How We Rate Contractor Accommodation Providers
Every score on Digs Guide is produced using a fixed 7-criterion methodology. No provider pays to influence their position. Here is exactly how it works.
Editorial independence
Digs Guide earns revenue through referral commissions when contractors book via our links. This is disclosed on every review page. Commission relationships have no effect on scores — providers cannot pay to rank higher, suppress a score, or remove a review. Our full disclosure policy explains how we manage conflicts of interest.
The 7 scoring criteria
Overall scores are a weighted average across seven categories. Each is scored 1–10.
City Coverage
20%How many UK cities and regions does the provider actively service? We look at real availability, not just marketing claims. Providers that serve 15+ cities score 8 or higher. Coverage must be verified — we contact providers and cross-reference booking platforms.
Pricing Transparency
15%Can a contractor get a realistic price estimate before committing? We deduct points for providers that hide pricing behind mandatory calls, require company registration, or spring fees on at checkout. High scorers show nightly rates with clear inclusions upfront.
Billing Model
15%How flexible is the billing arrangement? We assess weekly billing cycles, invoice terms, consolidated billing for multi-site teams, and whether per-diem accounting is supported. Providers that still demand monthly prepayment score lower.
Booking Flexibility
15%Can a contractor book short notice? Can they extend mid-stay? Is there a minimum stay threshold that would rule out short contracts? We test same-week availability and late-notice extension requests to score this category.
Quality Standards
20%We review Trustpilot scores, Google Reviews, and third-party operator ratings. We also look at listed property standards: fast WiFi (>50Mbps), desk workspace, kitchen facilities, and property condition. Scores are calibrated against the median, not just the best.
Response Time
10%We submit enquiries as if we were a contractor needing accommodation within 5 days. Response time and quality are measured. Under 4 hours scores highest. Over 24 hours — or no response — loses points significantly.
Online Booking
5%Is the full booking journey completable online without speaking to anyone? We run through each provider's booking funnel and note friction points: mandatory callbacks, form-only enquiries, and missing property details.
What the scores mean
Market-leading in most or all criteria. Suitable for most contractors and team deployments.
Solid offering with one or two notable weaknesses. Worth considering for the right project.
Meaningful gaps in coverage, pricing transparency, or quality. Approach with caution.
Our review process
Initial audit
We compile a list of every UK contractor accommodation provider we can find — platforms, agencies, and direct operators. We exclude providers with fewer than 3 city locations or fewer than 20 online reviews.
Hands-on testing
We submit genuine enquiries to each provider as a contractor. We assess their response quality, pricing clarity, and booking process end-to-end. Where possible, we review actual stays submitted by contractors.
Score each criterion
Each of the 7 criteria is scored 1–10. Weights are applied (see above). An aggregate overall score is calculated to two decimal places and then rounded to one.
Editorial review
Scores are reviewed by at least one other member of the editorial team before publishing. Providers can flag factual inaccuracies — we investigate and update if warranted. Scores are never changed in exchange for advertising.
Ongoing updates
Scores are rechecked quarterly. Full re-reviews happen annually or if a provider makes significant changes to their offering. Update dates are shown on every review page.
Update schedule
Scores are reviewed every quarter. Full narrative reviews are rewritten annually. If a provider makes a significant change to their offer — pricing overhaul, new city rollout, ownership change — we trigger an out-of-cycle review. The Last updated date on each review page reflects when any score or content changed, not when we last looked.
Who writes the reviews
Our editorial team has direct experience placing contractors in UK accommodation across construction, energy, rail, and IT sectors. Each review is written by one author and checked by a second before publishing. Author names appear on every review. We do not accept sponsored reviews, guest posts from providers, or payment of any kind to alter scores.
See the ratings in action
Browse our full rankings or find the best provider for your project city.