Property guardians: companies accused of doubling rents
Firms that house residents in buildings that would otherwise sit empty have been accused of raising costs during the cost of living crisis, with one company reportedly increasing some fees by more than 100%.
It means property guardians – those who live in empty buildings such as ex-factories, offices, care homes and condemned housing – are facing steep increases. Some fear being made homeless.
They pay less than the market rent but the trade-off is that they have fewer rights and, often, worse living conditions.
Property guardian companies act as the middleman between owners and those seeking cheap accommodation, and are used by councils and housing associations to provide affordable homes.
Residents sign licences offering fewer protections than a tenancy agreement, and pay a monthly licence fee rather than rent. They must agree to vacate the property with only 28 days’ notice, and no warning needs to be given before an inspection of their home.
Campaigners say that some people living in properties leased out by the property guardian company Dot Dot Dot have been hit with fee increases of up to 113%.
The company describes itself as an ethical property guardian company, and tenants have to complete 16 hours of volunteer work a month as part of their licence agreement.
However, residents at its site in Abbey Wood, south-east London, say they were told in January that they had six weeks to agree to the increases.
London Renters Union, along with some of the guardians, are challenging the rises and calling for a boycott of the company.
One Abbey Wood tenant, who has been a property guardian for six years, said she asked Dot Dot Dot for more time to sign the new agreement as she was struggling with health conditions, and needed to
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