Doors, windows & access
Observe accessible entry points for visible damage or changes. Check agreed locks and entrances without forcing access.
For owners, landlords & managing agents
Vacant Property Security Patrols & Inspections
Keep track of your empty commercial building with scheduled security visits, agreed property checks and clear reporting. USSG helps you plan access, identify visible concerns and decide what support the site needs while it is unoccupied.
Site-specific checks · Agreed reporting · 24/7 support
Between occupiers. Still looked after.
Know what has changed before your next visit.
Vacant property inspections are scheduled visits to check agreed, accessible areas, record visible concerns and alert the nominated contact. Owners receive a record of what was observed at the time of the visit.
USSG supports owners and managing agents between occupiers, during refurbishment pauses and before reoccupation. The brief follows the building’s condition, access restrictions and length of vacancy.
The inspection brief
What can a vacant property check include?
Choose a checklist around your property. The following are examples of visual checks to agree before the service starts.
Signs of unauthorised entry
Record visible disturbance, tampering or unfamiliar activity and follow the agreed escalation procedure.
Visible water damage
Look for visible leaks, damp patches or standing water within the agreed inspection area. Specialist diagnosis is separate.
Boundaries & external areas
Check agreed gates, fencing and external routes for obvious damage, obstructions or dumped waste.
Accessible internal areas
Walk the authorised route where safe. Record areas that could not be checked and the reason access was restricted.
Outstanding concerns
Record changes since the previous visit and flag unresolved issues to the nominated property contact.
These are non-intrusive observations of agreed, safely accessible areas. They do not replace a building survey, fire risk assessment, electrical inspection or specialist maintenance visit.
Properties we support
Different buildings. A practical brief for each.
The inspection plan follows the property’s use and condition, rather than a single checklist applied to every site.
Empty offices
Between leases, during a fit-out pause or ahead of reoccupation: agree entrance checks, accessible floor areas and authorised contractor access.
Security for occupied offices
Vacant retail units
Check shopfronts, service entrances and agreed back-of-house areas while the unit is awaiting a tenant or refurbishment.
Security for occupied retail premises
Warehouses & industrial units
Plan checks around loading bays, perimeter access and the size of the building, with clear limits for restricted areas.
Sites awaiting redevelopment
Review the brief when demolition, construction or contractor activity changes the access arrangements and risks.
Security when construction startsFrom enquiry to agreed visits
Set the plan before the first inspection.
Clear instructions help everyone understand what is being checked and what happens if a concern is found.
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STEP 01
Share the property details
Send the postcode, building type, vacancy period, known concerns and access restrictions.
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STEP 02
Agree the inspection plan
Confirm visit frequency, safe access, checklist, reporting and the people authorised to receive alerts.
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STEP 03
Check & record
Carry out the agreed visit and record observations, limitations and photographs where included.
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STEP 04
Escalate & review
Report concerns through the agreed route. Review the brief when occupancy, condition or risk changes.
Reporting & visit frequency
Know what was checked. Know what needs attention.
What your inspection report can include
Agree the report format before the first visit, including:
- The visit date, time and areas checked.
- Visible findings and changes since the previous visit.
- Photographs where agreed and appropriate.
- Access restrictions or checks that could not be completed.
- Notifications made and agreed follow-up actions.
Keep the follow-up clear. Agree who receives reports, who can approve work and how unresolved concerns will be reviewed.
How the visit frequency is agreed
There is no single schedule for every empty property. Consider:
- Building condition and any known security concerns.
- The expected vacancy period and changes in site activity.
- Access arrangements and the areas requiring checks.
- Inspection conditions supplied by the owner or insurer.
Insurance conditions: share the exact wording before agreeing cover and confirm acceptance with your insurer. Inspections alone do not guarantee compliance.
If the property needs a continuous presence between visits, discuss manned guarding.
Beyond the inspection checklist
Security visits and practical property care.
