Over 175,000 commercial buildings sit empty across England right now. That’s offices, shops, warehouses, and shopping centres with nobody inside them.

Back in 2021, the report estimated that the number would be around 165,000 in 2025. But as we are about to enter 2026, we’ve added 10,000 more empty commercial spaces. And the problem keeps getting worse.

Each empty building is worth money, sometimes millions of pounds. But when they sit empty, bad things start happening. Windows get smashed. Thieves break in. Buildings fall apart. The value drops.

Someone has to look after these empty places. That’s where asset managers come in. Their job is to protect these buildings and keep them worth the money they should be.

But it’s not an easy job. Empty buildings face dangers every single day.

What Actually Happens to Empty Buildings?

Let’s look at the real problems empty commercial properties face.

Criminals Love Empty Buildings

Think about it. An empty building has no people around. No lights are turning on and off. No cars in the car park. No noise.

To a criminal, that looks perfect.

The empty properties are more likely to be broken into than occupied ones. That’s huge.

Here’s what typically happens:

First Few Weeks: The building sits quietly. Everything looks fine.

After A Month:  Local criminals notice nobody’s there. They start checking doors and windows.

After Two Months: The first break-in happens. Maybe they steal copper pipes, electrical equipment, or anything valuable left behind.

After Three Months: Word spreads. More people try their luck. Vandals spray paint the walls. Windows get smashed.

One empty office building in Leeds was broken into five times in six months. Each time caused more damage. The total repair bill? Over £45,000.

Buildings Fall Apart Without People

Here’s something surprising: buildings need people inside them.

When nobody’s using a building, it starts breaking down faster. Why?

• No heating in winter means pipes can freeze and burst
• No one notices leaks until water causes serious damage
• Damp grows because there’s no ventilation
• Pests move in when there’s no one to stop them
• Small problems become big ones because nobody’s there to spot them

A small roof leak might cost £200 to fix. Leave it for six months in an empty building, and suddenly you’re looking at £15,000 worth of water damage to ceilings, walls, and floors.

The Money Problems Keep Adding Up

Empty buildings cost money in ways people don’t always think about.

Insurance gets expensive. Most insurance companies charge much more for empty buildings. Some won’t cover them at all after 30 or 60 days. They know the risks are higher.

Property values drop. An empty building that looks neglected makes the whole area look bad. Other property values nearby can fall too.

Council fines happen. Local councils can fine owners for buildings that become dangerous or attract crime.

You can’t rent it out. While you’re fixing damage from break-ins, you’re losing rental income. That could be thousands of pounds per month.

Who Are Asset Managers and Why Do They Care?

Asset managers are the people responsible for looking after commercial properties. They might work for:

• Property investment companies
• Pension funds that own buildings
• Banks that have repossessed properties
• Large companies that own their own offices

Their job is simple to explain but hard to do: Keep the property safe and valuable until the next tenant moves in or it gets sold.

They need to prevent all those problems we just talked about. But they might be managing 10, 20, or even 50 properties across the country. They can’t be everywhere at once.

That’s why they need help.

How Professional Security Services Stop Problems Before They Start

Good security doesn’t just react to problems. It stops them from happening in the first place.

Eyes That Never Sleep

Modern CCTV cameras do much more than record footage.

The best systems connect to control rooms where people watch screens 24 hours a day. If they see something suspicious at 2 AM, they can:

• Speak through speakers to warn off intruders
• Call the police immediately
• Alert a patrol team to check the property
• Record clear evidence if crimes do happen

Studies show that visible CCTV cameras reduce crime. Criminals don’t like being filmed. They move to easier targets.

Regular Check-Ups Keep Things Working

Imagine if you only went to the dentist when your tooth was already broken. That would be expensive and painful, right?

Empty buildings work the same way. Regular check-ups catch problems early.

Professional inspectors visit empty properties weekly or even daily. They check:

• Are all doors and windows still locked?
• Has anyone tried to break in?
• Are there any leaks or water damage?
• Is the heating working properly?
• Has rubbish piled up outside?
• Does anything look different from last time?

They take photos and write reports. Asset managers can see exactly what’s happening, even if they’re 200 miles away.

Patrol Teams Make Criminals Think Twice

Security patrols work because they’re unpredictable.

A marked security van pulls up at random times. Guards get out and walk around the building. They check everything carefully. Then they leave.

