Property guardianship is being considered by more people hit by unaffordable mainstream rented housing, it is claimed.

This refers to an agreement where individuals pay for short-term rent to act as a ‘guardian’ for what is often an unoccupied building or property, thereby deterring break-ins and squatting.

An analysis suggest that over the last 12 months in the UK, there have been an average of 3,600 monthly searches for ‘property guardianship’ on Google, up 24% vs 2022.

Insurance firm Homeprotect says there are presently 754,000 vacant properties in England, which is approximately 2.9% of all English homes.

The most unoccupied properties are in Greater London, with over 100,000 empty homes – 2.8% of houses in the area overall. Other major cities, such as Birmingham and Leeds, have a high volume of unoccupied properties.

A Homeprotect spokesperson says: “The growing trend of property guardianship may seem like an affordable solution to rising rent costs in the UK – particularly in sought-after areas.  But people should be aware that living in an abandoned place can carry additional risks.

“Abandoned, larger, semi-derelict or previously empty buildings – such as former schools or offices – may be prime targets for vandals and thieves, and they can be harder to secure properly.

“Buildings not designed for residential use may not meet domestic fire safety standards.

“If people are sharing the facilities, the use of portable cooking equipment, heaters, or overlooked electrical sockets can increase the likelihood of a fire.”