Vacant Property Boarding Twickenham
Vacant property boarding in Twickenham helps you secure empty homes, shops and commercial buildings quickly and safely, reducing the risk of break-ins, vandalism and squatters while you arrange longer-term repairs or disposal.
Whether you are a landlord, executor, housing association, facilities manager or managing agent, we provide reliable, affordable void property security right across Twickenham and the wider TW postcode area.
Need help securing an empty building now? Call 020 3772 7375 – 24/7 emergency response.
When You Need This
Vacant property boarding and void property security become essential whenever a building is unoccupied and vulnerable. Common scenarios include:
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Between tenancies or sales
- Rental property left empty for a few weeks or months.
- House sale fallen through, leaving a vacant home.
- Probate properties awaiting valuation or clearance.
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After major damage
- Fire or flood damage where the property is uninhabitable.
- Storm damage to roofs, windows or doors.
- Structural issues where access must be controlled.
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Repossessions & insurance cases
- Recovered properties requiring urgent secure empty property measures.
- Insurance claim properties waiting for surveys or works.
- Long-term leak or subsidence repairs where rooms or the whole building must be kept closed off.
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Commercial and public buildings
- Closed shops and restaurants on high streets in Twickenham, Richmond or Teddington.
- Surplus offices and warehouses in Hounslow, Feltham or Heathrow fringe areas.
- Council and housing association voids.
In all of these, vacant property boarding Twickenham is about:
- Deterring intruders, squatters and vandalism.
- Preventing accidents and unauthorised entry.
- Keeping your insurer satisfied that you have taken “reasonable steps” to secure the property.
- Minimising ongoing damage from weather and opportunistic entry.
If your empty building has specific break points such as broken windows or doors, we can combine void property security with window boarding in Twickenham and door boarding up in a single visit.
How We Secure Your Property
Our boarding up specialists have over 10 years’ experience in securing empty and void properties across the TW area, from small flats in Whitton and St Margarets to larger commercial units near Twickenham Stadium and Richmond town centre.
1. Initial assessment
On arrival, we:
- Walk the perimeter and key internal areas.
- Identify all vulnerable access points: doors, windows, basement hatches, skylights, weak fences or gates.
- Discuss your priorities – for example:
- Maximum deterrent vs. discreet appearance.
- Short-term (days) vs medium-term (months) vacant property boarding.
- Who needs controlled access (agents, contractors, surveyors).
2. Plywood and OSB boarding
For most void property security we use:
- 18mm structural plywood or OSB for doors and main windows.
- 11–18mm plywood/OSB for smaller or higher openings.
Boards are cut to size on-site and fitted with:
- Anti-tamper fixings designed to be extremely difficult to remove from outside.
- Internal bracing battens where needed to resist forced entry.
- Fixing methods that are non-destructive wherever possible, typically using:
- Frame-mounted fixings.
- Existing reveals and structural points.
- Minimised drilling to reduce future repair work.
In rare cases (for example, severe fire damage or rotten frames) we may need to fix into brick or other structural elements for safety. We will always explain this before proceeding.
3. Temporary steel doors and access control
Where you still need to visit the property regularly, we can install temporary steel doors:
- Heavy-duty metal door set into a steel frame.
- Fitted with insurance-friendly locks and anti-tamper hinges.
- Ideal for:
- Repossessed properties.
- Ongoing building works.
- Long-term vacant properties in higher-risk areas.
These allow authorised keyholders (you, your agent, or contractors) safe, easy access while keeping the building secure from intruders.
4. Steel security screens for high-risk or longer-term voids
For medium- to long-term void property security, we can fit:
- Steel security screens / Sitex-style anti-vandal screens over windows and smaller openings.
- Panels with perforations for airflow and light where appropriate.
- Fixed using robust anti-tamper fixings to resist crowbars and similar tools.
Steel screens are particularly effective for:
- Vacant commercial units on exposed high streets (e.g. Twickenham, Isleworth, Hounslow).
- Empty homes in secluded locations, backing onto alleys or open land.
- Vacant property security after serious fire or flood damage.
5. Roof, skylight and upper-floor security
Where roofs, skylights or higher windows are compromised, we can:
- Board up from inside where safe and practical.
- Use access equipment (ladders or towers) to install secure OSB boarding and temporary weatherproofing.
- Coordinate with your roofer or contractor if you already have one in place.
If you are dealing with serious weather damage, see our dedicated roof & skylight boarding service and storm damage boarding information.
6. Non-destructive securing as standard
Our guiding principle is non-destructive securing:
- We prioritise methods that preserve doors, windows and frames.
- Fixings are positioned with future reinstatement in mind.
