Camelot Property Management Ltd. (Dutch: Camelot Beheer BV) is a vacant property management firm started in the Netherlands in 1993.[1][2] Camelot manages commercial and residential properties on behalf of landlords and property developers by assigning people to occupy vacant buildings to deter squatters.[3][4]
| Company type | Private Limited Company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Property, Security |
| Founded | 1993 |
Number of locations | 12 (Belgium, France, Germany, Republic of Ireland, Netherlands and United Kingdom) |
Key people | Joost van Gestel, CEO |
Number of employees | 200 |
Overview
editThey are notable for having taken most of their UK subsidiary companies into voluntary liquidation several times,[5] the most recent being November 2019[6] after Camelot Guardian Management Ltd were successfully prosecuted for 15 breaches of the Housing Act.[7]
Occupiers pay a deposit and a weekly management fee, often a half of the private rental sector equivalent for similar properties in the same area, and in return they help keep the property secure through being occupied.[8]
The occupiers do not have the same tenancy rights for six months notice and have fewer rights than squatters.[9][10]
Other companies offering similar property guardian services include Live-In Guardians, Dex Property Management, VPS Guardians and Ad-Hoc Property Management.[11] These companies have been taken to court over several different breaches such as health and safety of their guardians, some for illegally renting out properties without the owners consent.[12]
Camelot also provide squat eviction services and security guards. The company successfully lobbied the French government to introduce anti-squatting legislation.[13]
In 2016, the former headquarters of Camelot in Shoreditch, east London, were occupied by squatters.[14]
References
edit- ^ "Van Antikraak Tot Tijdelijke Verhuur". Camelot Beheer BV. Archived from the original on 26 July 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
- ^ Sinclair, Julie (28 March 2004). "London: On guard and in pocket". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
- ^ Norwood, Graham (10 January 2010). "Property guardian schemes offer quirky homes at low rents. But not for long". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 May 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
- ^ Creasey, Simon (October 2002). "Licensed live-in minders protect against squatters". Property Week. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
- ^ "UK Director or various Camelot Guardian companies, Joost VAN GESTEL - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2023-11-10. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ "CAMELOT REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT LIMITED - Filing history (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2023-11-10. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ "Property guardian company prosecuted over former care home where more than 30 guardians lived with one kitchen". inews.co.uk. 29 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2023-11-10. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ "About property guardianship". Property Guardian Providers Association. PGPA. 2019-11-26. Archived from the original on 2020-08-07.
- ^ Finchett-Maddock, Lucy (9 July 2010). "Who's guarding property guardians?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
- ^ The Squatters Handbook 13th edition. ASS. 2009. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-9507769-6-5.
- ^ "PGPA list of members". Property Guardian Providers Association. 2019-11-26. Archived from the original on 2020-09-18. Retrieved 2015-09-08.
- ^ Peaker, Giles (2018-09-20). "Property guardians and 'non-domestic rates'". Nearly Legal: Housing Law News and Comment. Archived from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- ^ "Dutch 'Anti-squat' concept entered into new French legislation". Camelot Property Management. Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
- ^ Taylor, Diane (27 September 2016). "London protesters occupy former HQ of property management firm". Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
External links
edit- Carefree Vacant Property, an independent documentary film about Camelot
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