 Ad Hoc Property | 28 days' notice | At least 28 days | Not stated | 21+ | 5 weeks' payment in total, including the holding deposit | 1 week's payment, counts towards the security deposit (not paid on top) | Contents insurance for your own things isn't provided | Not allowed | Not stated | Not stated | Employment: income or savings | credit check, references | Says its staff can come in at any time | No smoking indoors. No parties. Ask the firm before decorating | Says guardians whose building closes get priority for its other homes (not guaranteed) | Partners or guests can't live with you permanently unless the firm approves them | Register first, then get viewing invitations. Back-up address required |
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 Blue Door Property Guardians | 28 days' notice | 28 days | Not stated | 25+. The firm's own pages disagree on this, so ask them | Typically £400. The firm's own pages disagree on this, so ask them | Not stated | This firm doesn't usually include broadband in the monthly payment. Most homes are unfurnished. The firm's own pages disagree on this, so ask them | Not stated | Yes | Not stated | Employed or self-employed | credit check, references, criminal-record check (DBS) | Regular inspections (how often isn't stated) | Its house rules aren't on its website, so ask for them before you sign | Says it may help you find another of its homes if one is free (not guaranteed) | Not stated | Register first, then get viewing invitations |
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 Corporate Guardians | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | This firm usually includes bills in the monthly payment | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Regular inspections (how often isn't stated) | Not stated | Not stated | Aimed at contractors and work teams; individuals welcome | Contact the firm to arrange a viewing |
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 DEX Property Guardians | 1 month's notice. The firm's own pages disagree on this, so ask them | At least 28 days | Not stated | 18+ (higher at some properties) | 5 weeks' payment | Not stated | This firm doesn't usually include broadband in the monthly payment. Most homes are unfurnished | Not allowed | It depends on the property | Not stated | Full-time employed or self-employed (no part-time). Guarantors not accepted. The firm's own pages disagree on this, so ask them | credit check, references | Monthly inspections, without warning. Says its staff can come in at any time | No smoking. Ask the firm before decorating. You can't run a business from the home. Tell the firm before long absences | Says guardians whose building closes get priority for its other homes (not guaranteed) | A second person living there must meet the firm's criteria too | Contact the firm to arrange a viewing |
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 Dot Dot Dot | 28 days' notice | 28 days | Not stated | 18+ | 5 weeks' payment | Not stated | Not stated | Not allowed | It depends on the property. If two of you share, you each pay 65% of the single price | Accepted | No employment requirement. Yearly income at least 30 times the monthly payment. You must volunteer 12 hours a month (a condition of living there). Guarantors not accepted. The firm's own pages disagree on this, so ask them | credit check, references | Monthly inspections, without warning | No smoking indoors. Guests: at most 3 at a time; one may stay overnight up to 3 nights a week. No parties. You can't run a business from the home. Tell the firm before long absences | Says it may help you find another of its homes if one is free (not guaranteed). You must keep a plan for where you'd go if asked to leave (a "move-on plan") | A second person living there must meet the firm's criteria too | Apply first, then book a viewing |
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 Global Guardians | 28 days' notice | At least 28 days | Not stated | 21+ | Required (amount not stated). Other payments: a key payment (amount not stated) | Not stated | Not stated | Not allowed | It depends on the property | Not accepted | Full-time employed or self-employed (no part-time). Income of at least £18,000 a year. Can't accept part-time workers, people on zero-hours contracts or people living on government benefits. The firm's own pages disagree on this, so ask them | references | Monthly inspections, without warning. Says its staff can come in at any time. Says it can move you to another room. The firm's own pages disagree on this, so ask them | No parties. Ask the firm before decorating. You can't run a business from the home | Says it may help you find another of its homes if one is free (not guaranteed) | You can't live with anyone under 21. A second person living there must meet the firm's criteria too. Partners or guests can't live with you permanently unless the firm approves them | Register first, then get viewing invitations. Be ready to move in within 5 working days. 1 month upfront. The firm's own pages disagree on this, so ask them |
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| Guardian Secure | Not stated | Typically 28 days | Not stated | 21+ | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | The firm's own pages disagree on this, so ask them | references | Regular inspections (how often isn't stated) | Its house rules aren't on its website, so ask for them before you sign | Says it may help you find another of its homes if one is free (not guaranteed) | Not stated | Apply first, then book a viewing. The firm's own pages disagree on this, so ask them |
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 Halo Guardians | 28 days' notice | Not stated | Not stated | 21+ | 1 month's payment. The firm's own pages disagree on this, so ask them | 1 week's payment, counts towards the first payment. The firm says this isn't refunded. In England a holding deposit must normally be refunded or taken off your first payment — ask them. | This firm doesn't usually include broadband in the monthly payment. Rooms are unfurnished | Usually not permitted | Yes, you pay 50–75% more than one person | Not stated | Full-time employment required. A guarantor is asked for if you are on a zero-hours contract or self-employed | references, criminal-record check (DBS) | Surprise inspections (how often isn't stated). Says its staff can come in at any time | Ask the firm before decorating. Its house rules aren't on its website, so ask for them before you sign | Says it may help you find another of its homes if one is free (not guaranteed) | Stays typically last 6–8 months | Apply first, then book a viewing |
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 LOWE Guardians (The LOWE Group) | 28 days' notice | At least 28 days | Not stated | 21+ | Required (amount not stated) | Not stated | This firm doesn't usually include broadband in the monthly payment | Not allowed | The firm's own pages disagree on this, so ask them | Not accepted. The firm's own pages disagree on this, so ask them | Full-time employment required. Income of at least £15,000 a year. Guarantors not accepted. The firm's own pages disagree on this, so ask them | references, criminal-record check (DBS) | Monthly inspections, without warning. Says its staff can come in at any time. Says it can move you to another room | No smoking. Guests: at most 2 at a time; none may stay longer than 48 hours. No parties. Ask the firm before decorating. You can't run a business from the home. Tell the firm before long absences. Lost keys are charged for | Says it may help you find another of its homes if one is free (not guaranteed) | You can't live with anyone under 21 | Apply first, then book a viewing |
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 VPS Guardians | 28 days' notice | At least 28 days | Not stated | Not stated | Required (amount not stated). Returned within 28 days of leaving | Not stated | Most homes are unfurnished. Contents insurance for your own things isn't provided. The firm's own pages disagree on this, so ask them | Not stated | It depends on the property | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Regular inspections (how often isn't stated) | Ask the firm before decorating. Tell the firm before long absences | Not stated | Not stated | Register first, then get viewing invitations |
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