Vacant Property Management Webinar

#vacantproperty @sitexorbis

Mark CoshDirector

Vacant property management


Agenda

• Introduction to vacant property management

• Why buildings become vacant

• The risks of empty buildings

• Managing a building’s closure

• Managing an empty building

• Getting a building ready for reoccupation or demolition

• Conclusion, survey results and Q&A

• #vacantproperty @sitexorbis


Introduction to vacant property management

Introduction to vacant property management

Why buildings become vacant

The risks of empty buildings

Managing a building’s closure

Managing an empty building

Getting a building ready for reoccupation or demolition

Conclusion, survey results and Q&A

BIFM- SitexOrbis

Vacant property poll Autumn 2011

Key

Section D (68%) = Security issues

Section E (51%) = Loss of income

Section C (48%) = Keeping properties in ready-to-let conditions

Section G (35%) = Conduct regular visits

Section A (33%) = Compliance with insurance stipulations

*Total respondents = 205


John


Vacant Building Timeline

Different

strategies

Different stages

in the property

life cycle



Why buildings become vacant

• Economic challenges

• Businesses going bust – eg Lehmans, HMV, Woolworths

• Flexible/ agile working reduces requirement for space

• Changes in the way public services are delivered


The risks of empty buildings

• Loss of rental income

• Increased insurance premiums

• Devaluing of neighbourhood

• Squatters

• Vandals

• Theft – especially metal theft

• Arson

• Fly-tipping

• Compensation claims


Claims and compensation

#vacantproperty @sitexorbisMetal theft

#vacantproperty @sitexorbisMetal theft


Squatting

• Change in the law making squatting a criminal offence in

residential building but NOT commercial buildings

• Case law

• England and Wales v Scotland and Northern Ireland

• Targeting of commercial properties


Squatters: experiences to date

• 27% had been targeted by squatters over the past two years

• 30% expected an increase in squatters targeting commercial

buildings

• London (37%), the south-east (22%) and the Midlands (19%)

are the most targeted areas by squatters

• Many also expressed concern about the threat of Travellers

and Gypsies on their sites

#vacantproperty @sitexorbisSquatting




#vacantproperty @sitexorbisSquatting Law

• Squatters are organised

• Have access to lots of information

• Usually understand the law and processes better than most!

• Have a look at their website www.squatter.org.uk

www.squatter.org.uk


Prevent Squatting

• Prevention is better than cure

• Evicting squatters from commercial properties – the options

• Interim possession order (IPO)

• For urgent repossessions

• Must be sought within 28 days of squatters arrival

• Not for open land

• Possession order

• Claim issued against “persons unknown”

• Court hearing


Squatting: what does the future hold?

• Why wasn’t squatting in commercial buildings covered by the

new law?

• Will commercial buildings be covered in the future?


Urban explorers

http://www.urbexforums.com

http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/


Urban explorers

http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/


Managing a building’s closure

• Conduct a risk assessment

• Remove items of value

• Inform your insurer and the Fire Service

• Inspect the property regularly

• Secure the premises:

• Perimeter protection

• Physical security

• Electronic security systems

• Manned guarding

• Lighting arrangements

• Alert the neighbours


Before and after fire scenario

Case Study: Car showroom


Case study: Property inspection


Case study: Property inspection


Managing an empty building

• Keeping up appearances

• Regular inspections

• Security management

• Temporary use of empty buildings

• Empty property tax rates

• Managing empty listed buildings

#vacantproperty @sitexorbisCase Study: Boiler theft


Getting a building ready for re-occupation

or demolition

• Reoccupation

• Clean and refurbish

• Reconnect the utilities

• Inform your insurer and the Fire Service

• Adjust security

• Conduct a risk assessment

• Demolition

• Site check

• Recycle high-value items

• Disconnect the utilities

• Protect wildlife


Other reasons to review security!

• 12 empty properties

• Man Guarding 24/7

• Some fencing

• Inspections carried out by guard

• Buildings boarded

• Several break-ins, metal stolen

Annualised cost of security all sites £ 2.1 Million

#vacantproperty @sitexorbisOther reasons to review!

• 12 properties following review with owner and insurer

• Man Guarding reduced to 12 hours a day and reviewed on

some buildings

• Wireless video alarms 24/7

• Full fencing introduced around the compounds

• Boards replaced with steel

• Bollards placed at key entrances

• Independent weekly survey with professional inspectors

• All sites cleared to remove fire hazards

• Empty site pits filled and capped

Annualised cost of security of all sites £ 546.236


Further information

• SitexOrbis has produced a white paper about the new

squatting legislation and the impact on commercial property

owners and managers. Visit www.sitexorbis.com/webinar

• SitexOrbis, together with the British Institute of Facilities

Management, has published a Good Practice Guide to

Managing Vacant Property. Visit www.sitexorbis.com/webinar

• The BSIA has produced a free guide to tackling metal theft.

Visit www.bsia.co.uk/home/metal-theft-guide

• The Valuation Office Agency has in-depth information about

the valuation of vacant property and Empty Property Tax relief

at www.voa.gov.uk

http://www.bsia.co.uk/home/metal-theft-guide


Thank You

Mark Cosh

01895 465 500

[email protected]

www.sitexorbis.com

www.linkedin.com/company/sitexorbis-limited

www.twitter.com/sitexorbis

www.facebook.com/sitexorbisltd

One call does it all – 0800 083 0850

Vacant Property Management Webinar

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