-residential buildings to guardians is legal, at least once planning permission for change of use has been granted. Because property guardians are on licence agreements and not tenancies, their primary role is to secure the building on a temporary basis.

Image copyright Rex Image caption A property guardian's bedroom in a building in Catford

Katharine Hibbert, founder and director of Dotdotdot Property, a small guardianship company, agrees that more needs to be done about the housing crisis. "What we really need is to build more good homes. Property guardianship can never be the whole solution - it's not right for everyone. But getting Britain's empty properties into use can definitely do a lot to ease the current housing shortage, and we're glad to help our guardians find good homes they can afford in the most expensive parts of the country."

She emphasises that all the empty properties administered by Dotdotdot meet the same health, safety and fire standards as required for normal rental properties.

Another company, Guardians of London, says it installs temporary fixes to make its properties habitable for residents. "For a small start-up fee, we'll install 'wheel in, wheel out' shower pods so we can provide temporary washing facilities," explains Gavin Handman, head of operations. "The guardians provide their own kitchen facilities, including microwaves and portable kitchen hobs that are no greater than 13 amps for fire safety reasons.

"If it's a large building, we place guardians strategically throughout the building. If it's a big former office building, for example, we can put as many as 30 guardians in there if necessary, but we don't overfill our properties like some other guardian companies, so wear and tear is kept to a minimum."

However, Richard Harding, director of communications, policy, and campaigns at Shelter, thinks it's no wonder many are trying to find alternative solutions. "That people are resorting to the unstable, unsuitable and often unsafe option of property guardianship is yet another symptom of our chronic affordability crisis."

Guardians are aware of their lack of rights. Matthew describes the deal between company and guardian as "Faustian". He explains how guardians almost have to agree to having no rights. "Agreeing to live in one of these properties is not a rational decision but it is one made often by financial compulsion and not as the companies would like to have you believe, as an exhilarating bourgeois
-residential buildings to guardians is legal, at least once planning permission for change of habit has been concede. Because property guardians are on licence agreement and not tenancies, their primary function is to secure the building on a impermanent basis. 

 Image copyright Rex Image subtitle A property guardian's bedroom in a building in Catford 

 Katharine Hibbert, founder and film director of Dotdotdot Property, a small guardianship company, agrees that more needs to be act about the housing crisis. " What we really need is to build up more good homes. Property care can never be the whole solution - it's not correct for everyone. But getting Britain's empty properties into use can decidedly do a lot to ease the current housing shortage, and we're glad to avail our guardians find good homes they can afford in the most expensive parts of the country. " 

 She emphasises that all the empty properties administer by Dotdotdot meet the same health, condom and fire standards as required for normal rental property. 

 Another ship's company, Guardians of London, says it installs impermanent fixes to make its properties habitable for residents. " For a small start - up fee, we'll install' roulette wheel in, wheel out' shower pods so we can provide impermanent washing facility, " explains Gavin Handman, head of operations. " The guardians provide their own kitchen facility, including microwaves and portable kitchen hobs that are no greater than 13 amps for fire safety reasons. 

 " If it's a big building, we set guardians strategically throughout the building. If it's a big erstwhile office construction, for example, we can frame as many as 30 defender in there if necessary, but we don't overfill our properties like some other guardian ship's company, so wear and tear is kept to a minimum. " 

 However, Richard Harding, director of communications, policy, and campaigns at Shelter, thinks it's no wonder many are trying to find alternate solutions. " That people are fall back to the unstable, unsuitable and often unsafe option of property guardianship is however another symptom of our chronic affordability crisis. " 

 Guardians are aware of their lack of rights. Matthew describes the deal between company and guardian as " Faustian ". He explain how defender almost have to agree to having no rights. " Agreeing to live in one of these properties is not a intellectual decision but it is one made often by financial compulsion and not as the companies would like to have you believe, as an exhilarating bourgeois
-resldential buildings to guxrdians is legal, at leest oncs plannivg permission for change of nse yas btvn granted. Because pruperty guwrdians qre ib licence efreemenbf ans not venancies, their primary rmle is to secuse tke building on a temporary basis.

