An empty building is easy to spot and slow to recover once something goes wrong. Sparta Guard provides vacant property security in London using SIA-licensed, DBS-checked guards who inspect, attend alarms or stay on site. Message us on WhatsApp with the address, and across Central London a guard is usually on site within the hour.
Whether a property is empty for a week or a year, the risks build quietly:
Squatting in a residential building is a criminal offence in England and Wales. In commercial buildings it is often dealt with as a civil matter, which can take longer to resolve. Our guards cannot remove anyone living in a property. If occupiers are already inside, speak to the police or a solicitor.
Not every empty property needs a guard every night. Match the cover to the risk.
| Level of cover | What happens | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled inspections | A guard visits on set days, checks entry points and reports back with photos | Homes between tenants, probate properties |
| Alarm response | A guard attends when the alarm activates and checks the building | Properties with a working alarm but nobody nearby |
| Static guard, nights | A security guard stays on site overnight | Shops and offices in busy areas, sites after an attempted entry |
| Continuous guarding | Guards on site day and night in shifts | High-risk buildings, sites with plant, properties already targeted |
| K9 unit | A handler and trained dog patrol the site | Large sites, yards and derelict buildings |
For scheduled visits on their own, see property security checks. For continuous cover, see 24-hour security guards or K9 security units.
If a guard finds signs that someone is inside, they will not enter alone. They will tell you straight away and contact the police where needed.
Use WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or the Sparta Guard app.
The address, how long it will be empty, whether it is alarmed, and how guards can get in, if at all.
We can suggest a starting point.
You get updates and photos after each visit, and an immediate message if anything is wrong.
A late parent’s flat is empty while probate goes through. A guard inspects it twice a week and sends photos to the family abroad.
An office floor sits empty between leases. Alarm response plus a weekly check keeps an eye on it between viewings.
A former warehouse awaits demolition and someone has tried the rear door. Night guards cover the site until the contractor takes over.
The cost depends on the level of cover, how often guards visit and how long the property is empty. Inspections usually cost less than night guarding. Owners and agents with several empty properties can ask about membership plans.
We protect empty homes, offices, shops and sites across Central London, including:
It depends on the building, its location and your insurance policy. Many owners start with weekly inspections and increase them if there are signs of interest. Your insurer’s unoccupancy conditions may set a minimum, so check the policy wording first.
Guards deter squatters by making the building look watched and by spotting early signs of entry, such as a forced window or new bedding. They cannot remove people already living inside. If occupiers are in the property, contact the police and take legal advice before doing anything else.
Yes. A guard attends the activation, checks the doors, windows and other entry points, and reports what they find with photos. If there are signs someone is inside, they will not go in alone and will contact the police where needed.
Yes. You can book a guard for night shifts only, or for continuous day and night cover in handovers. Night guarding suits properties that have already been targeted, or buildings where an attempted entry has left a door or window weak until it is repaired.
No. You can book a single visit, a run of inspections or guarding for as long as the property is empty. There is no minimum term, and you can stop or change the cover when the building is let or sold.
Message us now and local SIA-licensed responders are alerted straight away.
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