The best CCTV for vacant property protection
Recent government data shows there are more than 264,000 long-term empty residential properties in England, before factoring in thousands of vacant commercial buildings. For building managers and landlords, each empty property represents both financial and reputational risk, making CCTV for vacant property a priority from day one.
An unoccupied building is often exposed to vandalism, trespassers, theft, squatting and arson, leading to significant repair costs and reputational damage with residents and local authorities.
Once targeted, these sites can quickly deteriorate.
The CCTV Hub from Redvision, a UK-based CCTV camera manufacturer, is designed specifically for protecting assets that may lack power, connectivity and on-site personnel.
Why the CCTV Hub is ideal for vacant sites
The Redvision CCTV Hub is a rugged, re-deployable 5G camera station that can be rapidly installed within minutes, without relying on fixed network infrastructure or dedicated comms rooms.
Once powered and connected to the mobile network, the CCTV Hub provides control, monitoring and playback for up to four cameras from a remote location. Cameras can be mounted directly on the hub or positioned up to 100 metres away, allowing you to cover entrances, rear alleys, bin stores and perimeters across the entire site.
This highly effective CCTV for vacant property delivers flexible protection that can be deployed fast, adapted to changing risks, and monitored from anywhere.
Four key benefits include:
1. Integrated detection, deterrence and response
Prevention is just as important as evidence capture on vacant sites. The CCTV Hub integrates detection, analytics and audio-visual deterrents so you can intervene before damage takes place.
Redvision AI analytics and Luminite PIR detectors are seamlessly integrated into the hub to generate alarms when an intruder enters a defined area. Once triggered, operators can confirm activity using live video and respond immediately. For example, a rugged PTZ camera mounted on the hub can drive an overt white spotlight to flood the area with light, while audio over a loudspeaker delivers a clear voice challenge to the intruder.
This combination of intelligent detection, visual exposure and audio challenge has a proven deterrent effect on trespassers, metal thieves and would-be arsonists. At the same time, visible confirmation of an intruder enables the monitoring station to request police attendance where appropriate, improving response times and providing stronger evidential support.
Because you can mix PTZ heads with fixed cameras on a single hub, it’s easy to design a solution that provides both wide-area coverage and close-up identification. Presets on the PTZ camera also allow operators or automated rules to patrol key routes, zoom into high-risk zones and follow movement across the site from a single device.
2. Different monitoring options for your needs
Effective CCTV for vacant property depends on reliable monitoring. The CCTV Hub gives you two straightforward options, so you can align the solution to your operational model and budget.
For landlords and managing agents who want direct oversight, the RedVu CMS central management system provides self-monitoring from your own control room or facilities team. RedVu CMS can manage thousands of hubs across multiple sites, ideal for housing providers and portfolio landlords with a large number of void properties spread over a wide area.
If you prefer a fully managed service, the CCTV Hub’s built-in Immix integration enables third-party monitoring centres to handle alarms during agreed hours and escalate to keyholders or emergency services when required. This gives you the reassurance of 24/7 coverage without the overhead of running your own control room.
3. Rugged design for harsh, unattended environments
Vacant residential sites are often exposed: hoardings, scaffolding, temporary utilities and incomplete surfaces all increase the risk of accidental damage or deliberate tampering.
The CCTV Hub is built in a rugged, marine-grade enclosure engineered to withstand harsh environments and vandalism.
The enclosure protects all critical electronics, making sure the hub continues to operate while it is protecting the vacant property. This is particularly important where the unit is installed at a low level for ease of maintenance, or on exposed perimeters where impact and weather risk are higher.
The same design ethos is reflected in the camera options you can connect. Whether you choose a turret or bullet CCTV camera for residential buildings, or a high-performance PTZ camera for extended coverage, the hardware is designed for long-term outdoor use on demanding sites.
4. CCTV that can migrate with the building
Another advantage of the CCTV Hub approach is that it supports the full lifecycle of a residential asset. A building may be vacant today, undergoing refurbishment or awaiting sale, but occupied again in six or 12 months. By selecting a CCTV camera for residential buildings that integrates cleanly with the hub during the void phase, you can later move that same camera onto a permanent networked solution without having to reinvest.
For example, a multi-storey block awaiting phased occupation could initially be protected by a hub, a PTZ camera and fixed CCTV cameras for residential buildings covering shared entrances. As floors are brought back into use, those cameras can be migrated.
If you need CCTV for a vacant property, our technical team can help you evaluate risk and choose the right mix of cameras for your requirements. All Redvision cameras are ONVIF and NDAA compliant, so you can specify your CCTV system with confidence. Contact our team today for more information.