How Much Does Concierge Security Cost in London?

It's the first question every property manager asks, and it's also the hardest one to answer honestly with a single number. Concierge security pricing in London depends on enough variables—hours, headcount, location, contract length—that anyone quoting you a flat rate before understanding your building is either guessing or leaving something out. Here's what actually drives the cost and how to tell a fair quote from a risky one.

What the market rate actually looks like

As a general guide, SIA-licensed manned guarding and concierge security in London typically runs somewhere in the region of £28–£40 per hour per officer, with premium central London locations (the West End, the City, and Canary Wharf) often sitting at the higher end of that range or above it. Outside London, rates are usually lower.

That's a market-wide range, not a quote—where your building actually lands depends on the factors below. Treat any figure you see online, including this one, as a starting point for a conversation rather than a price you can book against.

What moves the price up or down?

Hours and shift pattern. A single daytime shift costs less per hour than round-the-clock cover, and night, weekend, and bank holiday hours typically carry a premium—often somewhere in the region of 25–50% above the base rate, since that's what officers are paid for unsociable hours.

Number of officers on site. A single concierge desk is priced differently than a building that needs simultaneous cover on a residential entrance and a separate commercial or delivery access point.

Location. Central London sites generally cost more than outer boroughs, partly due to officer pay expectations and partly due to demand.

Notice period and contract length. Ongoing, contracted cover is almost always cheaper per hour than short-notice or ad-hoc bookings—suppliers can plan staffing properly instead of scrambling to cover a gap.

Licensing and vetting depth. SIA licensing is the legal minimum. BS7858 vetting—verified employment history, identity and right-to-work checks, criminal record screening—is standard for any reputable provider and is factored into a proper quote, not offered as a paid extra.

The quotes to be careful of

If a quote comes in at or near the National Living Wage, it's worth asking what's missing, because a legitimate hourly rate has to cover more than the officer's take-home pay. A properly costed rate accounts for the employer's National Insurance, statutory holiday pay (12.07% on top of hours worked), pension contributions, insurance, and supervision — the things that keep the officer legally employed and the contract properly managed. A rate that doesn't cover those is usually a rate that transfers the risk onto you, either through high staff turnover, underinsurance, or a provider that cuts corners elsewhere.

What a fair quote should includechecks, and

A proper quote for concierge security should be set out clearly:

• The hourly rate per officer and how many officers are covering your building at any given time

• Shift patterns and any night/weekend premiums

• Confirmation of SIA licensing and BS7858 vetting for every officer, not just a sample

• What's covered in supervision and account management—who you call if something goes wrong

• Contract length and notice period, and how those affect the rate

If a provider can't answer these clearly before you sign, that's a signal worth acting on.

Getting an accurate number for your building

The only way to get a real figure—not a market average—is to have someone look at your actual site: entrance layout, footfall, hours you need covered, and whether you need concierge cover, standard manned guarding, or a mix of both. We're happy to visit, walk the site with you, and put together a straightforward quote with no pressure to sign on the spot. Get in touch to arrange a free consultation.