Residential Property Guardianship: A flexible way to purposefully use and protect vacant properties
Property Guardianship offers a practical way to keep your building occupied and protected. Ad Hoc handles the full process, from guardian placement to ongoing checks. With all Guardians on a 28-day notice, full flexibility is secured.
- Prevents risks often linked to vacancy
- Guardians are carefully selected through a thorough vetting process
- Adapts flexibly to the unique nature of each property
What is Residential Property Guardianship?
At Ad Hoc, we provide Residential Property Guardianship as a smart, flexible way to protect vacant buildings. We place carefully vetted individuals in empty properties under temporary licence agreements, helping keep them safe, legally occupied, and well looked after.
By living in the building, our Guardians help deter squatting, vandalism, and general deterioration: risks that increase the longer a property sits empty. Their presence also ensures minor issues are spotted early, reducing the chance of expensive damage or insurance complications.
Our model is cost-effective, legally compliant, and easy to manage. We handle everything from vetting and placing guardians to property inspections and day-to-day oversight. And because our agreements work on a 28-day notice, you stay in control of your property at all times.
Residential Property Guardianship gives your building temporary purpose while protecting its long-term value and supports people looking for affordable, flexible living space.
How You Benefit
Property owners benefit from Property Guardianship in many ways
Squatting Prevention
Guardianship ensures your property is legally occupied, preventing squatters and avoiding costly, time-consuming eviction processes. By having trusted Guardians living in the property, you gain both protection and peace of mind.
Business Rates Optimisation
By placing Guardians into unused areas of a building, we can establish genuine occupation that reduces or eliminates liability for empty property rates.
Revitalising Challenging Areas
Properties in challenging areas often face prolonged vacancies, leading to financial and security concerns.
Preserving Property Value
Avoid deterioration and protect the long-term value of your building.
Reduced Insurance Risks
Occupied buildings are seen as lower risk by insurers, helping you access better coverage and avoid inflated premiums.
ESG Impact
By turning vacant buildings into affordable homes for key workers, young people, and creatives, guardianship strengthens neighbourhoods and delivers ESG impact through sustainability, social value, and responsible use of existing assets.
Ad Hoc Together
Through Ad Hoc Together, we support local initiatives that help improve neighbourhoods and bring people together.
We believe that a well-maintained, lively environment benefits everyone. That’s why we regularly come together as a company, alongside our guardians, to take part in and support activities that create safer, more connected places. We’re proud to back those who dedicate their time and energy to making a lasting, positive impact in their community.
The Impact of Guardianship for Our Clients
”Since the beginning of our partnership with Ad Hoc in 2016, we have consistently benefited from their outstanding service in managing our vacant properties. Ad Hoc and its Property Guardians provide us with peace of mind, ensuring our properties are safeguarded against theft, squatting, and other anti-social activities.
Senior Regeneration ManagerBarnet Homes
Over the past nine years, we have entrusted Ad Hoc with the management of over 600 residential properties across six regeneration schemes, alongside additional security measures tailored to protect our estates.
Their professionalism and reliability have been pivotal to the success of our development project
Colindale Estate – Barnet Homes
”Ad Hoc have provided an excellent service in providing Guardians in our empty and often vulnerable Churches and Vicarages. They have proved to be very professional in their attitude and we anticipate using their services for the foreseeable future
Property Manager
Anglican Diocese of Liverpool
Ad Hoc safeguarded a vulnerable consecrated church by placing Property Guardians who protected the building, reduced costs, and kept it in good condition during redevelopment.
”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
Whitefields Estate
Ad Hoc kept the Whitefields Estate secure and cost‑efficient by managing void homes with Guardians and targeted security throughout the regeneration programme.
”Thanks to Ad Hoc’s security service, a major investment scheme for the site is now progressing free from delay, providing Tufnell Park and surrounding residents with a great gastro-pub offering.
Enterprise Inns
Tufnells Public House
Ad Hoc protected the vacant Tufnells Public House by placing Property Guardians and managing the site to prevent squatting, maintain its condition and give the landlord flexibility during delayed redevelopment.
”Our collaboration with Ad Hoc has transformed long-vacant homes into thriving spaces, improving community safety and offering a path to permanent tenancies.
Gentoo Group
Gentoo Group
Ad Hoc helped Gentoo bring long‑vacant homes back into use by placing Property Guardians who improved safety, reduced costs, and revitalised neighbourhoods across struggling North East estates.
Meet the Ad Hoc’ers
Curious about who our Property Guardians are?
Explore stories that offer insight into their lives and why Guardianship works for them.
Residential Property Guardianship – The Process
Tailored Solutions
We offer various solutions for your vacant real estate.
- Temporary occupancy based on a loan agreement;
- Temporary rental;
- Temporary management by entrepreneurs based on a loan agreement;
- Ready-to-move-in office space;
- Security.
Curious about what Ad Hoc can do for your vacant property?
Request a free consultation. We’ll contact you as soon as possible to discuss the possibilities.
