Empty properties are a "major hassle" for facilities professionals
Vacant property is a significant problem for the FM sector, according to a recent survey by vacant property experts SitexOrbis in association with the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM). Some 70 per cent of the 205 FM professionals who responded consider vacant properties a 'hassle' – five or above on a 10-point scale. While 35 per cent consider them a 'big hassle' – seven or higher out of 10.
The survey, conducted in autumn 2011, also found that 46 per cent of facilities professionals have seen the number of vacant properties in their portfolio increase over the past two years with 32 per cent predicting that they will increase further over the next two years. When asked about their biggest concerns, 68 per cent considered it to be the security of empty buildings, 51 per cent said it was the loss of income while 48 per cent claimed it was keeping the buildings in a ready-to-let condition which kept them awake at night. Site visits/ property inspections (35 per cent) and complying with insurance (33 per cent) were also key issues.
When securing vacant properties 66 per cent of respondents used mains-fed alarms, 48 per cent used CCTV, while 31 per cent employed security guards. Just 24 per cent used security screens or boarding. Worryingly, many FM managers are not aware of alternative, cost effective and effective vacant property security solutions like battery-powered, 24/7 monitored temporary alarms that capture short video footages when triggered. Nor did 14 per cent know that when a property becomes vacant the insurance company must be informed, and 34 per cent were unaware of the health and safety obligations around vacant property.
SitexOrbis would like to thank to all those who took part with this valuable research, and to congratulate Stephen Williams, facilities manager at Eddisons, whose name was randomly selected from the list of respondents to win an iPad 2. The results of the survey will be fed into the BIFM Good Practice Guide to Vacant Property Management, written and sponsored by SitexOrbis. This is to be published later this year and will be sent to all BIFM members.
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