Key Achievements
Savings
£660k saved on utilities standard charges & council tax across the projects lifecycle.
Hand-Back Success
100% unit returned within 31 days of request, keeping build schedules on track.
Management
10,000 staff hours saves as Ad Hoc took over inspections, compliance and call-outs.
Enabled Flexible Decision-Making
Social impact created annually by housing 24 key workers.
The Property
Located in North-West London, Whitefields Estate is part of a 7-year regeneration programme set to deliver 6,700 new homes and office space for 25,000 jobs.
Managed by Barnet Homes, the ALMO for Barnet Council, the estate required solutions to manage void properties during the transition. Barnet Homes has relied on Ad Hoc since 2018, placing guardians in 24 dwellings and installing security measures in another 58, covering tower blocks, former low-rise buildings and houses.
The Challenges
- Risk of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) – With three tower blocks and several low-rise buildings scheduled for demolition, the estate risked attracting antisocial behaviour, squatting, and theft as flats became vacant.
- High vacant unit costs – Each empty unit incurred council tax surcharges, utility bills, and increased risk of leaks or vandalism, driving up maintenance costs.
- Complex estate conditions – The variety of building types, many in differing states of repair, meant some dwellings were uninhabitable, requiring bespoke security and void-property management.
- Time-intensive oversight – Staggered vacancy dates and the need to reassure remaining residents placed significant demands on Barnet Homes’ resources.
Our Solutions
Ad Hoc applied a flexible, unit-by-unit approach:
- Surveyed every flat and house to determine which properties were habitable for Guardian placement.
- Habitable units occupied by Guardians; structurally uninhabitable units sealed with steel sheeting and fitted with monitored alarms.
- Two roving guards plus three static guards secured entrances to all three tower blocks.Vetted each Guardian and managed compliance, utilities, routine inspections, and 24/7 reactive call-outs.
- Worked closely with Barnet Homes to accommodate staggered vacancy dates and provide ongoing reassurance to residents.
- Provided thorough 24/7 SIA security during final tenant decants, demolition surveys, and utility removals.
- Maintained a blended strategy that kept the estate lived-in, orderly, and secure across more than 250 properties and five estates to date.
”Over the past 9 years, we have entrusted Ad Hoc with the management of over 600 residential properties across 6 regeneration schemes, alongside additional security measures tailored to protect our estates. Their professionalism and reliability have been pivotal to the success of our development projects.
Senior Regeneration Manager
Why Ad Hoc?
We are the trusted name in protecting vacant properties across the UK and Europe.
With over 35 years of experience, we are on a mission to bring empty buildings back into use and communities back to life.
Tailored Solutions
Looking for the right solution for your vacant property? We provide options such as Residential Guardianship, Workspace Occupation, Charity Occupation and Property Security to keep your building protected and in use.
Fill out the form for a free, no-obligation conversation. We’ll be in touch to explore the best approach for your property.
