S King
The email correspondence is laughable. No one ever accepts responsibility for any wrong doing, and everyone either ignores your complaints or dismisses them. The repairs, if they ever take place, are all bodged and take no less than 3 months to be done.
I was told a hole in my wall, which was there what I moved in, was an "aesthetic preference" and they couldn't decide how to fix it.
Maybe going to the top will be the only way to get a response out of them.
Notice how many recent reviews are negative, I should've read them before I moved in.... Read more
Tenant
12th Nov 2021 (3 years ago)
K Yo
I moved into the property towards the end of summer 2020, everything was going well... until... we were left for 2 weeks with no hot water & heating when it was 0 degrees outside. The agent were not quick to respond, did not treat the issue as if it was serious, offering no alternative accom/heaters
We have had issues with the electrics tripping in the house intermittently over the year due to the poorly patched electrical wiring which has meant that power to the boiler was lost so hot water was not available.
We have recently been left with no hot water again for almost 2 weeks in October 2021, and were not offered alternative accom/heaters. The agent even suggested they had not breached their obligations as I had access to a kettle and would have to use that for 2 weeks.
The agent is terrible, slow to respond, and do not care about the issues you have.
Oh... and we still have mould growing that they don't seem to care about as well!!!... Read more
Tenant
27th Oct 2021 (3 years ago)
C Bea
Alice from Capital Living London could not have helped me enough! She is very friendly and professional, listened to all of my rental preferences, and booked me in to view properties extremely quickly with no hassle. I would reccomend Capital Living London to any young professional looking for a high-spec and clean house in London with all the necessary ammenities :) no other company on spareroom compares!... Read more
18th May 2021 (3 years ago)
A Milne
Update: Following previous review, Adam got in touch to address issues outlined below with deposit. Acknowledged the break down in communications and has assured changes being made internally to rectify in the future, which was appreciated. In general, the rest of my time with CL has been really positive, they are quick to fix issues and make changes to flats in order to make them work better for tenants. I have made really good friends with everyone I have shared with and for those looking to expand their social circle and meet new people, this seems a great way to do it.
No ill will towards them, and really think if they can nail the in-life manager aspect to renting in the future, they have a pretty good thing going.
Also shout out to Alice, who is lovely.
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Previous review:
The in-life Property Managers (those you have a day-to-day relationship with for issues, money matters or deposits etc.) are at best incompetent, and at worst, cowboys. From disputing refunding me £1 for some tin foil when the flat was asked to pay for their own supplies during covid, to withholding deposits from flatmates for over a month after they have moved out for no apparent reason – it has completely soured what was an otherwise good living experience.
As you look around at London properties to rent, it is no secret that you will be paying a premium for your room in a Capital Living property, and with that you expect a level of service, and hope that they would try and move away from the stereotype that all London estate agents are self-interested money grabbers. Unfortunately, they currently fail at this. I wouldn’t recommend staying in these properties unless you are happy to forfeit an unreasonable amount of your deposit (if you ever managed to get it back) at the end of the tenancy. I’ve lived in London for a number of years and was prepared with evidence to dispute the ridiculous charges they were proposing, I worry that others may not be so lucky.
Would have loved to discuss this with Adam, however disappointingly he was not willing to discuss the failings here.... Read more
Tenant
5th May 2021 (3 years ago)
J Edwards
*DO NOT RENT WITH CAPITAL LIVING*
I rented a room for a 3 month period and they have taken £500 from my deposit for a pre-existing condition with one of the bathrooms.
The property manager has been nothing but bullish with the handling of this, demanding that I pay the charge. They have even threatened to drag out this process as long as possible to try and deter me from raising the dispute with the DPS.
When trying to sort the issue out at the time, the property manager called me ignorant and lucky the charge wasn't more - I hardly think being charged £500 for a toilet that was broken before my arrival was lucky!
What they offer could be fantastic, but the company is run by bullies who charge for absolutely everything and wont let you dispute it.
I am also in the process of raising a complaint with the Trading Standards team at the local council for unfair and dishonest behaviour. This will hopefully be a wake up call for them to practise ethically.
