Nice apartment, central to everything you need. I was new to DC when I moved here and I'm so glad I picked this place it's quite, the apartment is nice, the only thing is the building has issues from time to time like the elevators needing to be fix often, and other small maintenance issues but over all a lovely community I definitely recommend this place to anyone that lives in the city. The location is everything. read more

425 Mass Apartments (including building 401 and 425) are well managed, clean and have tons of amenities. You won't find a bigger living room or a better layout in the neighborhood! We love living here and intend on staying for many years. There are two gyms, two pools, and a lovely rooftop deck with bbqs and comfortable seating and TVs and entertaining space. Inside both buildings has great shared working space and entertaining areas. I truly appreciate the management team, along with maintenance and service teams, to responding quickly and efficiently to any issues or concerns we have. Every issue we have ever had has been resolved, and we have good relationships with the staff and management. I can't recommend this place more. We even have our friends of 30+ years moving in soon. This is a gem! read more

During the leasing process, Johnson was proactive, quick, responsive, and flexible in corresponding. In a virtual visit, he took the time to answer questions with concern while sharing specifically requested views of the unit in real-time, which made a difference. He had our home, keys, and mailbox prepared when we arrived. Based on my experiences and interactions so far, I strongly recommend. read more

425 Mass has been my home for 4 years now - and I think it's the perfect place to live Downtown. You can get to the Mall, Union Station and Capitol Hill in minutes. And when you come home, our concierges Ben and Yolanda know your name, ask how your family is doing, and take genuine interest in your own life, jokes, movie recs, etc. When we're all spending so much time at home, I'm glad to have three balconies with expansive city views, and a wide-open roof deck to clear my mind and watch the world. Highly recommend living here based on service and overall quality of life. read more

I've never experienced this level of unprofessionalism. My partner and I has an 11am virtual tour scheduled that was also confirmed with the leasing agency. After 40 minutes of waiting with no response from Ella (the leasing assistant), despite us reaching out twice, we gave up on the tour. I even called directly to Danielle, who was supposed to facilitate the tour, and she picked up and hung up twice. I feel as though my time has been wasted - I understand when things are falling behind, but to completely avoid our inquiries is rude, disrespectful, and unprofessional. read more

Best value if you need to be in this neighborhood. (I've lived here since August 2019) COST: Are there cheaper places in DC? Of course. But if you're looking to be in this particular neighborhood, bang for buck, this is one of the best values. Are there nicer places in the neighborhood? Absolutely. One of their sister properties is just around the corner and is equipped with some of the more modern finishes (white kitchen, more modern backsplashes, etc.), but you will pay several hundred dollars more per month for the same square footage. If you're looking for a place in this neighborhood that's modern enough (stainless appliances, but with the more dated honey wood cabinets and floors), that feels safe, includes an in-unit washer/dryer, and without pests, then this is one of the better values. APARTMENT UNIT: They have dozens and dozens of different layouts and floor plans and I, of course, have not seen them all. I live in one of the smaller studios, but don't feel closed in as I have floor to ceiling windows on nearly an entire wall of my unit. I addressed the kitchen above and same goes for the bathroom and washer/dryer. It's modern enough. If you want more modern, you can get it around the corner, but at a cost. ELEVATORS: Unlike others, it's not been my experience that the elevators are broken. There's two different buildings associated with this complex (425 Mass and 401 Mass) and each has two elevators in them. When someone moves in/out, an elevator gets reserved for that person for a four hour time block. It's more been my experience that on a Saturday/Sunday, one of the elevators is reserved anywhere from eight to twelve hours to accommodate move-ins/move-outs. This then results in only one functioning elevator for everyone else's purposes. Could this become slightly annoying if you're rushing off to a gym class or brunch date somewhere? Of course. However, I know to expect it (especially on the weekends) and try to plan accordingly. Perhaps in other complexes with more elevators, this isn't as big of a problem. But, again, this isn't enough to have me not live here. GYM: As mentioned above, there are two buildings (425 Mass and 401 Mass) and each has their own gym that all residents may use. Both gyms have Peleton bikes, which was important to me. The 401 gym is smaller, but both gyms have all the basic equipment you'd expect of an apartment complex gym. POOL/ROOFTOP/OTHER COMMON SPACES: I moved at the end of the summer, so other than going up a couple of times to see the pools (yes, there's two), I did not do much more with them. I looked at nearly all of the apartment complexes in this neighborhood and the pools seemed pretty typical of what you'd expect here. What's not typical, however, is the rooftop. The rooftop is far more expansive than other rooftops in the area and includes lots of little sectioned off spaces that allow residents to enjoy it with some feeling of privacy. There's many, many grills, TVs, couches, and other seating areas throughout the rooftop. Each of the buildings also has the typical inside common spaces with pool tables and the like. And, as with most of the newer buildings nowadays, there's kombucha and cold brew machines (you pay per ounce) in each of the buildings. CONCIERGE/MAIL/PACKAGE DELIVERY: As is typical of most of the buildings in this area, there's 24/7 concierge that accepts packages. The mailrooms are in the front of the building before you hit the elevators, so it's easy to remember to check your mail so that it doesn't pile up. It sounds like others have built good relationships with some of the concierge folks. They are nice enough, but I haven't had the opportunity to build too strong of a relationship with any of them yet. LEASING OFFICE. Hands down, the best part of my experience, was my leasing agent, Deric. He was incredibly friendly and helpful from the moment I set up a tour (I was running behind-- yeah, DC traffic-- but he was very accommodating), throughout the paperwork process, through move-in day, and even now that I've been here a couple of months. He is always friendly and smiling and remembers my name. I had a slew of questions throughout the process and sent him countless emails that he always answered promptly and thoroughly. This is the first time I've lived in DC (been in Northern Virginia for years!) and the first time in a long time that I've rented from a corporate property as opposed to a private owner, so it felt nice to feel like I had a friend and someone looking out for me as I went through the process. OVERALL: If you have extra money to spend, there are "nicer" buildings around the corner, but if you're looking for the best value in the neighborhood, it's my opinion that this is it... and, for that reason, I would not hesitate to recommend it. read more

