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Vacant commercial properties are vulnerable to unauthorised access, so mitigating this risk is essential.
Insecure entry points can give easy access to empty premises, making them a target of vandalism, theft, and squatters.
Steel or timber boards are the most popular products for boarding up in the UK, regardless of the risk element you’re seeking to address, whether it’s structural, criminal, or accidental damage.
But how do you know which is best for your commercial property requirements? Looking at the type of incident you’re trying to address is usually a good starting point…
Is Your Property Structurally Safe?
Structural damage can occur when a vacant property is already neglected or in desperate need of repair, maybe awaiting redevelopment, demolition or planning application approval.
Environmental elements such as harsh weather conditions such as flooding and high winds, among others, may necessitate structural protection.
If a property is left empty for an extended length of time, minor wear and tear that’s not addressed may escalate to more serious issues, such as significant water damage caused by a leaking roof.
Boarding up an empty property, especially if it has been vacant for a long period, can help to mitigate the negative impacts of long-term degradation, such as broken windows causing interior weather damage.
Protecting Your Vacant Property From Criminal Damage
When your property becomes vacant, there can be a number of criminal activities that could take place. These are:
Protecting Vacant Property From Burglars
Vacant properties are a prime target for burglars and once metal thieves have established that a property is empty, they may return to finish the job, causing tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage by ripping out wiring and heating pipes. If you identify any signs of an attempted break-in, such as a forced lock, broken bolt or damaged window, this is time to secure them immediately.
Protecting Your Property From Squatters
Squatting is a major source of concern for commercial property owners. Not many people are aware of this, but squatting in commercial property is not illegal. Despite this, the process of removing unwanted visitors can be time-consuming and costly.
Boarding up your vacant property can keep squatters out, squatter invasion prevents new tenants from moving in and making you money, and the cost of reparations after a squatter eviction will definitely outweigh the cost of security.
Although there are perforated steel screens available that let in light and enable ventilation in the property, solid steel screens are a more secure option that presents a visible barrier that won’t allow any natural light or ventilation in, making it more unappealing to squatters if you’re going to close up a property for an extended period of time.
Protecting Your Vacant Property From Illegal Waste
The cost of waste criminality to the economy is estimated to be £604 million per year. The Environment Agency has issued a warning to landlords and property managers about an increasing trend of criminals fly tipping waste which can sometimes be hazardous, in vacant properties.
The cost of resolving this pricey issue is subsequently passed on to the landlord. The Environment Agency’s Prevention and Disruption teams are using new regulatory authorities to lock up and limit access to illegal waste sites, so vacant land and property make a cheap alternative, so you need to take precautions as a property owner.
Steel sheets can be quickly installed and, coupled with perimeter fencing, can prevent illegal fly-tipping and unwanted occupation or trespass of the land.
Protecting Your Vacant Property With Steel
Steel offers much greater material qualities when compared to wood. Because they are cut to size out of a minimum of 1.5mm thick steel, your vacant property will benefit from almost impenetrable seals. This implies it’ll be much less likely to yield to break-in attempts.
And let’s not forget the ongoing threat of arson in vacant properties. Wood, of course, is highly combustible and so timber window boarding becomes a potential on-site fuel source, which actually aids arsonists in any fire setting attempts. Whereas this is completely avoided with steel.
Steel also sends a strong statement that the property’s security is being actively managed – especially when warning signs are included.
Steel screening uses anti-tamper fixtures, this means that the removal of window screens will require the use of restricted access specialist tools.
Conclusion
So, here’s why it’s so important to protect your vacant property by boarding up. However,
depending on the material you use, your results will vary significantly.
To maximise your security, steel is the best option for peace of mind, and it might save you hundreds in the long run.
If you’d like to learn more about boarding up, get in touch with an expert.