Imagq copyrogjt Rex Image cwptipg A lgokerty guardian's bedroom in a builsing in Catford

Kathatine Hibbert, founder and dlrechor of Dotdotdot Pgoperty, a snall tuardianship company, agrees that mkre needs to be done about the fousiug crisis. "Wyar wf really neev is tj build more good hokes. Prolerty guardianxhi' cab never be the whole volution - it's not tight for avzryone. But getting Brutqin's gmpty proowrtkes iito use cwn vefinitely so a lot to ease the current hpufpmg shortage, znd we'we glad to help our guardians find good hmmea they can afford in thw most expensive partd of the sountry."

She emphasises that all the empty propertias adjkniwtcred vy Dotdotdot meet the same health, safety and fiws xtsndards as reqmired for normal rrnhak properties.

Anuther ekmlany, Guardians of Pondon, fays ut instaljs trmporary fixes to make its properties hcbirable for residentd. "For a smaul sjart-up fee, we'll install 'wheel in, sheel out' sjower poda so we can proviae nempmrary washing facilities," evplains Gevin Kandman, fead of opqrations. "Tje guardians provide thelr owu kitwhen facillties, including microwaves and 'prtable kitcnet hmbs that are ko greater than 13 amps for firg safety xeasonr.

"If it's a marge bnilding, we pjace guardianv strategicalny throudhour thw buildkvg. If it's a bib former office buioding, for example, xe cxh put as many aw 30 tuardians in thrre if nvcexswsy, but we dot't oxerwoll ojr proptxtics uike some other guardian comlanies, so wear and tcar is kekt to a mynimum."

However, Richard Harding, dlrectmr uf cokmugications, policy, and campaigns at Sheltfr, bhinks it's no woneer many are trying to find alternative solutions. "Tiat people are resortint to the unstable, uusmitable and pften unsafe o[tion of property guqrdianship is yet another symptom of ohr chrmnic wffordability crisis."

Guardians are aware of their lack of rights. Matthew dwscribxs the deal bstwern cokpcny and gtardmai as "Faustian". He vxplains how guardians almost hate to agrea co having no rights. "Agreeing yo live in one uf these properties is nkt a ratoonal decision but it is one mace often by financial cokpulsion and hot as the companies would loke to have you beoievc, as an exhilafatonn bourgeoid
-residential buildings to guardians is legal, at planning for change use has been on agreements and not their primary role to secure the building on a basis. Image copyright Rex Image caption A property guardian's bedroom in a building Catford Katharine Hibbert, founder and director of Dotdotdot Property, a small guardianship company, that needs be about the housing crisis. "What we really need is to build more good homes. Property guardianship never be the whole solution - it's not for everyone. But getting empty properties into use can do lot to the housing and we're glad help our guardians find good homes they can afford in the most expensive parts of the country." emphasises that empty properties by meet same health, safety standards as required for normal rental Guardians of London, says it installs temporary fixes make its habitable for residents. "For a small fee, we'll install 'wheel in, wheel out' shower so we can provide temporary washing facilities," explains Gavin Handman, head of operations. "The guardians own kitchen facilities, including and portable kitchen that no than amps for safety reasons. "If it's a large building, we place guardians strategically the building. If it's a big former office building, for can as many as guardians in there if but don't overfill our properties other companies, tear kept a minimum." However, Richard director of communications, policy, and at Shelter, thinks it's to find alternative solutions. "That people are resorting the unstable, unsuitable and often unsafe option property guardianship is yet another symptom of our chronic affordability crisis." Guardians aware of of rights. Matthew describes the deal between company guardian as "Faustian". He how guardians almost have to agree to having no "Agreeing live in of these properties not a rational but it is often by compulsion not would like to have you believe, an bourgeois
-residential buildings to guaRdians is leGal, at LeaSt oNcE plaNninG permission for CHangE of use has been granted. BeCause PrOPertY GuArdiaNs are on LIcENCe aGrEeMenTs ANd Not teNanCies, theIr primary rOle Is To secure the bUIlDing on a temPorAry basis.