For the most part, the building is perfectly mediocre: service team is highly responsive and excellent, appliances break more than you'd expect but aren't the worst, hallways are often loud in the middle of nights but unit-to-unit soundproofing is great, concierge desk (for getting packages) was unattended more often than not but they appear to have gotten new staff or a memo, building doesn't always clean the broken glass that seems to always materialize on the sidewalks (important given that it's a dog building!!) but the hallways and gym etc. area are always very clean, the building has a reputation for maximum allowed rent spikes (10%) year-to-year but year 1 rent is pretty good, monthly utility costs are definitely higher than you'd expect for the unit sizes but DC ain't cheap, the units don't have much overhead light but good windows. Biggest complaint has been constant A/C issues recently--lots of nights where the unit creeps up to 80 degrees. We get lot of emails about more fixes forthcoming (and thanking us for patience lol), but after the sixth or seventh sleepless night, I wondered why we didn't get a rent abatement. EDIT: I've removed a star because (1) the A/C problems continue and (2) the building sprayed dog-dangerous pesticides in the surrounding shrubbery, when it explicitly pitched those spots as convenient for dogs. read more

Overpriced, dirty, elevators are frequently out of service, lobby frequently does not have air conditioning, and worst of all are the low IQ corporate puppets in the leasing office. Emailing with them is like trying to communicate with a computer program coded by a second grader. Read the other negative reviews if you don't believe me. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place. read more

The apartments themselves are gorgeous and modern, and the amenities are all renovated and great. But apart from the building itself, the staff at 425 is just so helpful and fast. The leasing office staff, front desk staff, and maintence team are super helpful and resolve any issues or questions immediately. From parking to packages to any appliances fixes - everything gets done immediately and everyone is friendly and welcoming. Fantastic building management and staff! read more