P.s do not trust the 5 star reviews - these were incentivised for a monetary reward.... Read more
Tenant
1st Mar 2021 (3 years ago)
A James
Seamless and pain-free process from the beginning. The house location is absolutely fantastic - few steps away from the park and super close to the supermarket and the train station.
CL have been very helpful during the odd year that 2020 has been.
Would recommend for anyone looking for a fun houseshare!... Read more
Tenant
23rd Dec 2020 (4 years ago)
C Sanders
Having rented a room from Capital living for past 18 months they maintained property to high standard and had great customer service. I recommended them to 3 close friends who now also rent rooms!!! Thanks CL.... Read more
Tenant
1st Dec 2020 (4 years ago)
W Hawthorne
Capital Living rent a number of our Clapham properties and have done so for a number of years.
To date they have always managed to successfully secure great tenants who enjoy the properties and treat them as their home. It is a pleasure to see the communities establish and use the properties to there full extent.
The team at Capital Living are a pleasure to do business with and we would highly recommend them to any landlords in the area.... Read more
Landlord
1st Dec 2020 (4 years ago)
K Corfield
Seamless and pain free process from start to finish and Adam went above and beyond to ensure I was looked after. I have lived in London via professional house share companies for years now and Capital Living has been the more efficient journey so far, I would recommend.... Read more
Tenant
1st Dec 2020 (4 years ago)
E Taylor
Capital Living provided such a brilliant service when our daughter moved up to London. The packages they provide too for tenants are so helpful. Would thoroughly recommend them as the quality of the properties they rent out are superb. A really friendly professional team to deal with and you feel in very good hands.... Read more
Tenant
1st Dec 2020 (4 years ago)
H Flawn-Thomas
A great service that has an organised and modern feel to the interactions. Very professional and friendly manner on the phone and in person. Alice in particular was knowledgable and made the process easy.
Only thing I could fault was there seems to be a lack of communication between staff when co-ordinating contact with prospective tenants and who does what role when it comes to signing people up. Would still definitely recommend.... Read more
Tenant
1st Nov 2020 (4 years ago)
A Dawson
Karl is great! Fabulous marketing materials provided for the house. Professional, get up and go attitude leaves a lasting positive impression on the landlord underpinned by a very robust, professional and rigorous set up. This leaves us expecting the same with those who will inhabit the house. That makes us feel our asset is in safe hands and will be returned to us in the same standard as we handed it over. In summary peace of mind!... Read more
Landlord
18th Jun 2020 (4 years ago)
A O
We have worked with Capital Living for one year now, they are an upbeat and positive company with a wonderful end product.... Read more
Landlord
15th Jun 2020 (4 years ago)
A Watts
I've been unsure whether to write a review on Capital Living or not here but on reflection have decided to. My daughter was living in one of their houses (27 Ouseley Road) and had to move out during the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure that she could still work as an NHS doctor. With six housemates the risk for a long quarantine was high and self isolation in her bedroom between shifts, as suggested by the Capital Living team so she did not risk infection to the other housemates, lonely and potentially depressing. When she asked if they would be prepared to meet her someway on her rent while she was no longer living in the house, Capital Living insisted she pay full rent. I was surprised that there was no gesture given they were clearly making more money out of the rental than before with some included charges, e.g. utilities, a cleaner and cleaning products, being lower and/or no longer being delivered.... Read more
Tenant
15th Apr 2020 (4 years ago)
P Klikowicz
very disappointed, terrible communication. basically I had a viewing scheduled and after 10 phone calls (unanswered) they told me that the property has been let the day before. don't even bother enquiring as they have 0 regards for your time... Read more
12th Feb 2020 (4 years ago)
T Carter
Lovely rooms and houses Adam is a great person to deal with.... Read more
17th Jan 2020 (5 years ago)
T Jennings
Really enjoyed my time with CL!... Read more
28th Nov 2019 (5 years ago)
R Soni
Awful service and wouldn’t recommend living in one of their properties.
I was told by CSL I could park my car outside the property to move in and ended up with a parking ticket. When I told CSL they did nothing to help, instead just ignored my messages and I had to appeal the ticket and my appeal got rejected.