ImagE coPyrighT REx IMAge caPtiOn A prOperty GUardiaN's bedroom In A BuildiNG in CatfORD

KAthaRine Hibbert, foundeR AnD Director of DotdOtdot PRoPErTY, A smAll GuardianshIp CompaNY, agrees THaT MORe nEEds to be done abOut the housiNG crIsis. "WhAt We rEAlly neEd is tO bUIld More good homEs. PrOperty guaRdiansHIp can neVEr be the Whole sOluTioN - it's NOt RiGht FoR EveRYoNe. BUT geTting BriTaIn'S emptY proPERTIes iNto Use cAn defInitely do a lot To eAse tHE cuRrent HousiNg shOrTage, aNd we're Glad tO hElp our guardians Find Good homes TheY cAn aFfOrd in THe most ExpEnsIve partS of the cOUntRy."

sHE EmPhasises that all the EmPTY pRopertieS adminIStErED by DotdoTdOt mEet tHE Same hEaltH, SaFety and fIre staNDaRdS as requIrEd for nOrMal RenTal prOPertIes.

AnoTher compAny, GuARdians of London, SAys it installs TEmPORaRY fixEs tO make its proPertIEs haBitaBLe For REsideNts. "FoR a SMaLL start-up fee, we'll instAlL 'wheel In, wheEl out' shower poDs so we can pROVIde tempoRary WAsHIng facilities," eXplaiNs Gavin HanDMan, head oF operAtions. "ThE guardianS PRovide thEir Own KitCheN FAcIlities, includING micRoWaves anD poRtable kItcHen HobS thAt Are no greaTer than 13 aMpS fOr FiRe sAfety REasons.

"If It'S a lArGe bUildiNG, we plaCe guaRdiaNs StRAteGically THrOUGhouT tHe BuilDinG. IF it's a Big fORmeR office Building, fOr eXAmplE, wE cAn put as Many as 30 guardiaNs In there if nEcEssAry, but WE Don't overFill our properties like soME other gUarDian cOmpaNies, so weaR anD tear iS kePT to a miNimum."

HOweveR, RIchARD HardING, dIreCtOr of communICAtiOns, poLiCy, anD campaiGns at Shelter, thinks IT's nO wonder many arE trYing TO FiNd aLTeRNatIvE SolUTIons. "That people aRe resortinG tO ThE unstable, uNSuiTaBle and oFten unsAfe opTIon of prOperty guaRdianship Is Yet aNOTheR symptom of Our chronIc affordaBIlity CRiSis."

GuArdIans arE aWarE of thEir lacK Of rIghts. mattheW dEscribEs the DeAl betweeN company and guardian as "FaUstian". he expLaiNs how guarDiaNS alMost have tO agrEe to having No rIghTs. "AgrEeiNG to liVe in ONe Of tHEse prOperTIes is not a RAtIonAL DeCision but it IS ONe mAde ofTen BY finanCial Compulsion and not aS The companies woUld lIKE to HavE You bElIeve, as an exhilaRatInG BOurgeois
-residential buildings toguardiansis le gal , a tleas t on ce planning pe r miss ion for change of usehas b ee n  gra n te d. Be cause p r op e r tygu ar dia ns ar e onlic ence ag reements a ndno t tenancies, th eir primar y r ole is to se cur e thebu ild i ng on  atempo rary b a sis.
Image cop yr i ght Re x  Imagec a pt ionA property guardi a n' s  bedroom in abuildi ng in C atf ord 

Katharin eHibbe r t, foun d er a n d d i rector of Dot dotdot Prop e rty , a sm al l g u ardian shipco m pan y, agrees t hatmore need s to b e  done a b out the  housi ngcri sis. "W ha t w er eal l ynee d  is  to buil dmo re go od h o m e s . Pr ope rtyguard ianship can n eve r be the  whol e sol utio n- it' s notright  f or everyone. Bu t ge tting Bri tai n' s e mp ty pr o pertie s i nto  use ca n defin i tel yd o alot to ease the cu rr e n thousingshorta g e,  a n d we'regl adto h e l p our  gua r di ans find  goodh om es  they c an  affor dinthe  most expe nsiveparts of  thec ountry."

Shee mphasises tha t  a l l  t h e em pty  properties  adm i nist ered by  Do t dotdo t mee tt he same health, safety  a nd fir e sta ndards as req uired forn o r mal rent al p r op e rties.

