With housing prices reaching historic levels in several European capitals, an alternative model is gaining momentum in the United Kingdom and is beginning to arouse curiosity in other countries, including Portugal. These are so-called “guardians”, people who live in unoccupied buildings for very low incomes, in exchange for ensuring that properties are not vandalized or subject to illegal occupations by ‘okupas’, according to the newspaper El Confidencial.
The idea is not new. It emerged in the 1980s in the Netherlands to give temporary use to abandoned buildings and offer affordable accommodation to artists and young professionals. Today, in London, the concept is consolidated and is seen as one of the few ways to live in the city center without paying exorbitant prices.
Living in an iconic building for a fraction of the price
One of the most famous cases was that of Tom (not his real name), 36 years old, who lived in one of the most exclusive buildings in the British capital, the former headquarters of Scotland Yard, next to the River Thames, paying just 450 pounds (around 517 euros) per month.
Tom is not a tenant nor is he illegally occupying the properties. It is a “guardian”, a term used to designate people who live in empty buildings about to be remodeled, in exchange for keeping the space inhabited and safe from illegal occupations. “It’s taken me 13 years to live like this and, despite moving several times, it pays off. You save money, meet interesting people and experience the city in a different way”, he told the British press.
He currently lives in Camden Town, in a housing estate that will be demolished. “I was able to set up my business because I was able to save. This lifestyle allows me to live without constraints”, he explains, quoted by the same source.
An alternative that expands across Europe
It is estimated that there are around 14,000 “guardians” in the UK, compared to 11 million private tenants. Prices vary between 30% and 50% below market and, in most cases, include basic water and electricity expenses.
The system is considered advantageous for both parties: owners avoid illegal occupations and vandalism, and residents obtain housing at reduced costs. However, the model is not without risks. As there is no specific regulation, “guardians” do not have the same level of legal protection as a common tenant, says the source cited above.
Typically, the contracts are license rather than lease, meaning they can be required to vacate the space with just 28 days notice. In addition, they must ensure cleaning and minor repairs, and accept regular visits from inspectors who have the keys to the building.
Between privilege and precariousness
According to the British Property Guardian Providers Association (PGPA), around 90% of “guardians” have full-time employment, and a third work in creative areas. The profile is diverse: there are young people at the beginning of their careers, middle-aged professionals and even retirees looking for temporary accommodation in large cities.
Not everyone, however, has good experiences. Some report dilapidated buildings without drinking water or plagues of rats. Others, on the contrary, say they have lived in old factories, schools and theaters transformed into authentic communities.
PGPA president Graham Sievers ensures that safety standards continue to apply and that owners can be fined if they do not comply with the rules. “Security, electricity and fire requirements are the same as in any home. Demand is currently the highest since the model arrived in the country”, he stated.
A model that could inspire solutions in Portugal
The British experience sparks debate in several countries, including Portugal, where the scarcity of affordable housing is increasingly evident. According to data from Eurostat, Portugal is one of the countries in Europe where housing costs have grown the most in the last decade, especially in Lisbon and Porto.
In theory, this concept could be adapted to vacant public or private buildings, reducing vandalism and offering temporary accommodation to students, displaced workers or young professionals. In Lisbon, for example, there are unused municipal buildings that could benefit from a similar solution.
Living without owning: a new urban paradigm
While the average rental price in London exceeds 2,200 pounds (around 2,528 euros) per month, the number of “guardians” continues to increase and the model is beginning to be tested in cities such as Paris and Madrid. According to , for many, it represents more than a way of saving: it is a new way of living in big cities, with less stability, but also with more freedom.
In Portugal, where affordable housing has become one of the biggest social concerns, the idea of legally occupying vacant buildings while avoiding illegal occupations may, one day, stop being just a foreign curiosity and become an opportunity to rethink the way we inhabit cities.
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