Should a guard go inside a vacant building?

Only if your post orders allow it and it is safe. Never enter alone if you see signs of forced entry, smoke, a gas smell or people inside. Report and call police or 911 instead.

What should I do if someone is living in a vacant building?

Do not go in alone. Step back, report to dispatch and follow post orders. If you speak with the person, be calm and respectful, explain they need to leave, and offer information such as 211. Call police if there is a risk or they refuse to leave.

Are vacant building rules the same everywhere?

No. Fire codes and bylaws vary by province and city. This course uses Alberta (Lethbridge) and Vancouver as examples. Ask your employer which rules apply to your sites.

What should a vacant property report include?

The time of each check, what you checked, any changes since the last visit, dated photos of problems, who you notified and what action was taken.

Is the certificate accredited or officially recognised?

No. It is a private certificate of completion for knowledge only. It is not recognised, accredited or approved by any government, licensing body, regulator or educational institution, and it does not replace the security licence training required in your province or territory.

Vacant Property Checks Course 2026

Question 1 of 25

Which risk is a major reason vacant buildings need regular checks?

Too many visitors at the front desk
Noise complaints from guests
Fire, including arson
Higher electricity bills from tenants

Show answer

Answer: C. Fire, including arson

Lethbridge's fire prevention bureau lists fire (accidental or set on purpose), vandalism, theft, weather, vermin and squatting as the main risks.

Question 2 of 25

What does the National Fire Code (Alberta Edition), as cited by Lethbridge, aim to do for vacant buildings?

Make sure the building is rented or sold as quickly as possible
Require the lights to stay on all night
Keep unwanted people out, reduce the chance of fire and limit fire spread
Require a guard inside 24 hours a day

Show answer

Answer: C. Keep unwanted people out, reduce the chance of fire and limit fire spread

Lethbridge cites Sections 2.4.6 and 6.1.1.2 of the NFC(AE) and says their intent is to prevent unwanted entry, reduce the likelihood of fire and limit fire spread.

Question 3 of 25

Under Vancouver's fire rules, how must a vacant building be kept?

Painted a bright colour
Open so firefighters can get in
Fully heated at all times
Secured against unauthorized entry

Show answer

Answer: D. Secured against unauthorized entry

Vancouver's Fire By-law, Sentence 2.4.6.1.(1) of Division B, requires vacant buildings to be secured against unauthorized entry.

Question 4 of 25

Why should combustible waste not be allowed to pile up in or around a vacant building?

It creates a fire hazard and can feed an arson fire
It blocks the view of the security camera from the street
It makes the building look more lived in and less likely to be entered
It attracts more tenants

Show answer

Answer: A. It creates a fire hazard and can feed an arson fire

Fire codes, such as Sentence 2.4.1.1.(1) cited by Vancouver, forbid combustible waste in amounts or places that create an undue fire hazard. Report it so it can be removed.

Question 5 of 25

Why can turning off all utilities in a vacant building in winter cause problems?

It is always against the law
It makes the doors and windows harder to lock and secure properly
The building will become too hot
Water pipes and sprinkler pipes can freeze, burst and flood the building

Show answer

Answer: D. Water pipes and sprinkler pipes can freeze, burst and flood the building

Lethbridge warns that shutting off utilities can freeze water and sprinkler pipes, which can burst and flood when temperatures rise.

Question 6 of 25

On an exterior check, what is a sign that someone may have entered a vacant building?

A for-sale sign on the lawn
Mail in the mailbox
A loose or pried-off board on a window or door
Snow and ice building up on the roof and in the gutters

Show answer

Answer: C. A loose or pried-off board on a window or door

Damaged boards, broken locks, fresh footprints and open windows suggest entry. Record and report them right away.

Question 7 of 25

What is the best way to record what you find on a vacant property check?

