We spoke with Alice about her experience as a Property Guardian, and the difference that access to affordable accommodation in central London has made in her life.
Is this your first time living with LOWE?
Yeah it is, I’ve been here a year.
How did you learn about Property Guardianship?
Research! I was living with a friend in Holland Park, a beautiful part of London, whose parents took the apartment back. I really wanted a way to stay in such a lovely part of London and be very central – because my work is all over Central London which made accessibility key.
Being a ballet dancer, I’ve worked with all kinds of artists in my career, a lot of artists who have lived in various Guardianship properties, so I knew it was an affordable way to live in London. The Guardianship I knew about from other artists were these abandoned massive warehouses. I did a little research and found this property.
It’s been really fortuitous and a lucky series of events. I was really resistant initially – I was worried that a Guardianship would be a bit mismanaged or overflowing with people or not have enough people in it or be in a state of disrepair.
When I saw LOWE’s website, I felt reassured because I felt that they were hitting the correct level of maintaining the property, and making sure that they cultivated a good space for people to be in. They make sure that there’s a good community and that there was this oversight to make sure that their buildings aren’t crazy party places, which is what I was worried about.
So it was really fortuitous that I happened across a property, not only in the area that I wanted but that was run by a company that have got it right.
That’s so good to hear! And what did the team do to reassure you about what it would be like living with LOWE?
The lettings team were great – I didn’t want to have to deal with too much online, I just wanted to speak to somebody about LOWE and what the experience would be like, and get the human interaction with someone because I think that’s what Guardianships are very much about – tapping into these communities.
The lettings agent was able to really beautifully relay what my experience might be like and what kind of people LOWE look for, the rough age range – that it’s not teenagers and not going to be rave-y. I imagined a bit of a drug dense scenario but everyone that lives in these properties are employed, they’re accountable and they’ve been vetted. It was really nice to have their reassurance, the conversation must have been 20 minutes, half an hour, and they were really reassuring.
For me things with LOWE have been really easy and friendly.
What has the community been like for you?
Pembridge is quite a huge community – there’s a WhatsApp group we all have and we share between us if there are any issues with the property and then it gets sent to LOWE.
The community are really lovely, there’s got to be at least 80 people across these three massive buildings so it’s a bit community. What’s really fascinating, particularly about the way this building works is that we’ve got this tap in or tap out option. There are some people who live here that really need a bit more autonomy – a bit more space. And there is a collection of people that really interact as part of a group day-to-day.
There’s an overall feeling that if you bumped into anyone in the corridor, it’s easy and polite, I really do like that. There’s the option to dip your foot in or not, so for instance as someone who works all over London and has unsociable hours, I can’t always join in lots but have been invited to countless events outside of the property and also during the Summer months – there’s a lovely veranda that runs across the three buildings and I’ve been out there for at least a couple of events. It’s given me the option to either take part or not which has been a really nice, easy way to live.
You don’t hear or see anyone strangely, so your room is your own oasis and you can check in or out, and for my personality that works really well, I do need that separate space.
What impact has the affordability of Guardianship had for you?
Being able to live in this postcode, for an ensuite room of this size at this price point, is very unusual. London’s rent has become so unmanageable for people, and I’m in employment – I’m working all the time. There’s the importance of being able to save but as a creative my pay check isn’t as high as say a lawyer – and it’s so important that we have the actual ability to live in London. These alternative options are necessary at the moment I think.
The affordability and postcode were a massive point for me. LOWE isn’t as expensive as estate agents but they’re not as low as some Guardianships that are mismanaged or not managed at all. They’re somewhere in the middle and I’d say that reflects the value they place on taking care of the property and people living with them.
As a dancer, is it important to live centrally?
It is, I think The Stage – which is an online platform – posted something the other day about female performers travelling back late at night, and it’s a very real part of my work that I constantly travel back from theatres late. Being able to come home to a postcode that I’m familiar with, that I feel safe in, and also that takes me 20 minutes to get to from most places has been a major part of it.
What place has guardianship had in your life?
I think for a lot of people, they don’t go into Guardianship thinking it’s a forever home, it’s a transitional space and that is what this space has been for me. I think it’s created this ease of transition to and from my work and for where I’m at at the minute in my life – it’s been lovely.
If you manage a vacant building or are interested in becoming a Property Guardian with LOWE, we’d love to hear from you.