Once again there is a hot water issue, but don't worry. The infamous maintenance team is on it. They are so on it that Equity sent an email in the afternoon for a morning problem. Oh, and if you still don't have hot water by mid-afternoon, contact the maintenance team and they will fix the already resolved issue. Now how much do we pay for that boiler each month? Today's hot water issue is just one of many emails that have been sent out during my tenure at 425 Mass. During the winter months, it is pretty much a guarantee that there will be no hot water when you take a shower early in the morning. I cannot recall how many times I have taken a freezing cold shower (and I mean freezing) during those wee morning hours before work. The water temperature inconsistencies makes me think about the times I have traveled around the world to impoverished countries. It is sad when third world countries can provide hot water on a more regular basis than Equity can in a land where water, electricity and gas are not considered luxuries. How many times must the boiler break before they replace it? Duct tape does not fix everything. (My grandma tried to fix her car once with duct tape and that didn't go so well for her). Sadly, the hot water issue is not the only thing that is wrong with this apartment complex. For the sake of brevity, I shall list some of the major issues and leave it up to you to decide if this apartment is the place for you. * The complex appears "safe" but entrances and stairwells are not secured. Key fobs are optional and the garage stairwell doors are not locked. * Packages are signed by the concierge staff and housed in closets. Several of my packages have disappeared. The concierge would tell me that they weren't delivered despite receiving an email and text stating contrary * The package tracking system at 425 is too generic. Most times you sign for your package but not always. If you have more than one package, you are signing only once and before your packages are handed to you. Their system interprets your signature as acceptance that you have received all packages when there is a chance that one or two remain in the storage room. You really have to keep track of all your orders including the tracking numbers on the packages you sign for. * Rats like to play around the grounds and little to nothing is done to rectify the problem. The bay door to the loading dock frequently is left open and there is a gap in the door where rats can come and go as they please and feast on the garbage housed in that area. The rats appear to have a blast whereas the tenants are fearful of walking in there at night. If I were packing or unpacking my belongings into a moving truck, I would suggest you keep the truck latched closed when you step away from it. * Limited garbage cans are provided in the garbage areas so bags of garbage are thrown all over the concrete flooring and rotting food smells permeate the hallways. * The elevators are not running 100% of the time, so if you are fortunate enough to live on the penthouse floors, you may be waiting a very long time for an elevator during peak times. * The garage door breaks often. If the door remains open, anyone can drive or walk in and gain access to the property or damage your car. Plus it is annoying for those who pay for parking to see cars parked there for free. * The handicapped button on the front door does not work at least 75% of the time. If you require assistance opening the door, you may have to wait outside in the rain until someone enters or exits the building. In off hours, that may be a long time. * The maintenance staff enter your apartment whenever they want and without knocking. It's like carrying keys gives them a false sense of power and entitlement. If I were a parent or a single woman in the apartment, this would cause me great concern that one of the maintenance team members would enter without warning and frighten the resident or see the resident in pj's (or a birthday suit if that is how you roll). Equity Residential purports to provide apartments that feel like home and to ensure that every resident is very satisfied. If this is how home should feel, I shudder to think what it must be like to live in a slumlord's apartment. I feel like they just want my rent deposit (or credit card charge since they charge an expensive fee for paying with plastic) and can care less about my needs or keeping my apartment like new. If you are considering moving to 425 Mass, please don't. Sure, the rooftop is nice, but this is not DC's only rooftop (contrary to the leasing agents' claims). As soon as my lease is up, I am jumping ship -- gladly! I urge you to save yourself from all the stress and irritation of living at 425 Mass. I would recommend you research a management company and choose an apartment from a company that is reviewed highly on Yelp. Please do not settle for a place like I did and rent from Equity Residential. read more

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Absolutely top quality people separate 425 Mass from your average high rise apartment building in DC. Ben and Yolanda in building 401 don't just work at 425 Mass, they make it a welcoming community. They ask about your family, they play with your dogs, and they ensure that 425 is a great place to live. Our dog Porter absolutely adores Ben and Miss Yolanda and she has to greet them every time we pass the front desk. Ben and Yolanda know all the dogs in the building so they even introduced Porter to some new friends! 425 has really great apartments and facilities, for sure. But if you stop at the front desk and chat with Ben or Yolanda, you will find the people that truly make these apartments special. read more

The complex is A-1, and my favorite part about the community is Ms. Caroline the concierge. Always with a smile and willing to help with whatever she can. Definitely a welcoming spirit at the front door. read more

One of the best living environments I have experience. They are friendly at the front desk and will help you with any problems you may have. Our apartment is amazing for the price and is perfect because the location is really close to all the major buildings! I highly recommend this place! read more

Moving to 425Mass was a big move for me. New area and a new job. The leasing staff are all friendly, and take the time to listen to any issues you have (Ask for Deric he's amazing!!). But, arriving home from work, I'd see the concierge Johnson, on the weekends, Charles. They are the biggest reason for the 5 stars. They both take the time to chat, and are super knowledgeable about the area. Good dinner spot? Ask Johnson Best happy hours? Ask Johnson Which metro stop should I get off to get where I'm going? Ask Johnson Moving away from friends and family was really difficult, but I feel like I've made great friends here. It's an amazing community, 2 gyms, 2 pools, a beautiful courtyard, and a very chill rooftop area with grills and amazing views. The best part is the lounge. It has Wi-Fi, a fireplace, and business center. I highly recommend you move here! read more

This will be our second year living here this May. I am not planning on moving anytime soon. I see a lot of complaints about the building, but I believe that everything can be resolved through communication. The staff and leasing agents are very helpful and understanding. My boyfriend and I signed up when Kirti was still here and even though We have seen a few new faces, the attitude and work ethic has not changed. Maintenance will address and fix all problems within 24 hours and the leasing team will do their best/ be honest about what they think is best for you. Keep up the good work I gave it a four star because I love cycling and I feel that the gym needs a major upgrade. I have toured a few buildings around us and everything seems to be up to date except for ours. read more

