London Assembly says Property Guardians are 'second-class renters'.
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The report raises issues of the rights a property guardian has when they enter into such an agreement and describes the guardians as ‘second-class renters’.
The industry of property guardians is billed as a win-win. A property owner, rents out his property to a guardian at sub-standard market rates; often to avoid taxes on leaving a building empty.
In turn, this arrangement is set up by a property guardian company, who gain a nice commission.
However, the report highlights a growing trend in the industry of ‘legal grey’ areas, which some say are being exploited by the property guardian companies.
Guardian: ‘I’ve had a number of legal issues’
Rex Duis, a property guardian based in Hammersmith and Fulham gave an exclusive interview to City News:
‘My experience as a property guardian has been mixed, I’ve had good and bad experiences but I’ve been in it for a long time now. As a property guardian, I’ve had a number of legal issues, usually it was because the agency has broken terms with their own contracts and I decided to fight them over that.’
Duis went on: ‘ When signing up as a property guardian you should have 28 days notice, that’s what you’re legally entitled to, however it hasn’t always been the case. I have personally experienced guardian companies kick me out in less than 28 days.’
Lawyer: ‘No legal definition of ‘property guardian’
The legal grey areas mentioned by Duis are an area for reform, according to the London Assembly and Andrew Dymond, a lawyer who has contributed to a white paper on property guardian law:
‘There is no legal definition of a “Property Guardian”. Usually, the agreement between the Guardian Company and the Guardian will be called a “licence” rather than a “tenancy”, the significance being that tenants have more rights than licensees, in particular with regard to eviction.’
Camelot: ‘We would like to see more regulation’
However, it is not just guardians and lawyers who want to see reform.
Paul Lloyd, operations manager for Camelot, a property guardian company, said: ‘Yes we would like to see regulation come in from outside about and be implemented across the board’.
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HeadlineProperty Guardians living with ‘little or no’ legal rights according to London Assembly
Short HeadlineProperty Guardians living with ‘little or no' rights
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The report raises issues of the rights a property guardian has when they enter into such an agreement and describes the guardians as ‘second-class renters’.
The industry of property guardians is billed as a win-win. A property owner, rents out his property to a guardian at sub-standard market rates; often to avoid taxes on leaving a building empty.
In turn, this arrangement is set up by a property guardian company, who gain a nice commission.
However, the report highlights a growing trend in the industry of ‘legal grey’ areas, which some say are being exploited by the property guardian companies.
Guardian: ‘I’ve had a number of legal issues’
Rex Duis, a property guardian based in Hammersmith and Fulham gave an exclusive interview to City News:
‘My experience as a property guardian has been mixed, I’ve had good and bad experiences but I’ve been in it for a long time now. As a property guardian, I’ve had a number of legal issues, usually it was because the agency has broken terms with their own contracts and I decided to fight them over that.’
Duis went on: ‘ When signing up as a property guardian you should have 28 days notice, that’s what you’re legally entitled to, however it hasn’t always been the case. I have personally experienced guardian companies kick me out in less than 28 days.’
Lawyer: ‘No legal definition of ‘property guardian’
The legal grey areas mentioned by Duis are an area for reform, according to the London Assembly and Andrew Dymond, a lawyer who has contributed to a white paper on property guardian law:
‘There is no legal definition of a “Property Guardian”. Usually, the agreement between the Guardian Company and the Guardian will be called a “licence” rather than a “tenancy”, the significance being that tenants have more rights than licensees, in particular with regard to eviction.’
Camelot: ‘We would like to see more regulation’
However, it is not just guardians and lawyers who want to see reform.
Paul Lloyd, operations manager for Camelot, a property guardian company, said: ‘Yes we would like to see regulation come in from outside about and be implemented across the board’.
