part of our city's culture. However, most graffiti is not. Tagging, for example, is no more than a criminal eyesore that can have a very damaging long-term impact on your private property and business.

Similar to vandalism and fly-tipping, graffiti signifies high crime rates and can have a threatening or anti-social appearance. As a result, large quantities of graffiti can end up devaluing property in the area – not good news if you are between tenants or looking to sell your vacant property. 

The Cost of Graffiti Removal

On average, the cost of removing graffiti can range anywhere between £7-16 per square meter depending on the method of removal. 

The cost will vary depending on the size, location, paint substance, and the surface the graffiti was painted on. Although you can try and remove the graffiti on your own – it’s recommended that you call in the professionals as you could easily make the situation worse, leaving behind scars or damaging the surface of your building.

A professional graffiti removal specialist will use one of three different graffiti removal methods.

Steam Cleaning – Average Cost £11/m2:

Steam cleaning works to remove most graffiti and causes very little damage to the wall or the environment. It is an eco-friendly way to remove unsightly vandalism with high-pressure water.

Chemical Cleaning – Average cost £11/m2:

The most common form of graffiti removal, chemical cleaning involves painting a strong chemical onto the paint and leaving it for 15 minutes. The graffiti will then peel off and can be rinsed away. This will cause no damage to the wall but can be polluting to the environment.

Sandblasting – Average cost £13.50/m2:

With this method, a mixture of sand and water is sprayed onto the graffiti at high pressure to blast the paint away. Although highly effective and suitable for most walls, sandblasting is slightly more expensive.

It takes about 1.5 hours to remove a square meter of graffiti (or potentially longer if the graffiti has been left on the wall for a long period of time).

Graffiti Prevention

Preventing graffiti is really important. Mainly because once your property has been vandalised it’s highly likely to become a repeat problem. So, our first tip is to remove any graffiti as soon as possible to avoid repeat offenders viewing your vacant property as an easy target.

Other methods of preventing graffiti include using an anti-graffiti paint made of polyurethane that creates a non-stick surface. It costs on average £11-20 per meter square and could save you a lot of money in the long-term from repeating graffiti offenders.

The City of London Police suggests that you ‘Make sure your property can be easily seen by your neighbours and the public by ensuring hedges, fences and walls at the front are no higher than one metre. That way, you’re not giving an intruder anywhere to hide.’ They also suggest that you should keep your property tidy to avoid encouraging anti-social behaviour. One of the easiest ways to do this is to use property guardians to protect and maintain your vacant space.

How Can Property Guardians Help?

For vacant properties, guardianship protection is an affordable way to maintain and secure your asset. Property guardians move into your vacant property in their capacity to look after and protect the building. The guardians benefit from lower-than-market rent to live in prime locations, but they are not actually considered tenants. Instead, they are licensed to take care of the vacant property and prevent criminal vandalism such as graffiti.

At Blue Door Property Guardians, we provide this service at zero cost to the landlord. Making it the most affordable method of vacant property protection on the market. Plus, we offer flexible contracts allowing you to personalise your security and maintenance needs to the unique position of your vacant property.

If you would like to know more about how property guardians could help protect your vacant space, then get in touch today and a member of our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.