Representations and experiences of people living as property guardians in empty buildings

What is it about?

Property Guardianship (PG) is a new form of securing empty buildings through live-in guardians. In the UK, PG is represented as a solution to the lack of affordable housing for young people in precarious jobs. Our study tracks how representations by companies and guardians have shifted between 2010 and 2016 with the rise of a public debate on the housing crisis. The article combines media analysis with in-depth interviews to reveal the complex imaginaries of PG and the often ambivalent experiences and desires of guardians in relation to dweller control and collective living.

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Why is it important?

The article combines media analysis with in-depth interviews to reveal the complex imaginaries of PG and the often ambivalent experiences and desires of guardians in relation to dweller control and collective living.