Property guardians: caretaker solutions to sky-high city rents

London professionals are taking advantage of reduced rents in vacant buildings in often unusual spaces

A top-floor, open-plan property in a trendy east London neighbourhood would usually set you back thousands of pounds a month in rent, but Luke Williams is paying a fraction of that.

The 45-year-old programme manager is one of a growing number of professionals turning to property guardianship – a housing arrangement whereby people live in vacant buildings in exchange for reduced rent.