Core London Office Rates Are Set to Surge — Here’s What Landlords Should Do Next

The sun’s out, your team’s off, and the site’s… quiet.

But while you’re away, your empty or underused commercial property is still working — as a target for break-ins, weather damage, pests, and problems that love to escalate when no one’s watching.

You need a plan. A fast, practical, facilities management plan.

This checklist will help you protect your asset, reduce risk, and avoid nasty surprises when you’re back.

1. Lock it down

Doors. Windows. Shutters. Fire exits. Check them all.

• Are they locked?
• Are they working?
• Could someone get in if they really wanted to?

If the answer’s yes, fix it now. And while you’re at it, it’s a good time to reset any smart locks and restrict who’s got access.

2. Be seen (even when you’re not)

Security matters more when no one’s around.

• Get your CCTV online — and make sure you can check it remotely
• Test your alarm system
• Set up timers or motion-activated lights outside

And yes, big ‘monitored 24/7’ signs still work.

3. Get smart with utilities

Summer heat + empty buildings = higher risk of faults.

• Service your A/C and ventilation before it hits 28° inside
• Turn off what you don’t need — or put systems on timers
• Use smart meters or building monitors to track what’s happening

You’ll save on energy and avoid an emergency callout halfway through August.

4. Stop pests getting comfy

Empty spaces invite unwanted guests — mice, flies, and worse.

• Clear out bins, food, cardboard, and anything that smells like a snack
• Seal up entry points (vents, gaps, drains)
• Book a pest control visit if the space is going to sit empty for weeks

It’s cheaper than fumigating a whole floor later.

5. Don’t forget outside

Overgrown weeds, broken signs, overflowing bins — they all say: “This place is empty.”

• Keep the front tidy
• Sort regular bin collections
• Check lights, signs, and gates are working

Out of sight doesn’t mean out of mind.

6. Inspect it properly

Not a quick walkaround. A proper, logged, no-corners-cut inspection.

• Water damage?
• Fire safety issues?
• Insurance requirements?

Spot it now, not when you’re back from leave and dealing with water pouring through the ceiling.

7. Have someone on-call

Give responsibility to someone. One person.

• To check in weekly
• To respond fast if something goes wrong
• To know who to call if it escalates

Because “We didn’t know who was looking after it” isn’t a good look.

We’ll keep watch while you switch off

Going quiet for summer? That’s fine. But your buildings shouldn’t.

At Verity, we protect properties — empty or not.

• Emergency FM cover
• One-off inspections
• Pest control, locksmiths, cleaning and more
• National network. Same-day response.

clickLet’s get ahead of it.

📩 Talk to us today — and take summer off without worrying what you’ll come back to.