A text to a friend
Notes with times plus dated photos of each problem
A short note saying 'all OK' every time
Remember what you saw and describe it to the owner at the end of the week

Show answer

Answer: B. Notes with times plus dated photos of each problem

Time-stamped notes and photos give the owner and police a clear record of the building's condition and any changes.

Question 8 of 25

Why should vacant property checks be done at different times each visit?

So photos look different
So the guard can choose the times that fit best around other calls
Because the law sets random times
So no one can predict when a guard will arrive

Show answer

Answer: D. So no one can predict when a guard will arrive

A predictable routine lets thieves and vandals plan around you. Varying times makes the site a harder target.

Question 9 of 25

Before starting a check at a vacant site alone, what should a guard do?

Turn off their phone to save battery for the walk-through
Go straight in without telling anyone, to save time
Tell dispatch or a contact where they are and when they will check in
Leave their flashlight in the vehicle

Show answer

Answer: C. Tell dispatch or a contact where they are and when they will check in

CCOHS advises a check-in plan for lone workers: where you are, when you will call, and what happens if you do not.

Question 10 of 25

You smell natural gas when you open the door of a vacant house. What should you do?

Leave right away, without using light switches or your phone inside, and call from a safe distance
Open the windows and stay inside to air it out
Turn on the lights so you can see clearly and look for the source of the leak
Look for the leak and try to shut it off

Show answer

Answer: A. Leave right away, without using light switches or your phone inside, and call from a safe distance

Gas utilities advise leaving immediately, not using switches, phones or electronics inside, and calling the gas utility or 911 from a safe distance.

Question 11 of 25

You see a used needle on the floor during a check. What should you do?

Kick it into a corner
Pick it up and put it in your pocket
Do not touch it with bare hands; report it for safe pickup into a sharps container, following site procedure
Throw it in the regular garbage

Show answer

Answer: C. Do not touch it with bare hands; report it for safe pickup into a sharps container, following site procedure

Needles must go into a puncture-resistant sharps container. Only trained staff with proper tools should pick them up.

Question 12 of 25

A guard is pricked by a needle found in a vacant building. What is the first step?

Squeeze the wound, cover it with a bandage and keep working until the end of the shift
Cover it and tell no one
Put the needle back where you found it
Rinse the wound well with running water and wash gently with soap

Show answer

Answer: D. Rinse the wound well with running water and wash gently with soap

CCOHS says to rinse the site with running water, wash gently with soap, report it to your employer immediately and follow medical advice.

Question 13 of 25

After a needlestick injury, what else must the guard do?

Ask a co-worker for advice instead
Report it to the employer right away and get medical follow-up
Wait a few days to see if they feel sick before telling anyone
Only mention it in next month's report

Show answer

Answer: B. Report it to the employer right away and get medical follow-up

CCOHS says to report the exposure to your employer immediately and follow medical professionals' instructions for treatment and follow-up.

Question 14 of 25

During an interior check, you see water pouring from the ceiling. What should you do?

Ignore it, because the building is empty
Stay clear of wet electrical areas, report it right away and follow post orders to reach the owner or emergency contact
Turn off the main electrical panel standing in the water
Wait until the next scheduled check

Show answer

Answer: B. Stay clear of wet electrical areas, report it right away and follow post orders to reach the owner or emergency contact

Water and electricity together are dangerous. Report quickly so the owner can stop the damage.

Question 15 of 25

You find signs that a person is sleeping inside a vacant building. What is the best approach?

Go in and wake them up, then order them to leave the building right away
Do not enter alone; step back, report to dispatch and follow post orders, calling police if needed
Throw their belongings outside
Lock the doors so they cannot leave

Show answer

Answer: B. Do not enter alone; step back, report to dispatch and follow post orders, calling police if needed

Entering alone where someone may be inside puts both of you at risk. Report it and get the right help.

Question 16 of 25

A person experiencing homelessness is sheltering on a vacant property. How should a guard speak with them?

