the Housing Executive Awards 2026 takes place on 6th October at Bolton Wanderers’ Toughsheet Community Stadium, and we are pleased to welcome Global Guardians as sponsor of the Housing Association of the Year category.
Empty buildings are one of social housing’s more uncomfortable contradictions. Across the UK, hundreds of thousands of properties sit vacant at any given time — being redeveloped, bought, sold, or simply waiting — while demand for affordable housing continues to outstrip supply. Global Guardians exists to close that gap.
Read More: The “Missing Middle” in Britain’s Housing System
Founded by CEO Stuart Woolgar, who spent years watching valuable empty properties go to waste while people struggled to find affordable places to live, Global Guardians operates a BSI-approved Property Guardian scheme that transforms disused buildings into safe, comfortable living spaces for local people and key workers. Working with local councils, housing associations and private landlords across the country, the company safeguards empty properties during periods of transition while putting them to genuine social use in the meantime.
The model is straightforward but the impact is real. Properties that would otherwise sit empty are occupied, protected and maintained, while guardians gain access to affordable accommodation in areas where they might otherwise struggle to find it. Global Guardians manages the process end-to-end, from enforcing guardian rules and housekeeping standards to health and safety compliance monitored through an ISO9001:2015 accredited Quality Management System.
As sponsor of the Housing Association of the Year category, Global Guardians brings a perspective rooted in the same core belief that drives the best housing associations: that no building should go to waste while people need somewhere to live.
Nominations for the Housing Executive Awards 2026 are open now, with submissions closing on 30th June. Find out more and nominate at our website.
