Beyond Housing.
The Customer
Beyond Housing is one of the largest providers of social housing in the North East of England. Operating across Redcar and Cleveland and North Yorkshire, including Scarborough, they support more than 30,000 customers and manage housing waiting lists on behalf of the local authority. Their portfolio includes general needs housing, Independent Living, Extra Care and specialist supported schemes across areas with varying risk profiles.
The Problem
Managing a large, geographically dispersed housing portfolio creates significant and fast-moving security challenges, particularly around void properties. Key issues included:
- Asset loss and property damage Unsecured voids are highly vulnerable to vandalism, theft and arson, including the removal of high-value assets such as boilers and heating systems, leading to significant repair costs and extended void periods.
- Operational pressure from short-notice voids Sudden vacancies caused by internal transfers, abandonment or residents fleeing violence often leave little lead time to implement security measures, increasing exposure to risk at the most vulnerable point in the void lifecycle.
- Financial and legal exposure Delays in securing empty homes increase liability, insurance risk and unplanned expenditure, with rising costs associated with emergency repairs, reinstatement and prolonged loss of rental income.
The need is clear: early, effective protection of void properties is essential to minimise risk, control costs and enable housing associations to re-let homes swiftly and safely.
The Solution: Layered & Intelligence-Driven
VPS delivers a comprehensive, flexible and highly responsive security service, built on a trusted partnership established since 2014:
To address sudden vacancies, VPS provides same-day or next-day installations, often within 90 minutes to secure properties at the most vulnerable point in the void lifecycle. This reduces exposure to vandalism, arson, unauthorised access and anti-social behaviour, helping protect both properties and surrounding communities.
Steel doors and window screens prevent forced entry and protect high-value assets such as boilers and heating systems. These measures are supported by the 24/7 monitored SmartHub+ alarm system, providing early alerts for intrusion, fire and flood, limiting damage, repair costs and extended void periods.
For high-risk or derelict properties, VPS deploys Safer Pods to provide an additional layer of external protection. These visible deterrents reduce the likelihood of repeated targeting, safeguarding surrounding areas and support community safety where buildings are particularly exposed or undergoing longer-term refurbishment.
Regular property inspections and close coordination with housing teams and contractors ensure properties remain safe, compliant and protected throughout the void period. Consistent KPI performance (100% SLA achievement) provides reliability, cost control and reduced legal exposure.
The Impact
By securing void and occupied properties quickly and safely, VPS enables Beyond Housing to focus on delivering high-quality homes and effective neighbourhood management.
The partnership reduces anti-social behaviour and property crime, protects critical assets, limits financial loss and liability, and supports value-for-money objectives. High standards of workmanship ensure properties can be returned to use in the same condition once security measures are removed. Most importantly, the service contributes to safer, more stable communities where residents and staff feel protected and supported.
Nothing is ever too much trouble for the VPS team. They’re always there to support us, responding quickly and going above and beyond to help make our job easier.
Products deployed
Our Accreditations
VPS Group business units Nexus and VPS Site Security are approved by the SIA. Within the Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) for Security Guarding, Key Holding and CCTV.
SIA approval – Nexus and VPS Site Security