A vacant building may need more than a check of its doors. Agree security visits, contractor access and property care as distinct parts of the brief.
Security patrols & authorised access
Discuss scheduled patrol visits around the building’s access points and agreed external areas. Where contractors need entry, confirm who can attend and who can authorise access.
- Agreed routes, visit arrangements and reporting.
- Clear instructions for keys and contractor access.
- Review of whether a guarding presence is needed.
Cleaning & maintenance between occupiers
Discuss cleaning and maintenance requirements before viewings, contractor works or reoccupation. Inspection findings can help identify work that needs separate authorisation.
- Cleaning scope agreed around safe access and condition.
- Visible defects referred for maintenance review.
- Signs of pests reported for specialist assessment.
Approval you can verify
Clear responsibilities and a defined service scope.
USSG holds SIA Approved Contractor status for Security Guarding and Key Holding. These are the named approved activities, rather than a general building-inspection certification.
Confirm authorised access, reporting contacts and escalation arrangements before visits begin, with 24/7 support for the agreed service.
Review USSG memberships & accreditationsIndependent checks & advice
Useful sources for property owners
USSG’s entry on the official SIA register ↗
Check the company entry and its approved activities directly with the regulator.
Police.uk: securing business premises ↗
Practical prevention advice covering entrances, external areas and business security measures.
Police.uk: protecting unoccupied property and land ↗
Guidance on reviewing access and boundaries to reduce opportunities for dumping and unauthorised occupation.
Start with the property postcode
Arrange cover for your vacant premises.
USSG is based in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and considers vacant property requirements across the UK. Availability, visit arrangements and staffing are confirmed for the specific site.
For a useful quotation, send the address, building size, current condition, desired visit frequency and whether internal access is needed. Pricing depends on the agreed scope, travel and reporting requirements.
Before you arrange cover
Vacant property security FAQs
Practical answers for property owners, landlords and managing agents.
What is vacant property security?
Vacant property security is an agreed combination of measures for an unoccupied building. It can include scheduled inspections, access arrangements, keyholding or an on-site guarding presence, depending on the property and its risks.
What does a vacant property inspection include?
The agreed checklist can cover accessible entrances, boundaries, signs of unauthorised access, visible water damage and authorised internal areas. The report records observations and any checks that could not safely be completed.
Can you inspect inside the building?
Internal checks can be included when they are agreed in advance and safe, authorised access is available. Restricted or unsafe areas are recorded as limitations; officers do not force access.
Will inspections meet my insurer’s requirements?
Provide your insurer’s exact conditions before agreeing the service and confirm acceptance with the insurer. Scope, frequency and evidence requirements vary. USSG does not guarantee that inspections alone satisfy every insurance condition.
How often should an empty property be inspected?
Visit frequency is agreed around the property’s condition, risks and requirements supplied by the owner or managing agent. Review the schedule if the building, occupancy or risk changes.
Will I receive photographs and a report?
The reporting format is agreed before visits start. It can include the visit details, observations, photographs where appropriate, access limitations and the notifications or follow-up actions recorded.
What happens if damage or signs of entry are found?
Findings are recorded and escalated through the agreed contact procedure. Officers follow the site instructions and safety arrangements. Specialist repairs, emergency attendance or other work are handled according to the circumstances and agreed responsibilities.
Can inspections be combined with keyholding or guarding?
Yes. Discuss keyholding, alarm response or a guarding presence alongside scheduled checks. Each service has its own agreed scope, access arrangements and responsibilities. CCTV requirements can be arranged through specialist suppliers.
Are these visits a building survey?
No. These inspections are non-intrusive visual observations of agreed, safely accessible areas. They are not a structural survey, fire risk assessment or specialist electrical or mechanical inspection.
How much does vacant property security cost?
Costs depend on the location, building size, visit frequency, internal access, reporting and any additional security services. Send USSG the property details to discuss a quotation for the agreed requirements.