October 18, London and Birmingham
The Property Guardian Providers Association (the PGPA) launches formally at the Empty Homes Conference taking place in central Birmingham today, 18th October, at Maple House, with the conference's opening address from Graham Sievers, Chairman, and Simon Finneran, Managing Director of Ad Hoc Property Management.
Seven of the UK's leading property guardian firms have come together to form the sector's first trade association to lead on safety and standards, to represent and promote the industry, and to foster best practice.
"Following on from a debate in the House of Lords on Monday about protecting property guardians, this is an ideal opportunity to ensure that this fast-growing sector is not only represented by its top professionals, but that it also sets the best in class standards for the whole industry" said Graham Sievers.
"Raising standards will both help to structure the industry on a sound, consistent framework of regulations, it will also ensure that guardians are getting the best out of their experience," said Simon Finneran, whose Ad Hoc is one of the key drivers behind the association's inception.
The PGPA, which is founded jointly by Ad Hoc Property Management, Guardians of London, Live-in Guardians, Lowe Guardians, VPS, Dex and Camelot, has been created to provide the industry with effective representation, to formulate policy , and to ensure that its members are at the forefront of meeting or exceeding legal and safety standards. These seven founding members provide over 80% of the guardian accommodation in the UK.
Simon continues: "Property guardianship is becoming a more popular way of living as it allows for people to save money to get on the property ladder themselves. One in four guardians are in their 30s and one in three are key workers, all of whom are benefitting greatly from living closer to work."
In order to become a member, companies must not only meet the criteria as defined in the constitution, but be subject to an annual audit of its procedures and services.
For more information about the Property Guardian Providers Association, please contact info@propertyguardianproviders.com. Graham and Simon will be at the Empty Homes conference from 9am until 5pm. It is run by the Empty Homes Network.
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Editor Notes:
For more information, please contact: Graham Sievers info@propertyguardianproviders.com
or call 07722282946