FAQs

We know our developments are beautiful and well-located. However, we don’t sell any of the homes we’ve lovingly built, we rent them.

When you rent with us, you'll need pay an initial £1,000 to reserve the apartment. On successful application, this £1,000 then becomes part of your damages deposit. Following this you'll need to pay your first rental payment and the balance on your damages deposit; nothing more.

• No administration or referencing charges
• No renewal fees
• No check-in or check-out fees
• No professional cleaning fees when you move out as long as the apartment is as clean as the day you moved in (with the exception of the pet floors).

Please read our cancellation policy prior to applying.

To book a viewing, fill out the short form here.  

We’ve turned the best space in every development into beautiful and practical shared amenities for you to enjoy privately or with neighbours and friends. Social spaces vary at each developmen, however residents can expect some or all of these in their development: lounge, roof terrace, fitness room, games room, dining room, library, study space.

A variety of social events will be held throughout the year. However, this is your home and we encourage residents to take the lead and use all shared spaces to put on community focused events of your own as you see fit.

Our expectation is that your application will be confirmed between 5 and 7 working days should referees be readily available.

All our contracts are for an initial 12-month term. Longer contract options are available for 2 and 3 years upon request.

Our team would love to take you round the development. We do encourage all customers to view the apartment and shared spaces in advance of booking to ensure complete satisfaction with your choice. This also gives us an opportunity to meet you and explain all the benefits to living with us.

The holding fee to hold the apartment is £1,000 (please read our cancellation policy). If your application is successful this will be deducted from your damage deposit, which is due on the completion of your booking. Once references are passed a 4-week deposit (registered with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme) is payable along with your first rental payment (please read our booking T&Cs). If your booking is completed before or on the 15th of the month, your first rental payment will cover up until the end of that month (calculated as your total annual rent divided by 365 and multiplied by the remaining days in the month). If your booking is completed on or after the 16th, your first rental payment will be the remainder of that month (calculated as above), as well as the full monthly rent for the following month.

There is a holding fee of £350 for London developments and £200 for Maidenhead. If you have a pet an extra £20pcm rent is applied. This will be deducted from your damages deposit when you complete your booking. If you fail your application, the amount to be refunded is subject to our cancellation policy.

The damages deposit will be 4 weeks' rent and it covers any damages to your apartment or its furnishings that occur during your tenancy.

Your holding fee, damages deposit and first rental payment can be paid by debit card or bank transfer. Monthly rental payments can only be paid by Direct Debit.

Rent is due on the 1st of the month by Direct Debit.

We welcome most pets with open arms! We have allocated certain floors of our developments as pet friendly floors. However, there are restrictions on the type of pet and they will need to attend a pet interview to check that veterinary records are up to date and that they will fit in with the community. All pet keeping residents need to complete a pet licence form and there is a £90 fee for this licence. We also require an additional week's rent to go into your damages deposit and you must have your apartment professionally steam cleaned by one of our nominated suppliers at the end of your tenancy. Please ask for our pet policy for more information.

You can hang pictures and mirrors to your heart’s content. We only ask that you follow our installation instructions and that you return the apartment back to its original condition on leaving the property.

The number of electronic fobs allocated will be based on the number of registered residents within the apartment. Additional keys will be made available by your residents' team at an additional cost.

The amount of people living in your apartment depends on your apartment type. A 1-bed for example can only occupy 2 people, a 2-bed would work for a maximum of 4 people and a 3-bed would allow a maximum of 6. An infant under 2 would also be allowed in each of these apartments type.

It's your home and there is no limit to the number of guests. However, we do ask that residents respect their neighbours and keep noise to a minimum. Our shared social areas do have number restrictions; please ask your residents' team for details.

Unfortunately not. Our apartments are available as viewed; either furnished or unfurnished.

Contents insurance is not included. We strongly recommend that you acquire insurance so that you are covered.

Each apartment has been cabled for a BT landline but you would need to arrange a contract directly with BT and this would be at your own cost. We will provide assistance if necessary. Alternatively we can offer a Voice Over IP (VoIP) phone using the building’s broadband. Please discuss this with your residents’ team as there are several service options available. An extra charge would apply.

There is a weekly refuse collection. Please dispose of your waste in the refuse chutes on each floor or by taking your waste down to the bin store, which will be shown to you on move-in. We encourage residents to recycle using the bins provided.

Yes there is. All our developments are equipped with bicycle storage on the ground or basement level.

All the major appliances are included. This includes a washer/dryer, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, hob and oven.

The residents' team will have fobs to your home but will only ever use them after requesting your permission, unless in the case of emergencies as detailed in your resident's handbook.

Our team will contact you to agree a move-in time, including parking to off-load if needed. You will be required to finalise any outstanding payments and paperwork before being taken up to your apartment to complete the check-in inventory with a member of our team.

Your residents' team will give you an electronic fob to access to your apartment during your check-in appointment on your move-in day.

Yes you can. Please give at least 2 working days' notice prior to the original move-in date.

A move-in date and time can be requested. However, due to building operations we have a limited number of move-in slots per day. These are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. That said, your residents' team will always do their best to accommodate your requests.

Details of a moving in service are available and this will be an external company recommended by Essential Living. To arrange, please speak to our lettings team who will provide you with the details.

You must notify us immediately of any damage to your home. Maintenance services are available for anything which requires repair that has not been caused due to misuse. Charges will only apply should the repair be required due to negligence or misuse.

Maintenance reporting can be done through your residents' portal online or reported directly to your residents' team at the front desk, whether in person or via email/phone.

Yes, there will always be someone you can contact for help. The response times for maintenance faults may vary based on the nature of the problem and these can be viewed in your resident's handbook.

We do carry out  inspections of the property periodically and we will give you a minimum of 48 hours' notice when we do.

Residents can give 2 months' written notice after the initial 6 months of their 12-month tenancy with us should they want to move out.

You must vacate your home by 12 noon on the day your contract ends.

As long as the home is left in the condition in which you received it then there will be no cleaning fees charged on moving out. We do offer a cleaning service should this be required.

We do not charge inventory fees. Inventories are carried out by you and your residents' team on check-in and check-out. It is advisable that you attend both appointments.

A final meter reading will be taken as part of your check-out inventory appointment completed by your residents' team.

Your deposit is protected by TDS and returned at the end of your tenancy. This will be less any reasonable charges that have been previously agreed by you. We are required by law to return this to you within 10 working days.

Details of a removal service are available, this will be an external company recommended by Essential Living. To arrange please speak to your residents' team who will provide you with the details.

Please give as much notice as possible as the lettings team may have already found a new tenant. If this is the case and a new tenant has been found you will be unable to stay in your apartment, but we will do our best to find you an alternative property in the same or another Essential Living development.

You can hand the electronic fob back to the residents' team on the day of check out. Please put your fobs in an envelope clearly showing your details and the apartment number.