where I live, part one
I live in an NHS speech therapy centre in West London. No I’m not a squatter. I’m a Camelot guardian. Okay, so that doesn’t mean I dress up in Arthurian garb and reenact my weekends away.
Camelot offer businesses, charities, councils and individuals an alternative to selling unwanted properties (yeah, apparently the market isn’t so great), boarding up or hiring security firms to remain on site.
In 2008 when the speech therapy centre closed to the public, a decision was made not to sell, instead giving a contract to Camelot. As with any property they take on, Camelot make sure the building is habitable (or make it so) and find guardians, their term, not mine, to rent rooms. The rent is considerably reduced, in exchange for the uncertainty of not knowing when you will have to move on.
As guardians, we have to look after the building, but really this doesn’t go any further than what you expect when renting. For example, when leaving the property we have to shut the front door behind us. I know, what an inconvenience!
But look we have a play area, we also once found x-rays of a boys chest, but I probably shouldn’t talk about that….
