Extreme House Sitting

If you're trying to cut down on your living costs then read on...

Does guarding a mansion, an old peoples home or a hospital sound reasonable to you?

With rising rents, there is one way you could save up for a deposit on your own home – become a property guardian.

Lucy Wallis reports, on the BBC News website, that one lady calls a 35-bedroom Victorian mansion (she rents for £180 a month, including bills) her home.

Sam Van Gelder, 'guards' a former old people's home with the aim of deterring burglars and squatters from targeting the mansion. No parties are allowed but in exchange he gets an affordable monthly rent and a unique living space.

Talking about his living arrangements he said, "You get a lot of space to live in but you have to take care of it". He then goes on to describe it as being very eerie at times.

A lot of firms are cottoning on to property guardianship as a mechanism to decrease the owners costs on security. To do it all you need in terms of requirements are to be over 18 years old, have a regular income stream and have no criminal convictions against your name.

Paul Cosnett, regional manager at Camelot Property Management (who has distinctive properties such as hospitals, schools, observatories and former children's homes on his books) says, "All we ask them to do is to live there like they would in their own home."

Cosnett says the recession made people think about "property guardianship". He reports that it has grown by 40-50% in the Midlands and about 30% in London. Not only that but major cities in the UK even have their own waiting lists!

It is estimated that their are 920,000 empty homes across the UK. 

In general terms if you need the help of an experienced solicitor then look no further than our team in Altrincham.

Please call our team on 0161 928 5558 or email our solicitors at fottavianelli@collings-solicitors.co.uk and we will get back to you.

Collings

Altrincham Solicitors

Tel: 0161 928 5558