Property guardianship is an arrangement by which people are granted accommodation for a very low price (from £40 per week) for keeping the property under observation and well-maintained. Using buildings that would otherwise stand empty back into use as housing.
These buildings can be anything that is suitable to be used or converted into appropriate accommodation: offices, flats, houses, churches, former GP’s surgeries, even fire stations not used. This provides security to the property owner while the building is empty, and provides cost effective housing for the guardians living there. This model is growing and affordable.
You can live in the best area of the city without paying the price of it
The catch in property guardianship
Property guardianship is different from renting in the private sector as the main role of a guardian on the paper is to protect the property they are in from squatters and anti social behaviour and to keep an eye out for maintenance issues. You will be living in them as your home. However, this doesn’t mean that you need to be there 24/7, but they are seeking reliable and flexible people who will look after the property.
The two legal differences between property guardians and tenants are:
- If you are asked to leave the building, the notice period is just 28 days and there are fewer rights to contest this in court.
- Guardians have to agree to a non-exclusive possession of the property. This means that the property guardian company or the property owner can enter the property without giving notice.
This said, outside these two differences, property guardians are entitled to the same protection as tenants. It’s the same regarding health and safety, fire and House in Multiple Occupation legislation as well as from the Protection from Eviction Act.
Where to find a home as a property guardian?
There are different websites online to find a property, I will list a few:
How to be the first one to apply?
The key is to register to the newsletters of each platform/website. The best offers goes quickly.
What do I need to apply?
You will usually need a list of documents such as:
- Recent bank statements
- Recent pay slips
- A scanned copy of your passport
- An employers reference sometimes
- To be 21 and over
Do you know any better platform? Please share in comments.
Amazing helpful article. Thanks for sharing this kind of article.