As the days feel shorter and the nights become darker, it’s more important than ever to ensure that vacant properties are properly secured. Whether it’s an office building between tenants or a commercial site awaiting redevelopment, empty properties face unique challenges. Without the daily presence of occupants, these buildings can quickly become prime targets for vandalism, theft, and unauthorised occupation.
At Oculus Facilities Management, we understand the value of safeguarding your property, particularly when it’s vulnerable as the nights are darker and longer.
What is Vacant Property Security?
Vacant property security refers to services and strategies designed to protect unoccupied buildings from threats such as break-ins, vandalism, theft, and squatting. It can involve physical barriers like boarding and fencing, advanced technology like CCTV and alarms, and on-site security presence such as mobile patrols and security guards.
The objective is to ensure that a vacant property remains secure and any risks can be spotted and dealt with quickly. In our related article, you can get a full overview of all you need to know about vacant properties.
Why is Security Important for Vacant Properties?
When a property is left empty, it faces a higher risk of criminal activity and deterioration. Here’s why investing in security is critical:
- Deterring Criminal Activity: Empty buildings are magnets for vandals and thieves. Without deterrents like visible CCTV cameras or regular patrols, a vacant site can quickly fall prey to damage, theft of materials, or even squatting.
- Meeting Insurance Requirements: Many insurance providers require vacant properties to have active security measures in place. Failure to comply can result in claims being denied if the worst happens.
- Preventing Costly Repairs: Acts of vandalism, arson, or illegal entry can lead to hefty repair bills, not to mention legal fees if squatters take up residence.
- Preserving Property Value: A well-maintained and secure building retains its market value, whereas a neglected property quickly deteriorates, both structurally and financially.
Vacant Property Security During Autumn and Winter
With longer nights and less foot traffic, the autumn and winter months present heightened risks for vacant properties for several reasons:
- Reduced Visibility and Oversight: Fewer daylight hours mean fewer opportunities to visually inspect the property. This gives criminals more time and cover to act unnoticed.
- Increased Crime Rates: Studies show that burglaries and vandalism often increase in the darker months. A vacant property without visible security measures is especially inviting to opportunistic criminals.
- Weather-Related Issues: Frost, heavy rain, and wind can all exacerbate structural problems. Without routine checks, minor issues like a leaky roof can become serious structural concerns.
These risks make it essential to reassess your property’s security needs before the clocks go back.
Why Gutter Cleaning is Essential for Vacant Properties
One often overlooked aspect of vacant property maintenance is gutter cleaning. It might not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering property security, but keeping your gutters clear is an important part of preventing serious and costly damage.
When a property is left vacant, routine maintenance tasks like gutter cleaning can easily be missed. Clean gutters are important for several reasons:
- Preventing Water Damage: Clogged gutters can cause rainwater to overflow and pool around the building’s foundation. Over time, this can lead to dampness, basement flooding, and even foundation instability.
- Avoiding Roof Damage: When gutters are blocked, water can back up and seep into the roof, leading to leaks, rotten wood, and mould growth. Left unaddressed, these issues can result in expensive roof repairs.
- Protecting Against Structural Damage: Consistently overflowing gutters can cause exterior walls to become saturated, leading to peeling paint, crumbling brickwork, and damaged insulation.
- Reducing Pest Infestations: Stagnant water and debris in gutters are ideal breeding grounds for pests like rodents and wasp nests.
As autumn arrives, trees shed their leaves, and your property’s gutters can quickly become clogged. When the leaves mix with rain, they create dense blockages that prevent water from draining away properly. This can be especially problematic in the winter months when temperatures drop, and pooled water freezes, creating ice dams that can damage gutters and roofs.
At Oculus Facilities Management, we can include gutter cleaning as part of our vacant property maintenance services, ensuring that your property remains safe, secure, and well-maintained.
What Services are Included in Vacant Property Security?
Professional vacant property security goes beyond just locking up. We offer a comprehensive range of services as part of our tailored security strategies, including:
- Vacant Property Inspections: Regular visits to check for signs of damage, forced entry, or maintenance issues.
- Alarm Response Services: Immediate response to triggered alarms, ensuring fast resolution.
- Key Holding Services: Secure management of keys, allowing access for authorized personnel only.
- Utility Management: Shutting off or maintaining essential utilities to prevent issues like burst pipes.
- Property Boarding and Lock Changes: Reinforcing vulnerable points of entry to keep your property secure.
- Grounds & General Maintenance: Keeping the wider property grounds looking neat, along with general maintenance tasks to the vacant property such as gutter cleaning.
These services are designed to provide peace of mind, knowing that your property is protected around the clock.
How to Secure a Vacant Property: Best Practices
When it comes to protecting your property, a comprehensive approach works best. We can give you an overview of the key components of each part of your vacant property security plan.
- Physical Security Measures
-
- Boarding and Screening: Protect vulnerable entry points, such as windows and doors, with professional boarding or steel screens.
- Security Fencing and Gates: High-quality fencing and locked gates provide a strong physical barrier.
- Security Lighting: Motion-activated lights are a cost-effective way to deter intruders during the longer nights.
- Technology-Based Solutions
-
- CCTV and Remote Monitoring: Install high-definition cameras with remote monitoring to keep an eye on your property 24/7.
- Alarms and Motion Sensors: Ensure intruder alarms and fire detectors are in place and linked to a rapid response service.
- On-Site Security Presence
-
- Mobile Patrols: Regular patrols at random intervals keep potential intruders guessing.
- Manned Guards: For high-risk properties, having a trained security guard on-site is the best deterrent against crime.
Security Guards & Vacant Property Security
While technology is crucial, nothing beats the presence of trained security personnel. Security guards provide active deterrence, as their visible presence is often enough to discourage would-be trespassers. They also offer immediate response, reacting swiftly to suspicious activity and preventing incidents from escalating.
Additionally, they conduct routine patrols and inspections, which help keep your property safe and allows for early detection of issues such as leaks or structural damage.
Protect Your Property as the Nights Draw In
As we head into the darker months, now is the perfect time to review your vacant property’s security requirements. By investing in professional vacant property security, you’re not only protecting your building from potential threats but also preserving its value and ensuring compliance with legal requirements.
At Oculus Facilities Management, we’re here to help. With our range of comprehensive vacant property security solutions, you can rest assured that your property is in safe hands, day and night, speak to our team today to arrange a site inspection.
