The impact of empty buildings – Ad Hoc’s role in preventing arson, squatters, vandals and asset stripping through property protection

The problem

Empty buildings are an issue that deserves more attention in the housing market. We often forget that an empty building should be perceived as a security threat. Why? Buildings are highly vulnerable to criminal and environmental damage when left empty. Even the most unlikely of properties offer thieves attractive materials to steal such as roof tiles, fibre optic cables, carpeting, electrical devices and metal structures, all of which can be sold on the black market for considerable amounts of money.

If this wasn’t enough, vacant buildings are regularly targeted by squatters, vandals and arson attacks; in many cases, substantial damage to the property occurs. According to Aviva, each year there are around 9,000 fires in empty buildings across the UK. In addition, of the £2 billion worth of damage done to properties in the UK through vandalism and arson, 25 per cent of it relates to vacant properties.

Similarly, asset stripping is a significant threat. Many buildings are left with their plumbing and electrics intact, presenting a major opportunity for thieves. Vacant property specialists state that the pillaging of metals remains one of the most expensive crimes, costing the UK an estimated £770 million per year. Furthermore, the British Retail Consortium and Springboard have revealed that 10.1 per cent of shops lie vacant due to rising rental costs and consumers demanding online alternatives. The truth of the matter is that unoccupied buildings can go unchecked for months, despite many insurance policies stipulating otherwise. Subsequently, minor damage such as frozen pipes or dampness can go unnoticed until it becomes a large and costly issue.

The solution

Traditionally, there have been two solutions for owners of vacant property to consider: boarding a building up or hiring an outside security company to oversee the premises. Unoccupied home insurance and regular lettings are other possible solutions to the empty property issue. Conventional measures, however, lack efficiency when taking into account the lack of surveillance and hidden dangers, let alone the undeniably high costs that accompany them.

Ad Hoc Property Management offers a solution to not only resolve these issues, but to avoid them entirely. Ad Hoc’s property occupation model means that Guardians move into uninhabited buildings and in doing so protect them from squatters or vandals as well as reporting maintenance issues as they arise, all the while benefiting from affordable license fees in highly sought-after locations. The Guardians’ presence within the building serves as a deterrent to criminality, which has a subsequent positive knock-on effect on the local community. With less empty buildings across the neighbourhood, people are more likely to move in to the region, therefore adding not only to the local economy but also to community spirit. This makes the model beneficial for all involved.

To find out more about Ad Hoc’s property occupation model as a solution to empty property criminality, click here.

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