As I started to unpack I noticed the insides of cupboards had crumbs and hairs in them. The windows had hand prints all over them. The property was in need of a real deep clean after the previous resident had left and I was shocked to see they hadn’t realised that. Luckily I had noticed the filthy carpet so had asked for this to be cleaned on my arrival.
The advert said the property has a fortnightly cleaner which the guy from CSL also confirmed. As soon as I met my flat mates they explained they haven’t seen a cleaner for months. Over the last couple of months I’ve noticed there is not a fortnightly cleaner and I was actually paying for something falsely advertised.
The kettle was also absolutely filthy with limescale and as I was a shortlet I asked the landlord for a new one and they said they will come and clean this one if we can’t. Three weeks later and it’s still the same.
I am now leaving the property and have requested a parking permit as I need to ensure I don’t get another parking ticket and I have messaged them however they have failed to acknowlege my messages yet again.
Overall I would highly recommend someone to choose another property as you will have some issues getting through to this management company when things go wrong. There’s a real lack of professionalism and seems like a one man band, who doesn’t really know how to ensure tenants are happy with their stay. I don’t think youll hear from them much once you have made your payment.... Read more
Tenant
27th Jul 2019 (5 years ago)
W Garner
Moved in February and out at the end of the 6 month contract. Was really easy to organise and move in. However, once they have you tied in, the service was atrocious. The house I moved into, 6 of us moved out at the end of our contract. Please avoid Capital Living until they sort their maintenance team out.
We had multiple leaks, tonnes of issues not sorted including not having the downstairs WC broken for weeks with it then fixed to break for over a month and not sorted before move out time. We also had them lock out control of our Nest thermostat, forcing us to have cold showers and a lack of heating (so they could save money). We complained and eventually got access.
Houses look nice, but if they decide to pick a bad owner of the property we were in and (which is often according to other reviews) as they want to gain maximum property coverage, the experience is atrocious.
Furniture looks nice, but is in fact cheap products that CL decide to cut costs on yet charge a fortune to rent rooms in their properties.
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Just like to add following their response, the issue with the Nest systems took about 3 or 4 contacts to maintenance to finally have full access to our own heating and hot water systems. Also in terms of tenants moving out, all 6 of us were planning to move out, but I am now aware one decided to stay as her move plan hadn't gone ahead as she planned.
Maintenance issues obviously can't be planned but they seriously have expanded too fast that they don't have the capacity to sort out issues, we literally had no downstairs working toilet for around for over 1 month following it being broken before for 1 month which was still broken when we moved out, despite reporting it multiple times. They discuss fixing things within legal obligations, there are no legal obligation time period - but if 1 month without a toilet is acceptable to you, then sure this place is perfect for you! We had other issues including leaks, lightbulbs not being replaced for months, broken fridge/freezer among others. There just seemed to be a lack of care and communication from maintenance who couldn't care less about issues and viewed us as an annoyance!
Also according to lots of negative reviews, they offer discounts/£50 for reviews hence lots of good reviews, I am sure there are some happy tenants as some properties were probably great if you had no issues, but post check in most people using the incentive will give good reviews!... Read more
Tenant
28th Dec 2018 (6 years ago)
W Garner
Moved in February and out at the end of the 6 month contract. Was really easy to organise and move in. However, once they have you tied in, the service was atrocious. The house I moved into, all 6 of us moved out at the end of our contract. Please avoid Capital Living until they sort their maintenance team out.
We had multiple leaks, tonnes of issues not sorted including not having the downstairs WC broken for weeks with it then fixed to break for over a month and not sorted before move out time. We also had them lock out control of our Nest thermostat, forcing us to have cold showers and a lack of heating (so they could save money). We complained and eventually got access.
