Camelot Property Management
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 property on behalf of landlords and property developers, assigning people to occupy vacant buildings to deter squatters.[3][4]
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 |
Website | uk.cameloteurope.com |
They 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
- "Van Antikraak Tot Tijdelijke Verhuur". Camelot Beheer BV. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
- Sinclair, Julie (28 March 2004). "London: On guard and in pocket". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
- Norwood, Graham (10 January 2010). "Property guardian schemes offer quirky homes at low rents. But not for long". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
- Creasey, Simon (October 2002). "Licensed live-in minders protect against squatters". Property Week. 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. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- "CAMELOT REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT LIMITED - Filing history (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- "Property guardian company prosecuted over former care home where more than 30 guardians lived with one kitchen". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- "About property guardianship". Property Guardian Providers Association. PGPA. 2019-11-26.
- Finchett-Maddock, Lucy (9 July 2010). "Who's guarding property guardians?". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
- The Squatters Handbook 13th edition. ASS. 2009. p. 13. ISBN 0-9507769-6-3.
- "PGPA list of members". Property Guardian Providers Association. 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2015-09-08.
- Peaker, Giles (2018-09-20). "Property guardians and 'non-domestic rates'". Nearly Legal: Housing Law News and Comment. 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". Retrieved 14 April 2019.