The concept of becoming a property guardian has ballooned in recent years, and when you study the industry, it’s really not hard to understand why this is so. On the one hand, house or property owners get a very good deal: their property (often otherwise abandoned and not properly maintained) is taken care of and the tenant does indeed pay a small amount of rent (so there’s passive income). On the other hand, there are great advantages for the guardian – there’s lower rent and whilst there are various responsibilities, those with a goal benefit enormously. However, what’s really the deal with property guardianship? For those who are interested, here are the facts and figures related to property guardianship in the UK you should know about.
Why prospective guardians are attracted
It’s simple, really: it’s very cheap rent. Often the rent is only a fraction of what you would otherwise pay if the property were indeed to be let on the modern market. Not only are there perks when it comes to cheap rent, property guardians often report a drastic decrease in monthly expenses simply because by being a property guardian, they don’t have the opportunity to spend too much of their income. To put it bluntly, property guardians usually don’t live like kings, but they are able to put a lot of their monthly income into a proper savings account.
What guardians do
Property guardians are not really expected to ‘guard’ the property – they don’t always confront potential burglars or potential vandals. In fact, they are often discouraged to do so. Their main value lies in the fact that they are renting, and hence, assure that the property is not vacant. The owner of the property can easily prosecute anyone who commits breaking and entering, trespasses, or vandalises without prior permission. Often live in guardians also do maintenance and minor repairs, or report on necessary points of attention.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages to the property owner are that they have someone to keep an eye on the property and receive a small amount of compensation in return. The advantage to the guardian is cheap rent. The disadvantages? Hardly any from the owner’s point of view – a sober lifestyle from the guardian’s side.
For those who are still wondering whether or not they should become a property guardian, it helps to remember the following things: you need to have a goal – a specific purpose for entering the property guardianship scheme. There are indeed a lot of advantages for the guardian and the property owner; but there are some disadvantages as well, so it’s important to consider and weigh both against each other. It’s often a good deal, and it works. That’s proven. But it’s important both parties understand what they’re getting into.
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