Property guardianship grows in Barnet as rents rise

A former care home on Hampstead’s fringes now shelters 50 people who pay £580 a month to live in a building slated for redevelopment. The arrangement, known as property guardianship, offers rents 30-50% below market rates in exchange for minimal rights and the risk of sudden eviction.

Katrina, 29, a postgraduate student, moved into the Edwardian mansion in 2023. She told the BBC she could not afford private rent in London. Her room, including bills and council tax, costs £400 less than the capital’s average. The building, vacant since 2015, features chandeliers and 1.7 acres of gardens but suffers from leaks and crumbling stonework.

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Fewer rights, more risks

Guardians sign a ‘licence to occupy’, not a tenancy. This means no deposit protection, no obligation for landlords to carry out repairs, and the right for owners to enter without notice. Eviction can follow within 28 days, with no reason required. The Property Guardian Providers Association (PGPA) estimates 10,000 to 15,000 people in the UK live under these terms, mostly in cities.

Lowe, the company managing the Hampstead property, said it acts ‘quickly and decisively’ when guardians breach its standards. Two residents have been asked to leave in the past year, one for alleged sexual harassment. The firm described most guardians as ‘brilliant, community-minded residents’.

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It’s really precarious in that sense. It’s not guaranteed to last. If anyone doesn’t like that, it’s not for them.

Katrina, property guardian

Barnet’s growing demand

The PGPA reported a sharp rise in applications as rents climb. David Hale, 32, has lived as a guardian for nearly a decade. He and his wife pay £1,500 a month for a former primary school in Brixton, saving around £1,000 compared to private rent. They share the space with 20 others but plan to leave once they start a family.

Housing charity Shelter criticised the model. Chief executive Sarah Elliott said it shows people are being forced ‘further and further afield just to keep a roof over their heads’. She added, ‘For most, this isn’t a good alternative to an affordable, stable home.’

What happens next

A developer bought the Hampstead care home in 2023 and plans to convert it into flats. Current guardians, including Katrina, will receive 28 days’ notice to vacate once work begins. The PGPA advises prospective guardians to read their licence agreements carefully and prepare for short-notice moves.

Barnet Council has not commented on the rise of guardianship in the borough. The council’s housing team directs residents seeking affordable options to its private rented sector scheme, which offers deposits and rent in advance for low-income households.