What Zero Deposit does

Zero Deposit is a UK-based InsurTech operating as a trading name of Global Property Ventures Limited (incorporated 2017, Stevenage). It provides insurance-backed deposit replacement products for the UK private rented sector, regulated by the FCA as an insurance intermediary (reference 797026). Its core offering, the Zero Deposit Guarantee, replaces a traditional five-week cash deposit with a fee of approximately one week's rent plus a £59.99 setup fee and £17.50 annual renewal, while delivering landlords six weeks of cover backed by Great Lakes Insurance SE and adjudicated through The Dispute Service (TDS).

The platform has expanded into a multi-product suite: Unlocking Deposits (2019) lets existing tenants recover cash deposits mid-tenancy, Deposit+ (2023) targets the Build to Rent sector with a block model and AI-driven claims processing capable of sub-two-minute settlement, and Guarantor+ (2024) provides regulated guarantor services for overseas renters and students. Technology is built on Python (Django), Celery, PostgreSQL, CircleCI and AWS, with proprietary AI for claims calculation and document extraction, plus a partner API for proptech integrations.

Zero Deposit monetises through subscription-style tenant fees and distributes via a network of 7,000+ UK letting agents (including Foxtons, Knight Frank, Connells, Countrywide, Chestertons), direct-to-consumer website sign-ups, and direct Build to Rent operator partnerships. The company raised an initial funding round in August 2017 from JamJar Investments, KM Capital and Vanneck EIS, and is led by co-founder and CEO Jon Notley alongside co-founder Gavin Wiseman, Sales & Partnerships Director Dan Gittings and Director of Transformation and Risk Joe Minney.

Name

Zero Deposit

Legal name

Global Property Ventures Limited

Website

https://zerodeposit.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zero Deposit is an FCA-regulated UK InsurTech offering insurance-backed deposit replacement products to tenants, landlords and letting agents. It monetises via per-tenancy fees across a 7,000+ agent network and is expanding into Build to Rent and regulated guarantor services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rental Deposit Insurance

NAICS

Insurance Carriers and Related Activities (524)

SIC

Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)

akta.pro primary industry

Renters Insurance (FSAJACAB)

Keywords

• Deposit replacement guarantee
• Tenant deposit alternatives
• Rental guarantee insurance
• Build to rent solutions
• Guarantor services

Headquarters

HQ city

Stevenage

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Zero Deposit Guarantee Fees: Tenants pay a non-refundable fee equivalent to approximately one week's rent as a setup fee plus an annual renewal fee. This is the primary revenue stream, replacing traditional cash deposits.
2. Guarantor+ Product: A regulated guarantor product providing instant approval decisions to help tenants secure homes faster, with protection for landlords.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Zero Deposit offers an FCA-regulated, insurance-backed deposit replacement guarantee that allows UK tenants to rent a property without paying a traditional five-week cash deposit. Tenants pay approximately one week's rent plus a £59.99 setup fee and a £17.50 annual renewal, while landlords receive six weeks of protection underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance SE with disputes handled by The Dispute Service (TDS). The portfolio also includes Guarantor+ (a regulated guarantor product), Deposit+ (a Build to Rent block model), and Unlocking Deposits (mid-tenancy cash deposit release).

Product overview

Zero Deposit is an InsurTech business offering deposit replacement products for the UK private rented sector. The core product is the Zero Deposit Guarantee, which replaces traditional cash deposits with a lower-cost insurance-backed guarantee. This is supplemented by Guarantor+, a regulated guarantor product for tenants without UK-based guarantors, and Deposit+, a Build to Rent-specific solution. The company also offers Unlocking Deposits for existing tenants to retrieve cash mid-tenancy. All products are FCA regulated and integrate with The Dispute Service (TDS) for dispute resolution. The company differentiates through AI-powered claims processing that enables sub-2-minute claim settlements and document reading automation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Guarantor+: A regulated guarantor product that helps tenants secure a home faster and gives landlords trusted protection. Designed for tenants including overseas renters, students, and those without a UK guarantor.
• Deposit+

Products and services

• Zero Deposit Guarantee FCA-regulated deposit replacement guarantee that lets UK tenants rent without paying a traditional five-week cash deposit. Tenants pay approximately one week's rent plus a £59.99 setup fee and £17.50 annual renewal; landlords receive six weeks of insurance-backed protection (versus the statutory 5-week deposit) with disputes adjudicated by The Dispute Service (TDS) and claims paid within two working days.
• Guarantor+ Regulated guarantor product helping tenants without a UK-based guarantor (overseas renters, students, others) secure a rental property. Provides instant approval decisions and trusted landlord protection against tenant default.
• Deposit+ (Build to Rent) Deposit alternative designed specifically for Build to Rent operators, offering a block model that covers all tenants under a development with no extra charge. Features AI-powered claims processing with settlement in under two minutes and custom integration options with operator workflow platforms.
• Unlocking Deposits Service that allows existing tenants to unlock and receive back their cash deposit mid-tenancy or at renewal without having to move properties. Provides landlords with equivalent six-week deposit protection and gives agents a commission-based revenue stream.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tenants save approximately one week's rent vs traditional 5-week deposits
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Dispute Service (TDS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZero Deposit's claims and disputes are adjudicated by TDS, one of the government-approved tenancy deposit protection schemes. This partnership ensures fair, independent dispute resolution for both landlords and tenants, using the same process as cash deposit disputes.
• Great Lakes Insurance SEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsurance for the Zero Deposit Guarantee is provided by Great Lakes Insurance SE, which is regulated by the German Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin) and subject to limited regulation by the FCA and PRA. This provides the financial backing for landlord protection.
• ERI LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided by ERI Limited, licensed by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission. ERI holds strong reserves so claims are paid upfront, with costs recovered from tenants later.
• SanctusminorOthersZero Deposit's partnership with sanctus.io provides free and anonymous mental health, leadership and life coaching for employees.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Howsy: UK proptech platform offering landlord services including rent collection, maintenance management, and tenant management. Adjacent competitor targeting similar landlords and agents, though with a different primary value proposition.
• OpenRent: UK online letting platform connecting landlords and tenants directly, bypassing traditional agents. Partial overlap with Zero Deposit's landlord audience as a self-service alternative in the broader lettings ecosystem.
• Goodlord: UK proptech platform for letting agents offering referencing, contracts, and rent collection. Increasingly integrating deposit alternatives including potentially competing products to Zero Deposit within its agent platform.

Direct peers

• Reposit: UK deposit alternative provider allowing tenants to pay a smaller fee instead of a traditional cash deposit. Direct competitor in the same deposit replacement category, though with a smaller agent footprint than Zero Deposit.
• Flatfair: UK deposit replacement scheme directly competing with Zero Deposit, offering letting agents and tenants a no-deposit alternative backed by insurance. Operates in the same private rented sector segment with a similar agent-distribution model.
• Dlighted: UK rental deposit alternative platform (formerly Canopy) offering deposit replacement products to letting agents. Direct head-to-head competitor in the same deposit replacement category serving UK agents and tenants.

Broad incumbents

• HomeLet: Established UK provider of landlord insurance, tenant referencing, and related products. Broader incumbent in the landlord services market with overlapping customer base of letting agents and landlords, though not a deposit-replacement specialist.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/zero_deposit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zero Deposit