Fifteen Years of Turning Empty Spaces into Opportunity!

More than one million homes across England are currently standing empty. At the same time, average monthly rents in London have reached £2,294, placing increasing pressure on those who want to live and work in the capital.

When Stuart Woolgar arrived in London, he was struck by a contradiction. Beautiful buildings sat vacant and unused, while countless people struggled to find accommodation they could genuinely afford. It didn’t make sense then, and it still doesn’t.

While researching solutions, Stuart discovered a concept from the Netherlands known as property guardianship (often referred to as anti-squat). The idea was simple but powerful: place responsible people in empty properties to care for them while they await redevelopment, sale, or a new purpose.

Recognising the potential, Stuart spent time adapting the model to address the unique challenges of London’s housing market. From those early foundations, Global Guardians was born. Fifteen years later, it has grown into one of the UK’s leading property guardianship companies.

Solving Two Problems with One Solution

Property guardianship has always been about addressing two challenges at the same time: protecting vacant buildings from deterioration and misuse, while providing affordable accommodation for people who need it.

That simple principle remains at the heart of everything Global Guardians does today.

The need for solutions like this has only increased. Long-term empty homes in England have risen by more than 50% since 2016, with over 303,000 properties now standing vacant. That figure doesn’t include the growing number of offices left underused by hybrid working, retail units that have never reopened, or care facilities awaiting redevelopment.

Meanwhile, housing costs continue to rise. Many people are being pushed further from the communities where they work, socialise, and build their lives.

Property guardianship offers a practical alternative. In areas such as Clapham, a one-bedroom flat that might command £2,000–£3,000 per month on the open market can often be available to a Guardian for around £800–£1,000 per month. For those saving for a deposit, building a career, or simply wanting to remain connected to the city they love, that difference can be life-changing.

Challenging the Misconceptions

One of the most common misconceptions about property guardianship is the type of people it attracts.

In reality, Guardians are carefully vetted working professionals who take pride in the places they live and the communities they become part of. They share a belief that no building should be left neglected and that affordable, well-managed housing should be accessible to more people.

This commitment to professionalism has been central to Stuart’s vision from the beginning.

In 2015, Stuart played a key role in developing British Standard BS 8584, the Code of Practice created by the British Security Industry Association to establish minimum standards across the property guardianship sector.

Global Guardians has also invested heavily in technology to improve the experience for both property owners and Guardians. The company’s proprietary platform, My Globe, manages everything from Guardian support and client communication to maintenance coordination and contractor management—ensuring every aspect of the service is delivered to the highest standard.

Built on First-Hand Experience

Long before founding Global Guardians, Stuart spent a decade living as a Guardian himself.

During those years, he lived in a variety of properties across London and met people from all walks of life. What became clear was that every Guardian had their own story, their own ambitions, and their own reasons for choosing this way of living.

That experience gave Stuart a unique understanding of how strong communities form naturally.

Some Guardians have embraced the lifestyle for years, moving between buildings and becoming part of a network they’ve come to call home. Others are at the beginning of their journey—saving for a home, starting a new career, or settling into a new city.

What unites them is a shared respect for the spaces they live in and the people they live alongside. That sense of responsibility and community is what makes property guardianship so distinctive.

Looking Ahead

Interest in property guardianship continues to grow. Searches for property guardianship in the UK have increased by 24% since 2022, highlighting a growing demand for more affordable and flexible housing options.

The gap that Global Guardians was created to fill is wider today than it was fifteen years ago.

The ambition now is to continue expanding that impact—first across the UK, then internationally throughout Europe, North America, and Asia.

It’s a long-term vision, but one built on fifteen years of experience, resilience, and steady growth.

There have been challenges along the way, as there are in any pioneering business. Yet the belief that setbacks are temporary and that progress comes from continuously adapting and improving has remained constant.

After fifteen years, what matters most isn’t simply the growth of the company. It’s the people. The communities formed in unexpected places. The opportunities created when empty spaces are given a purpose. And the individuals who gain a little more freedom, stability, and room to breathe because a building that might otherwise have sat vacant became someone’s home.

That has always been the purpose of Global Guardians.

Join the Next Chapter

If you would like to be part of the next fifteen years, explore our current guardianship opportunities and discover what it means to become a Guardian by clicking the link below: 

Become a Property Guardian | Guardianship Scheme