Guardian rules

If you break any of these rules, you will be breaching your licence agreement. This means that your housing with us may be at risk. Repeated rule-breaking will result in a termination of your Licence to Occupy. We will always give an opportunity for you to explain your side of things.

We’d rather not have to, but if you break rules and Dot Dot Dot incurs a cost as a result, we reserve the right to deduct money from your deposit. We will let you know about these costs before we make the deduction.

We periodically update our rules. If you are unsure as to whether something might break the rules, please get in touch with us.

Property security

• You need to move into your property as soon as you collect the keys.
• You should not change locks on your property unless it’s an urgent access or security issue, and you have spoken to a Dot Dot Dot staff member and had authorisation from us.
• Tell us as quickly as you can (during office hours) if you lose the keys that you use to access the property where you have a licence. For more information on what to do if you lose the keys, please check the ‘Lost keys’ section under ‘Repairs’ in the Guardian Handbook,
• You must not deny Dot Dot Dot or any of its representatives access to the property.
• Ensure all windows and doors are closed and locked when you leave the property.
• Let us know in advance if you will be away from the property for more than 3 days.
• Obtain permission from us before booking a trip away that lasts more than 14 days. We may need to terminate your licence agreement and place another guardian in the property to ensure security.
• Report any crime or anti-social behaviour to the police (101 for routine reports, or 999 if a crime is being committed now). Please email Dot Dot Dot afterwards with information about what you have reported and the police “CAD reference” (ask for this when you make a report).

Fire safety

• No smoking, electronic cigarettes or vaping anywhere inside the property, including bedrooms, on landings, in lobbies or in corridors.
• Do not remove or tamper with any of the fire safety features in the property – this includes detectors, extinguishers, fire blankets and similar equipment
• No candles or naked flames are allowed, this includes incense.
• Keep fire doors closed at all times and never prop them open.
• Always keep fire exits and corridors completely clear.
• No gas or fan/convection heaters are allowed, only oil-filled electric radiators.
• Do not install any gas appliances, including gas cookers or ovens. This does not refer to any gas boiler in your guardian property – you must set up a gas bill with a supplier e.g. British Gas.
• Do not overload electrical sockets.
• Do not plug in electrical appliances that exceed the maximum current ratings for a socket or extension lead. This includes plugging an electric cooker into any socket other than a cooker circuit.
• Read and study any fire safety and evacuation plans that apply to where you live.
• Comply fully with any extra requests to check the fire safety of the property.

Guests

• Guests are not allowed in the property if you are not also there.
• You are responsible for your guest’s behaviour in and around the property.
• Do not have more than three guests at a time in the property.
• We do not allow parties in our properties.
• One adult guest is allowed to stay overnight, but not for more than three nights per week.
• Children under 18 are allowed to visit you but are not allowed to stay overnight at the property.
• No pets are allowed in the property.

Property decoration and property use

• Painting internal walls in a neutral colour is usually allowed, unless we have said that it’s not possible in the property where you live.
• Please consult us before making any other alterations to the property.
• Consider the impact of any wall art on fellow guardians, staff or visitors. You may be asked to remove it or return the walls to a neutral state.
• Leave any Dot Dot Dot signage in place.
• Register to pay for utilities and council tax promptly (unless we have told you about other arrangements).
• Tell us if you become aware of rule breaking by other guardians or their guests within a property.
• Do not make alterations to any structural or integral aspects of the property. This includes to walls or doors, and to the plumbing, water pipes and electrical circuits, including fitting any electric showers or pumps.
• Do not enter any areas that are marked as out of bounds.
• In shared properties, do not store personal items anywhere other than the room you are currently occupying and the kitchen, along with any other areas that are specifically marked for storage of possessions.
• If we have agreed with you that you can use a separate area for storage, this area can only be used for storage.
• Do not make direct contact with the owner of the property or their maintenance contractors unless we ask you to.
• No commercial activity or public events are allowed in any of our properties.

Contact and communication

• If your email or mobile number changes, please email your relationship coordinator or email us at hello@dotdotdotproperty.com so we can update our records.
• When we contact you, please return our email or call within one working day.
• Volunteering
• You need to complete at least 16 hours of volunteering a month.
• Ensure that your volunteering meets our requirements (see the Volunteering Handbook) and ask us if you have any queries about this.
• Submit your volunteer report by the 5th of each month on your guardian report form.
• Let us know if you are having difficulties with meeting your volunteering hours or submitting your information.

Fees

• Keep an active direct debit with Dot Dot Dot.
• Ensure you have sufficient funds to pay your fees when they are due. These are collected by Dot Dot Dot’s direct debit platform on the first working day of every month.
• Contact your relationship coordinator at the earliest opportunity if you think you will have difficulty making payment.

Guardian behaviour

• Read the Guardian Handbook carefully.
• Make yourself aware of your responsibilities as a guardian.
• Do not play loud music or use tools at unsocial hours.
• Violence or aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated.
• Weapons or drugs are not allowed at any time.
• Be a great ambassador for Dot Dot Dot. This means being courteous and considerate towards neighbours, other guardians, staff from Dot Dot Dot and the property owners.
• We expect guardians to behave responsibly and respectfully with other guardians and to do your best to resolve issues together.

This page was last updated in November 2023.