Houses look nice, but if they decide to pick a bad owner of the property (which is often) as they want to gain maximum property coverage, the experience is atrocious. Furniture looks nice, but is in fact cheap products that CL decide to cut costs on yet charge a fortune to rent rooms in their properties.... Read more
Tenant
1st Dec 2018 (6 years ago)
A Rosi
After graduating University I moved down to London on my own. I quickly heard about Capital Living and moved into one of their Clapham houses. As an OCD sufferer, CL homes are amazing - beautifully furnished, spotless and a joy to live in. The team are always available and make you feel at home from the start. Thanks to the regular socials I now feel fully part of the CL family and look forward to many more years!... Read more
Tenant
6th Jul 2018 (6 years ago)
D Tumelty
I've had such a great experience living in a Capital Living house. The team are great and easy to talk to and get issues fixed as soon as they can, always keeping us updated. Would recommend anyone moving to London to get in touch with these guys!... Read more
Tenant
6th Jul 2018 (6 years ago)
A Nunn
I’ve tried a few companies in London, but since finding Capital Living I haven’t looked back! I’ve been here for 6 months now and the service, community and spirit are excellent. The team are amazing and I couldn’t thank them enough for making my time in London as enjoyable as it has been. 5 stars!!... Read more
Tenant
6th Jul 2018 (6 years ago)
C Hayes
Being new to London I was hesitant when scrolling through the internet about where I was going to end up living and worried about with who. When I came across Capital Living I called them straight away, Sophie was so helpful from the start. She took the stress out of the process and made me feel at ease. I’ve now been in my house for 4 months and it’s going really well. My housemates are lovely. Thanks Jack for keeping our house in great condition and sorting things when needed!... Read more
Tenant
6th Jul 2018 (6 years ago)
J Murphy
I’ve lived in a Capital Living house for just over a year now and it’s been a really good experience. The sign up process is quick and easy and all online. The staff are all great and easy to deal with - unlike similar companies I’ve come across before. Thanks CL for a good first year in London... Read more
Tenant
6th Jul 2018 (6 years ago)
H O'Connell
Please be aware that Capital Living offers £50 to new joiners for 5 star reviews - As I was previously offered and as many people I see below were, a number of which I know hated Capital Living for the majority of their tenure.
Pros: They get you in quick, have a lot of availability, they love a good social, houses have good amenities
Cons: I had stuff stolen from my house where they refused to blame staff or people in the house, and would not allow a lock on the door to protect possessions
Exclusivity is an illusion
Go back on their word a lot
The guy in charge treats his staff dreadfully
Can take an exceptionally long time to fix Ovens/washing machines etc... Read more
Tenant
21st May 2018 (6 years ago)
T Jane
Capital Living is such and amazing company and their staff are friendly and helpful. I move to London 2 weeks ago and didn't know anyone. Capital Living made me feel part of a community with like-minded people looking for an easy sharing experience. I moved in a fews days after reserving my room and I must say, the process is super quick and easy- all done via their online portal. I'm so happy with the house and location (less than 10 mins to the station). Knowing that Capital takes care of all bills, cleaner, cleaning products, and maintenance of the house is ideal for people with a busy schedule like myself.
Thanks for all your help Capital Living. I will 100% recommend you to anyone who is looking for not only a house share, but a community to be part of!... Read more
Tenant
16th Mar 2018 (6 years ago)
S Reneaux
Great properties and service which really take the stress out of renting privately in London. Friendly team and lots of socials which are great fun!... Read more
Tenant
5th Dec 2017 (7 years ago)
R Diana
Great enterprise. Hundreds of rooms available in beautiful houses, living with professionals. Complete package (rent, fees, bills, Sky) everything a busy individual needs to enjoy a worry-free London life. Highly recommended.... Read more
Tenant
17th Nov 2017 (7 years ago)
M Malone
Although I have just left CL I would recommend it to anyone recently-arrived in London looking for a ready-made social scene and a high-end home setting. All properties are located in nice, socially-vibrant areas of the city and finished to a high standard. The regular social events also good bonus and an opportunity to meet new like-minded people. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them.... Read more
Tenant
1st Sep 2017 (7 years ago)
WaggyHD
I may have been with Capital Living for only a month - but what an impact they have had in that short time. Moving to London for me was a big change and as I live far away I was unable to go see the property. Capital Living said it would be no problem for them to make the commute to the property where they could FaceTime me which gave me an opportunity to see the property better. After seeing the photos and videos of the property I agreed straight away!!(Obviously if you can make it to the property go see... you won't be disappointed). The quality and location of the properties Capital Living acquire are outstanding. Yes I found SOME properties slightly cheaper but we're they closer to the centre of London, all bills included, essentials included (such as dishwasher tablets toilet rolls etc) and a beautiful house? No.