- We explain any unavoidable drilling into brick or concrete before we start.
This approach helps keep repair costs down once you are ready to bring the property back into use.
Why Choose Us for Void Property Security
Local boarding up specialists across TW
- Based in Twickenham, covering all TW postcodes and nearby areas such as Richmond, Teddington, Hampton, Isleworth, Hounslow, Feltham and Sunbury.
- Familiar with local housing stock from Victorian terraces to 1960s blocks and modern riverside apartments.
- Experience securing everything from single flats to entire blocks, warehouses and shop parades.
Over a decade of specialist experience
- 10+ years providing boarding up services Twickenham and across South West London.
- Regular work with:
- Private landlords and portfolio owners.
- Housing associations and councils.
- Estate agents, solicitors and probate teams.
- Facilities and property managers.
Safety, insurance and professionalism
- Public liability insurance in place.
- DBS-checked technicians for boarding up, for peace of mind in residential blocks and sensitive sites.
- We operate cleanly and respectfully:
- Remove or make safe loose glass where required.
- Leave access routes tidy.
- Keep disruption to neighbours to a minimum.
Insurer-friendly paperwork
To support your insurance claim or audit trail, we can provide:
- Time-stamped before-and-after photos on request.
- An itemised invoice clearly showing:
- Number and type of openings boarded.
- Materials used (plywood/OSB thickness, steel screens, temporary steel doors).
- Labour and any access equipment.
- A simple written statement of works carried out.
For broader guidance on claims, see our insurance support for boarding up in Twickenham page. We are not loss adjusters or legal advisers, but we can ensure the security work itself is documented clearly for your insurer.
What Happens Next
Whether your empty building is a small flat in Strawberry Hill or a larger commercial property in Hounslow or Ashford, the process is straightforward:
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Contact us
- Call 24/7 on 020 3772 7375 or contact our Twickenham team.
- Tell us the address, what has happened, and whether there is any known structural or fire risk.
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We assess and advise
- We’ll ask:
- Residential or commercial?
- Short-term or longer-term vacancy?
- Is power/water still connected?
- We recommend the right mix of plywood/OSB boarding, steel screens and/or temporary steel doors.
- We’ll ask:
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On-site securing
- Our boarding up specialists attend with all necessary materials and equipment.
- We secure all agreed entry points and vulnerable openings.
- Where needed, we can combine with:
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Handover and paperwork
- Walk-through of what has been done.
- Keys handed over if temporary steel doors have been fitted.
- Invoice and photos sent by email for your records and any insurance purposes.
If you are managing a portfolio across South West London, our areas we cover page shows our full coverage, including Twickenham, Richmond, Teddington, Hampton, Isleworth, Hounslow, Feltham and more.
FAQs
How long can a vacant property stay boarded up?
Boarding can stay in place for weeks or months, provided the structure behind it is sound. For medium- to long-term vacant property boarding Twickenham, we often recommend a mix of robust plywood/OSB boarding and steel security screens, plus a temporary steel door for managed access. Your insurer or local authority may have their own guidelines, so it is worth checking with them as well.
Will boarding up damage my windows and doors?
Our standard approach is non-destructive securing wherever possible. We use frame-mounted anti-tamper fixings and careful drilling points to minimise lasting marks. In some situations – like badly damaged frames or fire-affected brickwork – fixing into masonry is the only safe option. We will always explain this beforehand.
Can you still provide access for estate agents or contractors?
Yes. This is exactly what temporary steel doors are designed for. We fit a secure metal door with a proper lock, then provide keys to you or your agents so you can control access without leaving the property vulnerable.
How quickly can you secure an empty property?
We provide 24/7 emergency boarding up Twickenham, with efficient dispatch across the TW area. Actual attendance times depend on workload and distance, but we always move swiftly, especially where there is open access, smashed glass or a break-in risk. If your need is urgent, the best step is to call 020 3772 7375.
Is vacant property boarding covered by insurance?
Many landlords and property policies do cover the cost of emergency securing after an insured event (like burglary, storm, fire or impact), but this varies. We recommend checking your policy and speaking to your insurer. We provide insurance-ready paperwork – itemised invoices and photos – and you can read more on our insurance support page.
I manage properties across several TW postcodes – can you help?
Yes. We regularly work with agents and portfolio landlords across Twickenham, Richmond, Teddington, Hounslow, Feltham, Sunbury and surrounding TW areas. Visit our boarding up services in Twickenham overview or contact our Twickenham team to discuss ongoing arrangements.
Need help securing an empty or void property now?
Call 020 3772 7375 or Email us for fast, professional vacant property boarding in Twickenham and across the TW postcode area.
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