Vacant Property Security in Barnet
Vacant property security from Boarding Up Barnet means boarding the windows and doors of an empty house, flat or commercial unit so it can’t easily be entered while it stands unoccupied. We fit exterior-grade boarding with security fixings over the openings you need covered. You get a quote on the phone before any work is agreed.
The work is a make-safe for the period the property is empty. When the place is let, sold or reoccupied, the boards come down and normal glazing and doors take over again.
When boarding an empty property makes sense
Boarding suits a property that will be empty for a while and where visible protection is more useful than looking occupied. Typical examples:
- Landlords between tenancies, especially where refurbishment means the property will sit empty for weeks or months.
- Agents and executors handling a probate property that has to stay closed while the estate is settled.
- Owners of empty commercial units, such as a shop or office that has closed and is waiting for a new tenant.
- Properties awaiting works or sale, where there’s nothing inside worth protecting but the building still needs to be kept closed.
- Properties already entered once, where a broken window or forced door on an empty building has to be made safe before anything else happens.
If the property is still lived in and has just had one window broken, window boarding on its own is usually the right job. Vacant property securing is about closing up a building that nobody is watching day to day.
What we board and how
Windows
Ground-floor windows and any window reachable from a flat roof, wall or bin store are usually the priority. We normally use exterior-grade plywood, typically 18mm, cut to the opening. Smaller openings such as toilet windows or fanlights can take OSB.
Upper-floor windows may also need covering, depending on the building and how exposed it is. We’ll discuss this with you on the call rather than assume every opening has to be boarded.
Doors
Front, back and side doors on an empty property get particular attention, because they’re the obvious way in. If a door is sound, we can board over it. If it has been forced, or the frame or lock is damaged, it has to be secured first so the boarding has something solid to fix to. Our door boarding page covers damaged doors and frames in more detail.
Tell us which door you’ll need to keep using for viewings, contractors or inspections. That affects how we treat it.
Fixings
We use security (anti-tamper) fixings, which can’t easily be undone from outside with ordinary tools. Where the frame allows, we fix in a way that limits damage to it. Owners who plan to keep the existing windows and frames usually want this.
When a frame is too damaged
If a window or door frame is rotten, split or badly damaged by a forced entry, we explain the options before fixing anything. It may need extra timber to fix into, or a different approach from the one you expected. You agree any change in scope before we do it.
Houses, flats and commercial units
The Dollis Valley Estate near High Barnet includes two- and three-storey houses, five-storey blocks of flats and maisonettes. Chipping Barnet’s town centre also has shops along the High Street. The approach depends on the building:
- Houses usually need every ground-floor window and door covered, plus any window that can be reached from outbuildings or extensions.
- Flats and maisonettes in a block may only need the flat’s own entrance door and any ground-floor or accessible windows. Access through the communal parts has to be arranged with whoever manages the building.
- Empty shops and offices often have large glazed frontages and a rear service door. Shopfront glass usually means bigger sheets and more fixings.
What happens on the visit
- The call. You give us the postcode, the type of property, which openings you want secured and how we’ll get in or reach them. Safe photographs help. We work out an arrival time based on the postcode and give you a free, clear quote.
- On site. We check the openings against what was discussed. If something differs, such as a frame in worse condition or an extra window that’s easy to reach, we tell you before doing more.
- Boarding. We cut and fix boards to the agreed openings, clear and make safe any broken glass or debris covered by the quote, and secure any damaged doors that were part of the job.
- Paperwork. You receive the documentation described below.
The van carries boarding stock and fixings.
What you receive
- The agreed openings boarded and fixed with security fixings.
- An itemised invoice for the work done.
- Time-stamped before and after photographs of each secured opening.
- A written statement of the work carried out.
Landlords, agents and executors often need this record for the owner, a managing agent or the insurer. Many insurers set their own conditions for unoccupied buildings, so check with yours what they expect. The insurer decides what is covered, and we can’t advise on policy terms. Our insurance claims guide explains how the documents are usually used.
What affects the quote
There are no fixed prices for securing an empty property, because buildings vary too much. The quote depends on:
- Number and size of openings. A two-window flat is a different job from a house with bay windows, French doors and a garage door.
- Height and access. Upper floors, windows over conservatories or extensions, and anything needing ladders.
- Materials and board thickness. Plywood for most openings, OSB for smaller ones.
- Fixing method. Security fixings, and whether non-destructive fixing is possible on your frames.
- Damaged doors or frames. A forced door or a weak frame has to be secured before it can be boarded.
- Glass and debris. Broken glass that needs making safe and clearing.
The pricing page explains these factors more fully. The quote is agreed before any work starts.
About us
Boarding Up Barnet is an independent local boarding-up service with over 10 years’ experience. We’re fully insured (certificate on request) and DBS-checked, which matters when we’re working on a property with nobody else present. Someone answers the phone 24 hours a day, so you can call outside office hours, for example when a void property has just been entered.
We cover Barnet and nearby places including Whetstone, Totteridge and Cockfosters. We’ll confirm we cover your address on the call.
Ready to secure an empty property?
Send us the postcode, the type of property, the windows and doors you want covered and a few safe photographs. We’ll discuss access and give you a free quote before anything is booked.