When moving in all of the housemates were so inviting, we went out for food and drinks and got to know eachother. Throughout my time here I have got to know my housemates really well and we are like a little family. If you are looking for a social bunch or a lifestyle similar to university - Capital Living is the place to move into.
You may of read about the capital living socials... these are days and nights out arranged by the Capital Living staff. This gives people like me an opportunity to meet people more than just my housemates and increase my network and friendships in London. And for people who have just moved to the big city and do not know anyone, that is a great thing! After my first social I can't wait for what they have in store for the next one! Like I said I'm new to London but Capital Living has given me the opportunity to live in a lovely house, with great housemates and allowed me to make so many friends outside of the house.... Read more
Tenant
8th Aug 2017 (7 years ago)
M Da'Marzo
After googling "luxury house share in London" I stumbled across Capital Living which is exactly that! The process from start to finish was professional and hassle free. After viewing a couple of houses i decided on one and moved within two weeks of my initial search. The houses are finished to an exceptional standard and any issues are resolved promptly. The socials make that move to a new city rather less daunting, and enable you to meet lots of new people. Thanks so much CL.... Read more
Tenant
8th Aug 2017 (7 years ago)
L Ivan
I have been a CL member for 3 years, have lived in 3 of their houses and have loved every bit of it. I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone at CL for making what has been an incredible 3 years. The houses have been amazing to live in, thank you for always responding to any issues I've had so quickly, and of course, thank you for all the epic socials you guys have put on! Looking forward to the next Rounders, "RAGING BALLS" come on!... Read more
Tenant
8th Aug 2017 (7 years ago)
V Boynes-Butler
The idea behind Capital Living is great but executed poorly. Perhaps I just got a bad house but the so-called vetting procedure for housemates didn't work, CL's main interest appears to be people who can simply afford the rent not those who will genuinely be good housemates, which is not a sustainable business model.
The decor of the houses appears to be to a high standard but as soon as things stop working, you will spend the rest of your tenancy trying to get them sorted. I suspect that I had to complain about things an average of 3 times before things got sorted. The "online reporting system" is an email to complain, followed by an automated email to say it's been logged, followed by you needing to repeat your complaint again...(you see where this is going).
Staff appear more interested in organising nights out where you will spend yet more money, rather than sorting issues; whether that be repairs or house issues.
Try and look for reviews from people who have been in the house a while, rather than those about to commence their tenancy because you are incentivised to provide a review at the beginning through a reduction of your membership fee.
I would not recommend renting through CL. Save yourself the stress of being locked into a contract for a year with people you don't want to live with in a house that falls into disrepair by looking for and meeting people on SpareRoom.... Read more
Tenant
26th Jul 2017 (7 years ago)
Nils
A completely retarded owner who totally lost sense of reality .. ow my lord this guy is a laugh! Adam... wake up and smell the coffee mate! For real!... Read more
18th Jul 2017 (7 years ago)
James
I would definitely not recommend staying in a Capital living house.
I moved in to a newly refurbished property, yet all appliances were second hand and of poor quality. Had many problems with the dryer which were basically ignored by CL.
When we had issues within the property they sometimes take months to fix and some of the work which was carried out was laughable.
For the amount of rent we pay the service is an absolute joke. It would be easier to actually address household problems yourself. It is definetly not 'hassle free living'.
I also warn people that the majority of reviews on here will be written at the beginning of a tenancy before any real experience of living in a CL house. This is because CL offer a £25 discount on fees if you leave a review. I initially left a 5 star review after signing my agreement but this was a definite mistake.
Oh and to top it off they take £50 out of your deposit to 'clean' your room. Even though the rent we paid included a weekly cleaner.