Loudly and firmly, so they know you are in charge and do not argue
Calmly and respectfully, explaining that they need to leave and offering information about services
By taking their belongings
By shouting from a distance without explaining anything

Show answer

Answer: B. Calmly and respectfully, explaining that they need to leave and offering information about services

Respect and calm communication keep everyone safe. Offering information about shelters and services can help the person.

Question 17 of 25

Which free service can connect a person to shelters and community services in most of Canada?

4-1-1
2-1-1
3-1-1 only
9-1-1

Show answer

Answer: B. 2-1-1

211 is a free, confidential service, available 24/7 in most of Canada, that connects people to housing, food and other community services.

Question 18 of 25

On a vacant property in Ontario, what does the Trespass to Property Act make an offence?

Walking on a public sidewalk beside the property
Delivering mail to the property
Looking at the property from the street
Not leaving immediately when directed by the occupier or their agent

Show answer

Answer: D. Not leaving immediately when directed by the occupier or their agent

Section 2 makes it an offence to enter when entry is prohibited, or to fail to leave immediately when directed by the occupier or a person authorized by them.

Question 19 of 25

A person refuses to leave a vacant property after you tell them to go. What is the safest next step?

Step back, keep your distance and call police
Damage their vehicle so they cannot return
Lock them inside the building until the owner arrives to deal with them
Physically drag them off the property

Show answer

Answer: A. Step back, keep your distance and call police

Alberta's guidance advises owners to call law enforcement to deal with trespassers. Using force can lead to injury and criminal liability.

Question 20 of 25

You see smoke coming from a vacant building. What should you do?

Wait to see if it gets worse
Call 911, keep people back and do not go inside
Go inside to look for the fire and check whether anyone is there
Open all the doors to let the smoke out

Show answer

Answer: B. Call 911, keep people back and do not go inside

Vacant buildings may have damaged floors, blocked exits and hidden people. Call 911 and give firefighters information, but do not enter.

Question 21 of 25

You find a door forced open during a check. What should you do?

Go in alone, quietly, to catch the intruder before they can escape
Fix the lock and carry on
Do not go in; move to a safe spot, call police and watch the exits
Close the door and leave without telling anyone

Show answer

Answer: C. Do not go in; move to a safe spot, call police and watch the exits

An intruder may still be inside. Wait for police at a safe distance and note anyone who leaves.

Question 22 of 25

Which item belongs on a vacant property checklist?

Guest satisfaction survey
Number of customers
Cash register totals
Doors, windows and boards secure

Show answer

Answer: D. Doors, windows and boards secure

A vacant property checklist covers doors, windows, boards, locks, fences, signs of entry, utilities, water leaks and fire hazards.

Question 23 of 25

During a winter exterior check, why are footprints in fresh snow useful?

They show that the building's heating system is still working
They are not useful at all
They prove the owner visited
They can show that someone has been around or into the building since the last snowfall

Show answer

Answer: D. They can show that someone has been around or into the building since the last snowfall

Fresh tracks to a door or window can reveal recent entry. Photograph them and check the entry point from outside.

Question 24 of 25

On a check, you see a power line down on the property. How far back should you stay?

Just far enough not to touch it
No need to stay back if it is not sparking
At least 10 metres
At least 1 metre

Show answer

Answer: C. At least 10 metres

Utilities advise staying at least 10 metres away from a downed line and calling 911 or the utility. It can be live even if not sparking.

Question 25 of 25

Under Vancouver's fire rules for vacant buildings no longer meant to be lived in, what should happen with the natural gas supply?

It should be used to heat the guard shack
It should be left on all winter to keep the pipes from freezing
The guard should shut it off at the meter each night and turn it on each morning
It should be disconnected as soon as practicable through the gas utility

Show answer

Answer: D. It should be disconnected as soon as practicable through the gas utility

Vancouver's bulletin says natural gas should be disconnected as soon as practicable by asking the utility company.

Vacant Property Checks Course 2026

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