London Assembly says Property Guardians are 'second-class renters'.
SHARE:
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’.
Submitted Article
Headline
Short Headline
Standfirst
Published Article
HeadlineProperty Guardians living with ‘little or no’ legal rights according to London Assembly
Short HeadlineProperty Guardians living with ‘little or no' rights
Standfirst
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’.
A 2024 Freedom of Information request showed Bromley Council had £4.5 million invested in arms companies that year with £1.5 million reportedly linked to Israel.
Undercover officers raided three linked shops in Barking town centre, revealing how illicit tobacco is being hidden in walls, ceilings and nearby locations to evade detection.
More than 330,000 people across the UK sought support from the Stop It Now helpline in 2025 over concerns about their own or someone else’s online sexual behaviour towards children, according to new charity data. The anonymous service says contacts by phone, email and webchat rose significantly over the year.
