This former Metropolitan Police Station, situated in Finchley, sits on a 0.47 acre site with development plans for 53 new homes. While the plot was awaiting planning permission, the site owners were encountering many problems with criminal damage and squatters while it was unoccupied. The building was incurring business rates while empty and the Aitch Group needed a cost-effective security solution while the building was vacant.
"This former Met Police Station was temporarily vacant while the site was awaiting redevelopment. The VPS team recommended using the live-in Guardians solution in the property to occupy the premises. “We’ve now got a security solution which keeps our vacant property safe from squatters, whilst also saving over £40,000 per year on business rates. The VPS Guardian Service is ideal for our needs, maintaining an active presence in and around the building”.
The VPS Property Solutions team recommended using their Guardians Service for the property, providing 10 guardians to occupy the premises. The former police station was at significant risk from intruders and damage which can result in expensive restoration work and without regular inspection can lie unnoticed. In this instance, VPS placed individuals in the property as live-in guardians, providing a cost effective way to keep the property safe and maintained. Having the property occupied with live-in guardians, is an effective and visible deterrent, as well as having it operational also significantly helps to reduce maintenance concerns such as burst pipes etc.
VPS screen their guardians to strict criteria, helping to ensure the calibre of individuals in a property, creating assurance that the property will be secure for the entire time it is under Guardianship.
VPS also undertook the task of clearing, cleaning and adapting the police station to ensure it was habitable and compliant with Health and Safety requirements. With the live-in VPS Guardian Service, there’s a constant presence in and around the property, keeping it safe from threat of squatters returning and meaning the Aitch Group was no longer required to pay business rates.
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