Leaving a property empty for an extended period of time will always carry a security risk. From break-ins, to squatters to vandals, there is a lot that can happen if you don’t take sensible security precautions. Here are a few options for you to consider.
CCTV
Closed circuit television is a common option, particularly for those that own an empty commercial building. It is relatively inexpensive to install, but the real cost can come from hiring someone to monitor it.
In a previous post, we broke down the costs of CCTV security as follows:
£1300 initial installation cost
£80 annual maintenance fee
£6500 average annual monitoring fee
TOTAL = £7880
Another thing to consider is where you place your CCTV and how you will store the footage. Since it’s very expensive to monitor every angle of a building, most people selectively choose to monitor key-sites (entrance-ways, ground floor with windows, back of the property etc).
Alternatively, there are other various low-cost, high-street solutions that allow building owners to view their property through a camera in real-time via a smartphone. This set up, though very basic, is good for those with a second-home that need a cheap way to get peace of mind and check up on their property whilst on the go.
Security Guards
Another option is to hire a security guard to physically protect your building. This is preferable to CCTV since a security guard has no blind-spots and can roam around the building as they need, investigating any disturbances or issues.
However, security guards are one of the most expensive solutions out there, since they require annual salaries, overheads and welfare facilities on site which can reach up to and beyond £100,000 a year for 24 hr 24/7 surveillance. For safety reasons, security guards also rarely work alone, which doubles your costs.
Lock and Chain Security
Another obvious option is to simply fence off your property with heavy duty locks and board up the windows to prevent break ins. This is effective as a preventative measure, since vandals will require more noise, time and effort to gain access – something likely to be noticed by neighbours or passerbys.
However, the issue with this method is that it tells the neighbourhood that your property is empty, which might end up causing exactly what it was meant to prevent. Boards especially are often easily removed and then replaced from the inside, meaning squatters can inhabit the building without detection. However, if you do decide to go ahead with this method, it is one of the cheapest, with costs averaging at:
Property Guardians
Your final option is to install property guardians. This is a fairly modern phenomenon, but it is quickly gaining traction as one of the most effective and low-cost security solutions out there.
Organised by a Property Guardian Scheme (such as yours truly!), the building is first inspected by our Health & Safety Manager who checks the full building inside and out to ensure compliance standards and carries out a Fire Risk Assessment. Recommendations are acted upon to make properties legally safe for habitation. Kitchens and showers are installed if necessary. Our vetted Property Guardians are then moved in to secure and protect your building 24/7 365 days of the year, until you are ready to take the building back.
The scheme works well for property owners because the building is secured and provides affordable accommodation for our guardians who are key workers, post graduates and working professionals.
Curious to find out more? Contact us today via our web-form, or call 02078594213 for advice on how Blue Door Property Guardians can best protect your building.