Criminals watching the building never know when the patrol will arrive. Tonight at 11 PM? Tomorrow at 3 AM? They can’t plan around it.

The patrols also provide something important: a quick response. If an alarm goes off or a camera spot something suspicious, a patrol team can be there in minutes, not hours.

Guard Dogs Find What Humans Miss

Trained security dogs have superpowers compared to humans.

They can smell things we can’t. They can hear tiny sounds from far away. They can search a big warehouse in minutes.

K-9 units are especially good at finding:

• People hiding in dark corners
• Drugs hidden in walls or ceilings
• Evidence someone’s been sleeping rough inside
• Unusual smells that might mean fire risk

Building Layers of Protection

The best security doesn’t rely on just one thing. It builds layers.

Think of it like protecting your bicycle:

• Layer 1: You park it somewhere visible (physical location)
• Layer 2: You use a good lock (physical barrier)
• Layer 3: You have a GPS tracker hidden on it (electronic monitoring)

If a thief gets past one layer, the next one stops them.

Empty buildings use the same idea:

Layer 1: Physical Security

• Strong locks on all doors
• Boards on ground-floor windows
• Good fencing around the property
• Security lighting that turns on automatically

Layer 2: Electronic Monitoring

• CCTV cameras covering all entrances
• Alarms on doors and windows
• Motion sensors inside
• Systems that send instant alerts

Layer 3: Human Response

• Regular patrols at random times
• Quick response teams on call
• Weekly inspections
• Monitoring centre watching cameras 24/7

Layer 4: Making It Look Occupied

• Lights on timers
• Regular mail collection
• Keeping the grass cut
• Quick removal of graffiti

Each layer makes the building less attractive to criminals. They want easy targets, not hard work.

Real Numbers: What Protection Actually Saves

Let’s look at actual costs.

Without professional security:

• Break-in repairs: £3,000 to £15,000 each time
• Water damage from burst pipes: £10,000 to £50,000
• Removing squatters legally: £20,000 to £40,000
• Lost rental income during repairs: £2,000 to £10,000 per month
• Higher insurance premiums: 200% to 400% increase

With professional security:

• Monthly security services: £500 to £2,000
• Regular inspections: £200 to £500 per month
• Most problems were prevented completely
• Insurance stays affordable
• Property stays ready for tenants

The math is simple. Prevention costs much less than repairs.

What Makes Good Void Property Security UK Services?

Not all security is the same. Good services have certain features.

They Communicate Clearly

Asset managers need to know what’s happening. Good security companies:

• Send reports after every visit
• Include photos of any problems
• Call immediately if something urgent happens
• Respond quickly to questions

They Understand Commercial Property

Protecting an empty office is different from protecting an empty house. Good companies know:

• Building regulations
• Insurance requirements
• What commercial thieves look for
• How to deal with business property issues

They’re Flexible

Properties don’t stay empty for predictable times. Sometimes tenants sign quickly. Sometimes buildings stay empty for years.

Good security services adapt. They can increase or reduce protection as needed.

They Have Proper Training and Equipment

Professional guards are trained for the job. They have:

• SIA licenses (Security Industry Authority)
• Proper uniforms and ID
• Communication equipment
• Transport to respond quickly

Making Smart Decisions About Security

Asset managers have to decide: How much security does each property need?

This depends on several things:

Location matters. A warehouse in a high-crime area needs more protection than an office in a safe business park.

Value matters. A £5 million building deserves more investment in security than a £500,000 one.

How long it will be empty matters. A building empty for two months needs less than one empty for two years.

What’s inside matters. Buildings with expensive equipment left inside need extra protection.

The key is matching the security to the risk. Not too little. Not too much. Just right.

The Bigger Picture

Empty commercial properties are part of the UK economy. They represent billions of pounds in assets.

When these buildings are damaged or neglected, everyone loses:

• Owners lose money
• Communities get eyesores
• Crime increases in the area
• Local property values fall

Good void property security UK services protect more than just individual buildings. They protect communities and investments.

Asset managers who get security right protect their clients’ money. They prevent disasters. They keep properties ready for the future.

And in the end, that’s what matters: turning vulnerable empty buildings into protected assets that maintain their value until they’re needed again.

The statistics are clear. The risks are real. But so are the solutions.

Professional security works. The numbers prove it. The only question is whether to act before problems happen or pay much more to fix them afterwards. Smart asset managers already know the answer.