Looking for an affordable way to live in the centre of London? Becoming a property guardian could be your answer. But before you embark on this adventure, there are a few things you need to know about property guardianship and the responsibilities that come with it.

For those not in the know, a property guardian is someone who moves into a vacant property to protect the space. In return, they pay very little rent to live in prime locations with a community of like-minded guardians. Anyone can do it, and the community of property guardians across London is growing by the day.

If you want to know more about becoming a property guardian then keep reading! Or check out our available properties here.

Photo by Clark Van Der Beken on Unsplash

There’s Potential to Save a Lot of Money

Rental prices in London are sky high and although living in the city is an incredible experience, it’s not one that everyone can afford. According to HomeLet, the average Londoner spends £1,752 of their hard-earned paycheck on rent every month. By becoming a Property Guardian, you can save up to 50% on your rent, without sacrificing on location.

So, the first thing you need to know about becoming a property guardian, is that you’re going to need to open up a good savings account! Whether you’re saving for a deposit on a house or a once-in-a-lifetime backpacking trip – there’s the potential to save a lot of money.

You Could Make Friends for Life

At Blue Door, community is at the heart of what we do. Although our properties are never overcrowded, they are full of friendly faces and community spirit.

Last year, our guardians at The Warehouse, a disused plastics factory in E17, got together to make the best out of lockdown with a week of self-led workshops and fun. Ranging from mushroom growing to life drawing, this group of guardians weren’t going to let the lockdown get them down.

This is such a good example of how strong the community spirit can be in a guardianship property, so be prepared, because your new roommates could become your friends for life.

You’ll Need to Be Responsible

Being a property guardian isn’t just about saving money and making friends, there is still a small amount of responsibility involved.

As a guardian, you will become temporarily licensed in your capacity to protect the asset you are staying in. This means that you have a responsibility to take care of the building. This is normally as simple as keeping things clean and tidy to maintain the state of the space and being present to avoid the chance of crime or squatters.

However, sometimes you’ll be asked to make patrols and you will have a duty to report any maintenance issues. (If responsibility is your thing, we run a Head Guardian scheme at Blue Door for each property. Get in touch to find out more.)

You’ll Also Need to Be Flexible

The property guardian lifestyle is flexible, nomadic and free - great for anyone looking for temporary accommodation while you’re in town for that yoga course or freelance contract.

There is no minimum or maximum term but we try to take on most properties for at least 6 months, meaning that our guardians always have time to settle. We ask guardians to give us 28 days’ notice if they would like to vacate, and landlords have to give us the same 28 days’ notice period if they would like their property back.

In the event that the property you are staying in is headed back to our client, your contract would cease and we would do our best to find you other suitable accommodation, but unfortunately, we can’t make any guarantees.

Most Properties Are Unfurnished

Most property guardian spaces are unfurnished, so you are going to want to bring some of your own furniture with you. We recommend scouting out local charity shops and upcycling as much as possible to keep your costs down.

Unlike rental accommodation, you might have a fair bit of freedom to get creative with your decorating (unless you’re in a listed property). If it’s allowed in the terms of your contract, you are more than welcome to paint the walls and make the space your own. We have some tips here for making your temporary accommodation feel like a home.

You’ll Have an Unforgettable Experience

Becoming a property guardian is so rewarding. Not only are you helping the community by protecting a vacant property from becoming derelict and unused, but you also have the chance to surround yourself with creative, friendly and like-minded people.

Property guardianship is a really unique way to live right in the heart of the city. And, when the time has come for you to move on to bigger and better things, we’re sure you’ll look back at your time as a guardian with fond memories.

If you want to find out more about becoming a guardian with Blue Door; you can get in touch with us here, check out our available properties here, or get the ball rolling and apply today!