The British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) and vacant property contractor SitexOrbis have launched the BIFM Good Practice Guide to Vacant Property Management. The 24-page guide aims to provide information to facilities managers who have empty buildings to manage as part of their property portfolio. It was launched at the Facilities Show, the facilities event in May at the NEC Birmingham, beside IFSEC. The guide is available online at www.bifm.org.uk/gpgs.
The guide explores the reasons why a number of commercial buildings are becoming empty, highlights some of the key problems facing vacant properties, and explains how facilities managers can close buildings and manage empty properties on a long-term basis keeping them safe, secure, in line with their insurer’s expectations and ready for reoccupation, sale or demolition. The A5 document, written by Mark Cosh, director of SitexOrbis and sponsored by the organisation, was peer reviewed by Allister Smith, property risk manager, Commercial Property Underwriting – Strategy at insurers Aviva. The guide includes original data from the vacant property management survey of BIFM members in autumn 2011, conducted by SitexOrbis and the proposed contents received feedback from delegates at the British Institute of Facilities Management 12th quarterly training day at Bristol.