Anothe r com pany, Guar d ians ofLondo n, saysit instal l s  tempora ryfix estom a ke  its properti e s  hab it able fo r r esident s."Fo r a  sm al l start-u p fee, w e' ll  i ns tal l 'wh e el in, w he elou t'showe r  podsso we  can  p ro v ide  tempor a ry w ashi ng  f acil iti es ," ex plai n s G avin Ha ndman, he ado f op er at ions. " The guardians  p rovide the ir  ow n kitc h e n facili ties, including microwa v es andpor table  kit chen hobs  th at are  no greate r than  13 a mp s f o r  fire s af ety  r easons.

" I f  it 's ala rgebuildin g, we place guardi a nsstrategically  th roug h o ut  th e  b u ild in g . I f it's a big form er officebu i ld ing, for e x amp le , we ca n put a s man y  as 30guardians  in there  i f ne c e ssa ry, but we  don't o verfill o u r pro p er tieslik e some  o the r gua rdianc omp anies , so w ea r andtearis  kept to  a minimum."

However,Richar d Har din g, direct oro f c ommunicat ions , policy,and  ca mpaig nsa t She lter ,  t hin k s it' s no wonder ma n yare t ry ing to find a l ter nativ e s o lution s. " That people are r e sorting to the  uns t a ble , u n suit ab le and often u nsa fe o ption of  p roperty gua rdianshi pi s yet  anoth er sym ptom of o ur chroni c af for dabilitycri si s ."

Gua rd ia n s areawar eof the ir lac k  ofr i ghts. Matthew de scrib e s  thed eal  betw ee n compa n y an d guardian  as "Fausti an". H e ex plain s how g ua rdians  al mo st have to agree tohavin g no ri gh ts."Ag reeing  tol i ve in  one  o f t hese prop e r ti e sis not  a r ation al  dec ision but it is on e m a de ofte nbyf i nancia l  c o m pulsion an d n ot as t he compani e s wo u ld liketo hav e youbelieve ,  as  a n exhil ara t i ng bourge ois
-residential buildings_to guardians_is legal, at least_once planning_permission_for change_of_use has been_granted. Because property_guardians are on licence_agreements and not_tenancies,_their primary role is to secure the building on a temporary basis.

Image copyright Rex_Image_caption A_property_guardian's_bedroom in a building in_Catford

Katharine Hibbert, founder and director_of Dotdotdot_Property, a small guardianship company, agrees that more_needs_to be done_about the housing crisis. "What we really need is_to build more good homes. Property_guardianship can never_be_the_whole solution - it's_not right for everyone. But getting_Britain's empty properties into use can_definitely do a lot to ease the_current housing shortage, and we're glad_to help our guardians find_good homes_they can afford in the_most expensive parts_of the_country."

She emphasises that_all the empty properties administered by_Dotdotdot meet the_same health, safety and fire standards_as_required for normal_rental_properties.

Another_company, Guardians_of London, says_it_installs temporary_fixes_to make its properties habitable for_residents._"For a small start-up fee, we'll install_'wheel in, wheel out'_shower_pods so we can_provide temporary washing facilities," explains_Gavin Handman, head of operations. "The_guardians provide_their own_kitchen facilities, including microwaves and portable kitchen hobs that are no_greater than 13 amps for fire_safety reasons.

"If it's a_large building,_we_place guardians strategically_throughout_the building._If it's a big former office building,_for example,_we can put as many as_30 guardians in there_if_necessary, but we don't overfill our_properties like some other guardian companies,_so wear and tear is_kept_to_a minimum."

However, Richard Harding, director_of communications, policy, and campaigns at_Shelter, thinks it's_no wonder many are trying to find_alternative_solutions. "That people are resorting to_the_unstable, unsuitable and often unsafe option_of_property_guardianship is yet another symptom_of our chronic affordability crisis."

Guardians are_aware of their lack of rights. Matthew describes the_deal between company_and guardian as "Faustian". He_explains_how_guardians almost have to agree to having no rights. "Agreeing_to live_in one of_these properties is not a rational decision but it is_one made often by financial compulsion and_not as the companies would like to have you believe, as_an exhilarating bourgeois