How Much Can You Save?

Contract Terms

Potential Guardians are interviewed prior to induction and walked through our formal Contract, T&Cs to ensure they understand their role and responsibility as a Guardian. There are specific Terms and Conditions attached to the Contract for each property we manage and we discuss these with you based on your preferences. Guardians understand that we are not Letting Agents or Landlords offering traditional ASTs (Tenancy Agreements) but a professional Guardian Company offering a contracted Licence for a non-exclusive living space at one of our managed properties. Guardians know that when our clients contract is terminated the Licence agreement with our Guardians comes to an end and they have a 28 day Notice period in which to move out. We endeavour to move as many of our Guardians as possible into other vacant rooms, but we don’t give guarantees.

Legal Framework

Blue Door relies on our expert Legal Team of Housing Solicitors who protect the interests of our business and inform our legal relationship with property owners and Guardians. Licences reflect current legal legislation and are updated and amended when necessary. All agreements with our clients are processed though our solicitors and formal Contracts agreed and signed. This gives our clients peace of mind about the legal status of their property and clarifies the Licence Agreements.

Property Rates

Empty property rates on commercial buildings cost businesses millions of pounds a year. We can save you thousands of pounds each month by occupying your property with Guardians before you sell, redevelop or demolish your assets. Not only is your property protected and secured by our Guardians, you are also exempt from many Local Authority business rates with Guardians providing security on site. Properties keep their original status, although we sometimes make cosmetic changes to the internal layout of buildings to accommodate Guardians. Our Guardians are a constant security presence who live in the building and protect it from squatters, theft, arson, fly tipping and other kinds of antisocial behaviour.

Facilities Management

We offer a comprehensive range of facility management solutions that compliment our Live-in Guardian services. From the smallest repair to a major renovation our team of knowledgeable, approved tradesmen will fix up your building to prevent further deterioration through weathering, water ingress and environmental damage.  From key holding and ground maintenance to clearing buildings and deep cleaning we offer you our best value package tailored to save you money.

 Ministry of Defence

BERKSHIRE

The Solution

Blue Door immediately recruited 30 Property Guardians to secure the large site. An onsite Manager and Head Guardian ensure that security is paramount, building maintenance is maintained and the property is inspected on a daily basis to identify any risk or new security threat.  The Guardians also ensure the property is kept clean and tidy and our terms and conditions are adhered to.

The Guardians have taken it upon themselves to start a sustainable gardening project and are working with local charities and organisations to incorporate a Guardians’ fitness suite with indoor and outdoor circuits.

Spot checks by Blue Door Management on a regular basis ensure the client’s best interests are uppermost and the site is kept safe and secure at all times.

The Benefits

The value to MOD that Blue Door Property Guardians have created include:

• A six-figure saving on traditional manned security

• Revenue share to mitigate costs of buildings and ongoing maintenance costs

• Weekly fault reporting to MOD property services to safeguard a high value asset

• Rural community-minded initiatives by guardians who are sensitive and appreciative of their surroundings

Plastics Factory

LONDON BOROUGH OF WALTHAM FOREST

The Challenge

In 2014, a former plastics warehouse had been unoccupied for three years attracting squatters, drug use, arson and ‘rave’ parties that caused substantial damage to the property and disturbance within the local community.  London Borough of Waltham Forest were facing increasing costs from internal water leaks, asset stripping and repeated legal actions.  The Council needed to find a security-based solution and, although it retained approved security contractor, wanted to try a new approach using Blue Door Property Guardians to eliminate rising costs and safety risks.

Led by the Council, Blue Door attended the formal eviction process and immediately installed property guardians to prevent further unauthorised site access.

The Solution

Blue Door presented a range of options to secure the premises and invested in modernisation of internal spaces. Blue Door implemented a professional 24/7 security guardian service and shared revenue streams to benefit both organisations. 

Blue Door brought in a team of local tradespeople and invested over £30,000 to create 25 single and double bedrooms, plus conversion of office and storerooms into one 2-bedroom and one 3-bedroom flat.  Building works also created an open plan kitchen, TV area, utility and bathroom facilities, bicycle storage and an outdoor garden space.

Blue Door simultaneously recruited 26 property guardians and one head guardian.  All guardians were subject to professional and personal reference checks, a confidential medical disclosure and a detailed financial assessment.  The guardians work within industries such as: creative and media, hospitality, journalism and teaching.  After three years the property has not attracted any further unauthorised access or damage and provides a steady revenue share to The London Borough of Waltham Forest.

The Benefits

Some of the services Blue Door Property Guardians provide include:

• Local guardians, local tradespeople and local investment in your community

• Maintenance and risk assessments to safeguard your assets and reputation

• Revenue share options to mitigate property costs until sold or re-developed

• Personalised, flexible service from an SME that cares about its environment

• A 24/7 security presence that complies with industry and ISO9001 standards

As a relatively new and niche sub-sector within the security industry, Property Guardians are an excellent way for property owners to secure their assets and mitigate the substantial cost of traditional or electronic security and ongoing building risk costs.

Legislation regarding vacant properties and security or insurance threat assessment means that professional guardians can be appointed to provide 24/7 security and contribute to ongoing buildings costs through revenue share arrangements.

However, the sector is still misunderstood and many property asset owners do not fully understand the high standards of professional referencing and personal commitment that are required to become a Blue Door Property Guardian.

The Life of a Property Guardian

Property guardianship is a new form of live in security that attracts professionals who are looking for interesting and affordable interim accommodation. Blue Door guardians are key workers, academics and creative, media, hospitality and journalistic professionals who agree to secure your assets in return for cost efficient accommodation and commitment to community living. 

All guardians undergo rigorous personal, professional and financial checks before agreeing to Blue Door strict terms and conditions of service.

Guardians’ roles and responsibilities:

• Deterring criminal activity and security breaches impacting the site

• Identifying and reporting maintenance issues

• Carrying our weekly health & safety and cleaning checks

• Conducting regular fire drills and assessments

• Maintaining site environmental and waste/refuse conditions

• Blue Door property guardians are community-minded professionals who are managed day-to-day by a company-appointed head guardian.

About Alice — Head Guardian at one of our client sites

Alice is a Quantity Surveyor, training for her career development. She is an experienced Guardian and became Head Guardian to learn more about property management whilst continuing her professional education, and live outside London in a rural community.

Her role includes property inspections, co-ordination of maintenance works with Blue Door and clients, liaising with guardians and organising cleaning rotas.

She has helped develop gardening and fitness initiatives, collaborate with community partners and created a security asset management programme.

Alice believes her professional skills, organised nature and outgoing character have helped shape and develop a successful and secure site for the client and Guardians.

Health and Safety

Health and safety is the central core of our business and paramount to the professional relationships with property owners and Guardians. To maintain high standards throughout our managed properties we work with our team of knowledgeable and qualified professionals to ensure a safe, low risk managed environment.

Fire Safety

Blue Door work with our qualified fire safety partners to ensure our fire safety plan meets statutory regulations to keep our Guardians safe whilst they provide live in security for vacant buildings.

Electrical Safety

Our NICEIC contractors evaluate electrical installations and oversee all electrical work carried out on sites to ensure it meets current editions and certifiable regulations.

Gas Safety

All buildings are checked by our qualified Gas maintenance professionals prior to Guardians moving on site to ensure that any Gas Boiler are regulated and hold Gas safe certification.

Certifications

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