A family that owns property in London needs more than a lifestyle concierge. It needs one firm that takes responsibility for the home itself: maintenance, contractors, staff, security and compliance, as well as travel, dining and the family’s diary. This guide sets out what that service should cover, the questions that separate a serious firm from a booking service, and how ELVIT does it.
What the service should cover
Most requests from property-owning families fall into two groups. A good firm handles both with the same people.
The home
- Planned preventative maintenance on a calendar you can see: boilers, plumbing, electrics, gas safety
- 24/7 emergency response, with a person answering the phone
- Refurbishments and works, with contractors found, checked and supervised
- Vacant home care while the family is away: weekly checks, post, deliveries, insurance conditions
- Household staff: housekeepers, nannies, chauffeurs, gardeners, found and checked
- Landlord support if the home is let: tenants, rent collection, deposits, compliance
The family
- Travel, private aviation, chauffeur-driven cars and yachts
- Restaurants, events and tickets
- Doctors’ appointments and health logistics
- Schools, admissions and tutors
- Relocation and the first weeks in London
Five questions to ask before you choose
- Who is responsible? Ask for the name of the person who will own your requests, not the name of a team.
- What happens at night? Ask who answers the phone at 3am and what they do next.
- Can you see the work? Ask whether every task, with its status, photographs and invoices, is visible to you without having to chase.
- How long are you tied in? A firm confident in its work does not need a 12-month contract.
- Is it regulated where it needs to be? If the firm lets or manages property, ask which redress scheme it belongs to and how tenants’ deposits are protected.
What a night call should look like
23:40, a pipe bursts. 00:20, the plumber is on site. 07:10, you read about it over coffee, already fixed. That is the standard: the owner hears about the problem when it is already solved, with the record in the tracker.
How ELVIT does it
- Private concierge and property management in London since 2008, from 199 Knightsbridge, SW7
- One named person responsible for each request until it is closed
- A person answers the phone 24/7
- Every task visible in a private household tracker
- Three memberships: Signature, Elite and Private. Property management is included in Elite and Private
- 30-day rolling membership, no exit fee
- Member of the Property Redress scheme; tenants’ deposits registered with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme
See membership and property management. Call +44 20 3355 7833 or write to info@elvit.co.uk.
We do not manage investments and we do not give financial, tax or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a lifestyle concierge and household management?
A lifestyle concierge arranges things: tables, travel, tickets, gifts. Household management takes responsibility for a home: maintenance, contractors, staff, security and compliance. A family that owns property in London usually needs both, run by the same people, so nothing falls between two firms.
Who should be responsible when something breaks in a London home at night?
One named person at the firm you pay, reachable 24/7. That person books the engineer, stays with the job until it is fixed and records it, with photographs and the invoice, where you can see it.
What does a private concierge for property owners cost?
It is usually a monthly membership. The fee depends on the level of service, how many homes and people are looked after, and whether property management is included. At ELVIT membership is 30-day rolling with no exit fee, and the fee is quoted after a short private conversation.
Can one firm handle both the property and the family’s lifestyle requests?
Yes, and it is usually simpler. ELVIT includes property management in its Elite and Private memberships alongside travel, dining, events, health appointments, schools and household staff, with one named person responsible for every request.