Seven of the UK’s leading property guardian firms have come together to form the sector’s first trade association to lead on safety and standards, to represent and promote the industry, and to foster best practice.
The Property Guardian Providers Association (PGPA) has been warmly welcomed by all parties in a debate on property guardians in the House of Lords. The new association was formally launched at the Empty Homes Conference in Birmingham in mid October The PGPA was founded jointly by Ad Hoc Property Management, Guardians of London, Live-in Guardians, Lowe Guardians, VPS, Dex Property Management and Camelot. It has been created to provide the industry with effective representation, to formulate policy, and to ensure that its members are at the forefront of meeting or exceeding legal and safety standards. The seven founding members provide over 80 per cent of the guardian accommodation in the UK.
“The industry has grown to a size where it now needs a structured framework in terms of best practice and progression to not just raise standards, but to also ensure that guardians are getting the best out of their experience,” said Simon Finneran, Managing Director of Ad Hoc Property Management, one of the drivers behind the new body. After an industry-wide census of its members was conducted, the association found that many people cannot afford to live in the city where they work, and yet property guardianship provides a cost-effective way to do so. It was also found that no less than 60 per cent of guardians remain in the same accommodation for a year or more, breaking down the myth that guardians are constantly on the move.
Mr Finneran added: “Property guardianship is becoming a more popular way of living as it allows for people to save money to get on the property ladder themselves. One in four guardians are in their 30s and one in three are key workers, all of whom are benefitting greatly from living closer to work.”
For more information about the Property Guardian Providers Association, please contact info(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)propertyguardianproviders.com
By Patrick Mooney, editor