EMPTY BUILDINGS & LAND
Vacant and Void Property Security
Security for empty buildings and cleared land, from a monitored camera and weekly inspections to full-time guards and dog patrols.
THE PROBLEM WITH EMPTY PROPERTY
Why void buildings need their own security plan
An empty building changes the moment it is noticed. Once people realise nobody is coming and going, the property can attract trespass, squatting, stripping of copper and fittings, graffiti, fly-tipping and arson. The longer it sits void, the more its value and your liability can be affected.
Owners, landlords, managing agents and developers also have obligations to their insurers. Many vacant property policies expect regular inspections and a record of them, and some require the building to be checked after bad weather or following any report of entry. A security plan for a void site therefore has two jobs: keep people out, and give you evidence that the building is being looked after. It also needs to be proportionate. Most empty properties are not holding stock or plant, so the aim is steady, visible oversight rather than the heavy cover used at high-theft sites.
WHAT WE SEE
Common risks at vacant and void sites
No two empty properties carry the same risk. A boarded house on a residential street faces different threats from a closed factory, a vacant shop unit or a cleared brownfield plot. We look at access points, how long the site has been empty, what is left inside, whether services are live, and what has happened nearby. Where cleared land is at risk of encampments, we can also support landowners with unauthorised encampment prevention and fly-tipping surveillance.
- Squatting and unauthorised occupation
- Break-ins and theft of metals such as copper
- Vandalism, graffiti and deliberate fires
- Fly-tipping and dumping of waste or chemicals
- Encampments on cleared land and car parks
- Undetected water ingress and damage
SERVICES
Void property security options
We scale cover to the risk, so a low-risk empty office is not paying for the protection a derelict factory needs.
Void property inspections
Documented visits checking doors, boards, roofs and services for signs of entry, damage or water ingress, with a record you can share with insurers.
Find out moreMonitored cameras
Wireless, battery or solar-powered cameras watch entrances and perimeters and send motion alerts, ideal where the electricity has been disconnected.
Find out moreSecurity pods and towers
Self-contained camera units for larger voids and cleared land, installed quickly and removed when the site is let or developed.
Find out moreDog patrols
NASDU-approved dog teams search large, dark or partly demolished buildings where cameras have blind spots.
Find out moreManned guarding
SIA-licensed officers hold high-risk sites around the clock, particularly when there is a known threat of occupation.
Find out moreKey holding and alarm response
We keep keys securely and attend activations out of hours, so you do not need to travel to an empty property at night.
Find out more
MONITORED CAMERAS
Remote monitoring for vacant properties
For many empty buildings, a monitored camera system is the most cost-effective starting point. Cameras record when motion is detected and send a clip to the Alarm Receiving Centre, where an operator decides whether it needs action. Genuine activity is escalated to the police, your nominated keyholders or a mobile officer, and false triggers are dismissed.
We assess each site individually and advise on the number of cameras and where they should go, usually covering every point of entry from a height that gives a wide view. Where a property has already been targeted, cameras can be combined with alarm response or a guard until the risk settles.
GETTING STARTED
How we secure an empty property
Initial survey
We review the building or land, its access points, its condition and any history of trespass or damage.
Agree the level of cover
Together we choose inspections, cameras, patrols or guarding, and set the reporting you and your insurer need.
Secure and deploy
Cameras are installed, keys are logged, and officers are briefed on the site, contacts and escalation steps.
Report and adjust
You receive regular reports with dates, findings and any photographs taken, and we change the cover if the site is targeted, marketed, let or handed over for development.
FAQs
Vacant property security FAQs
Can cameras work in a building with no electricity?
Yes. Our wireless cameras and security pods run on battery or solar power and communicate over the mobile network, so they do not need a mains supply or broadband. This suits properties where services have been disconnected, as well as cleared land and car parks with no power.
What does a void property inspection include?
An officer checks the external fabric, doors, windows and boarding for signs of entry, looks for damage, water ingress and dumped waste, and confirms the building is secure. The visit is recorded so you have a dated account of the property's condition to show insurers or clients.
Is it worth using a dog on an empty building?
On large or partly demolished premises, a dog and handler can search areas that are dark, unsafe or out of camera view, and are a strong deterrent where there is a risk of occupation. For smaller or lower-risk voids, inspections and cameras are usually enough.
Who sees the camera footage from a vacant property?
Operators at our Alarm Receiving Centre review motion-triggered clips, and nominated keyholders are contacted as part of the escalation process. Footage is kept for 31 days, or longer if the authorities need it as evidence. Access is limited to authorised personnel so that recordings from your property stay secure.
Can you cover a property for a few weeks only?
Yes. Many voids only need cover between tenancies, during a sale or before demolition. Cameras and pods can be installed and removed quickly, and patrols or guarding can be arranged for a set period and reviewed as your plans change.
Request a quote
Get a free, no-obligation quote
Tell us about the site, the problem you are facing and the hours you need covered, and we will come back to you with a price and a plan. No obligation.
Prefer to talk? Call 0344 800 7066 any time — we answer 24 hours a day.
Call our experts today
Talk to a security specialist about your site, any time of day or night.
0344 800 7066Request a quote