Securing Community Assets with Purpose

The Challenge: A decommissioned site at risk

When the Mornington Centre, a former primary school, closed its doors, it quickly became a target for squatters and vandalism. With squatting a known issue in the area, the Local Authority in the London Borough of Lewisham needed a proactive, cost-effective solution to protect the site.

The Solution: Guardianship with social impact

In partnership with a local security company, the council turned to VPS Guardians to secure the property. By placing carefully vetted Guardians in the building, the site remained occupied, deterring squatters and keeping the space in active use.
Guardianship offers a dual benefit: security through occupation for the building owner and social value through affordable, temporary housing for the Guardians and local community.

Making the property safe and compliant

VPS took full responsibility for preparing the site for Guardianship. This included:

• Conducting all necessary health and fire safety works
• Issuing updated electrical and gas safety certificates
• Implementing a quarterly water testing regime
• Installing and certifying fire alarms and emergency lighting
• Fitting new kitchen and washing facilities to meet HMO standard

All works were carried out in line with current legislation, with guidance from our Primary Authority Partners.

A cost-effective, full-service approach

VPS managed the entire process on behalf of the council, removing the administrative burden and ensuring full compliance. The Guardian service was provided free of charge, with the only cost to the council being utility bills during occupation.

The results speak for themselves:

• £5000+ saved per week in security costs
• Improved property condition, making future reuse easier
• Zero incidents of squatting or vandalism

A smarter way to protect public assets

This project highlights how Property Guardianship can be a powerful tool for local authorities. It’s not just about protecting buildings, it’s about preserving community value, reducing costs and keeping public assets ready for their next chapter.