Glad to be out of that house and not dealing with their incompetencies anymore... Read more
Tenant
30th Jun 2017 (7 years ago)
M Brightmore
I'm moving my business to London and wanted to help sort some of my staff with accommodation. When I came across your website I was impressed, but a friend asked me to check out your latest programme before I made a decision. What a shame, I wouldn't want to put a penny in this company, I'd never treat or speak to my staff in the way Adam does. This really affected my decision to make contact and do business with you. Everybody should be treated with respect and equally, I didn't go to university but I now own a multi million pound import business. if your a wanna be snob this is the right letting agents for you!... Read more
28th Apr 2017 (7 years ago)
B McCubbin
From initial contact, to viewings, to committing to a room it is a painless experience with Capital Living. Zuzu has been extremely helpful throughout, answering all questions promptly and taking the stress out of moving to London. Now looking forward to joining the community!!... Read more
Tenant
28th Feb 2017 (7 years ago)
M Bowyer-Crombie
Great idea but poor execution. Houses (for the most part) are of a great standard and location but Capital Living seem to be more focused on organising social events rather than resolving issues that arise within your house on a day-to-day basis.
Whilst there was some improvement in the delivery of service during my 12-month tenancy, you would still have to proactively chase two, if not three, times before actions and resolutions were delivered upon. Friends in other properties have had issues outstanding far longer than I, despite numerous requests for updates.
It seems that the team is either understaffed to deal with the number of requests they receive, unable to co-ordinate resources efficiently or they're just too lazy to proactively work the issue.
A shame as the idea behind CL is a good one.... Read more
Tenant
23rd Feb 2017 (7 years ago)
K Maslova
As a new tenant, I really enjoyed my experience with Capital Living so far. Firstly, they offer the best price - quality ratio comparing to other shared accommodation companies in London. All properties I viewed were clean and well-maintained; and they make living much easier by managing all your utility bills and Council Tax (which makes your rent payments looking even more attractive). Secondly, they offer contracts with relatively short tenancy length of between 8-12 months, which is perfect for someone new to London as it gives you flexibility with your living arrangements as you explore the city. Further, the management team is very responsive and flexible, which allowed me to go through the whole booking process while being abroad. Would definitely recommend Capital Living to friends and colleagues.... Read more
Tenant
7th Dec 2016 (8 years ago)
M Allender
Highly professional and friendly team. The service is very streamlined and matched perfectly to your needs. I found that they were willing to take you through your flat options in person. Once this happens the application and deposit process is very hassle free and straightforward. I would highly reccomend them.... Read more
Tenant
17th Nov 2016 (8 years ago)
R Larcombe
I have been really impressed with the communication from Capital Living. Sophie Evans has been my main point of contact and has always been very efficient, answering my many questions and being very proactive and positive with all that is involved in renting with this company. Their process for membership has been so straightforward and everything has been set up to do remotely which has taken so much stress out of house-hunting from a distance before I move down in a few months.... Read more
Tenant
10th Oct 2016 (8 years ago)
C Keck
Having to relocate to London quickly Capital Living has been an absolute dream! Jess has been so friendly and helpful even when I was emailing her from New Zealand with weird and wonderful questions. They really have taken all the stress out of finding a flat share with like minded people in sought after areas of London. I love the fact that they hold well thought out social events too; helping new people to London meet more people than just those they work with. Amazing concept and can't recommend it enough!... Read more
Tenant
1st Sep 2016 (8 years ago)
M Burns
Well what can I say???? I moved to London in February 2016 and met with Capital Living straight away. They showed me the house and straight away I fell in love with it, I was 100% in. Then of course were my housemates, they could not have done a better job of putting me in a house with some of the best people I have ever known.
From day one, there have been laughs, dinners, park days, wine and even trips abroad together. I have made friends for life, no doubt about it.
But back to Capital Living themselves, they are smashing! The convenience of paying once a month and having that cover all costs is just a dream when you live a busy life. Who would have thought that kitchen paper, toilet paper, washing up liquid, hand wash etc being delivered once a month would make life that little bit easier - well it does!
From that to any other maintenance issues around the house/garden, Charlie is on the ball straight away to have it fixed.
I could not recommend Capital Living enough. I'm loving my house, loving my housemates, loving the capital living social events and loving meeting other young like minded people within the community.
The capital living team clearly enjoy what they do, and it shows though their enthusiasm. They do a great job and have made my time in London so enjoyable!
Thanks guys!... Read more
Tenant
24th Aug 2016 (8 years ago)
C mounir]l
Having worked with Adam Goff and his team for several years, I have nothing but positive feedback on them. Their attention to detail and professionalism is second to none.
An absolute joy to work with!... Read more