Residential Security Team (RST) London — 2026 Cost & Cover Guide
> The short version: Residential Security Team (RST) London — 2026 Cost & Cover Guide — published rates, real UK playbook.
A Residential Security Team (RST) is the gold standard of private home protection — 24/7 SIA-licensed cover integrated with house staff, family movements and CCTV. This 2026 guide is the working brief we walk UHNW families and family offices through before staffing a Mayfair, Belgravia, Knightsbridge or St John's Wood residence.
What an RST Actually Does
A Residential Security Team controls access to the property, monitors CCTV and alarms, escorts deliveries and contractors, conducts documented internal and external patrols, coordinates with the principal's CP team for arrivals and departures, and acts as the first medical and incident responder. It is not a 'guard at the gate' — it is a discreet operational layer.
24/7 Staffing Models
Minimum credible RST cover is three SIA-licensed officers on a 12-hour rotation (two on shift, one off, rotating weekly), supported by a relief pool. UHNW principals with multiple residences or elevated risk typically run 4–6 officers per residence.
Vetting and Discretion
BS 7858:2019 as a minimum — 5-year employment history, identity, right-to-work, two referees, credit and criminal record check. Enhanced DBS where children are present. NDAs signed before site visit. Officers in business attire, no insignia, no obvious comms.
Integration with House Staff
An RST that is not integrated with the house manager, PA, chef, housekeeping and nanny becomes friction. We brief the household, run a discreet handover protocol, and align with the principal's existing routines rather than replacing them.
Technology Layer
RST is paired with monitored CCTV (24/7 UK control room), intruder alarm with verified response, access-control logging, panic-button infrastructure linked to control, and where appropriate, counter-surveillance sweeps on a quarterly basis.
2026 London RST Costs
Three-officer 24/7 RST (one residence): a bespoke monthly retainer. Four-officer RST with on-site supervisor: a bespoke monthly retainer. Six-officer RST across two residences (one principal): a bespoke monthly retainer. CCTV monitoring a bespoke monthly retainer. Quarterly counter-surveillance sweep pricing confirmed in a written quote. All ex-VAT.
How We Onboard a New Residence
Day 1: confidential site survey with the principal or representative. Day 3: written cover plan, named-officer profiles and vetting certificates. Day 7: shadow shift with existing staff. Day 14: full RST live. Discretion is the default at every step.
Speak With a Senior Protection Advisor
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- 📞 Call directly: 020 3488 5714
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About the Author
Roy
Director, VIP Protection Services
Roy is a Director of VIP Protection Services, overseeing SIA-licensed close protection, executive protection, corporate security and residential security across the UK. He personally writes and reviews every guide, checking each against current SIA licensing rules and BS 7858:2019 screening standards before publication.
- SIA Close Protection licensed officers
- BS 7858:2019 screened (5-year vetting)
- Documented assignment planning
“Discreet, impeccably presented and completely reliable. They planned the detail properly rather than simply putting people on the ground — which is exactly what we needed.”
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