I currently live in this building, and I love it. It has all the amenities of a typical luxury apartment building, including an amazing rooftop and TWO pools. But honestly, the best part of this community is the staff. You would know if you've lived at a luxury rental building that a lot of times their management couldn't care less about your issues, or even if they do care they are not always competent or timely. That's not the case here. Everyone who works here is highly professional, and they respond right away to service requests. The rockstar of the staff is June, who manages the property. She is not only professional; she genuinely cares about her residents. Whenever there is a building issue, within minutes I get an email from June with a detailed update on the situation. June herself earns this review 5 stars. read more

( I will update over time. ) Pros: Overall living experience is ok. Leasing staff + front desk staff are all really nice. Floors, Bathroom, and Kitchen are really nice. Quite place overall. Alot of watter pipe issues. Cons: Walls could use a fresh coat of paint in common areas. New carpet is needed in the hallways. Lots of stains + dirty. Garbage piles up outside courtyard enterence. *BIG ISSUE* Less than 30 days of moving in the pargage garage was broken into. My car being one of them!!!! A few people had items stolen. I was lucky. Suggestions to upper management: Hire a security guard and install more cameras on ALL enterences, ALL floos of the garage, and all elevators. 1 Camera does not work. read more

I just moved in here a few months ago and have been very happy so far. I transferred from another Equity Apartments building in NYC, and the move couldn't have been easier. I've lived in a lot of apartment buildings, and this one is easily the best (as far as the employees go). The office staff has been great about communicating notices/issues/etc. I had a couple of minor issues when I first moved in and they were handled very quickly. Natalia, at the leasing office, is really good at her job. You can tell that she really cares about the community. All the concierges are great, but I'd also like to give a special shout out to Ben. The convenience to the 395 tunnel is also great. It is really easy to get in and out of the city. read more

I had an excellent experience living at 425 Mass. The property is clean and well-maintained, the amenities (particularly the roof) are superb, and my apartment was quite spacious for a reasonable price. Maintenance is super responsive, and June (the property manager) will follow up to make sure your issue was resolved. I had a simple and straightforward leasing experience thanks to Deric, and I would definitely lease here again. read more

Lived there for 5 years. Would suggest it then, but not now. The place is essentially a hotel now anyway with all of the AirBnb people that stay there, which they (obviously) don't tell you about. They try to monetize everything, which means the garage is open to daily workers, but doesnt have a guard. So it's always a mess and there were several emails from staff about break-ins, though they never addressed the problem. And oh, a few months back, they sent an email letting us know someone died in the apartment building but they couldnt say why because DC police wouldn't let them. Not even kidding. Really makes you feel safe. There's newer apt buildings in the same area that are newer & cheaper. read more

SCAM warning: I left my apartment spotless, but management insisted that I left it so dirty that they had to hire cleaners to clean it, to the tune of $50 for a 450 sq ft uncarpeted studio off my security deposit. This was the first time I have been charged cleaning in any rental I've lived in. They also failed to pay me interest on the security deposit. To avoid them arbitrarily taking an amount off your security deposit, make sure you request the inspection (even though the law requires THEM to request to assess damages) while you are still there. Then also take pictures and get a witness. Also watch your final statement for whether you have been paid interest. The landlord also tries to get you to do things not required in the lease, like cranking up the air conditioning if you move out early, and still being responsible for the utility charges. If you don't mind being on guard for every little thing like this, then it is an ok place to live. Like another reviewer said, it is a convenient location. To me, it's not just worth it. read more

I live here now. I moved in a month ago because the apartment itself is beautiful. The location is great, the gym and roof deck are fantastic, parking is ample, there's a free bicycle storage room. But the leasing office is terrible. The leasing office forgot to charge me for parking when I moved in. When I realized their mistake, I called them and requested to be billed. They applied the charge to my account, and an additional penalty fee was added because my payment was late! Apparently it was my fault, ME, the one who informed them of their mistake! After multiple conversations and emails with Jessica, I was promised that 425 Mass would remove the bill. The initial time estimate for removal was 1-2 days. It is currently one month later, and the leasing office has not removed the charge. I've had multiple conversations with Jessica, and there's a long documented email trail addressing the problem as well. Jessica's boss, Adam, has promised to fix this problem, but he has not been able to do so. Jessica and Adam both claim that the issue has been sent to the central finance department and it is "at the highest level". But, even at that high of a priority, the clowns at 425 Mass are not able to fix their mistake. I'll come back and update this review throughout the duration of my lease. Hopefully 425 Mass will give me a reason to change my opinion. But for now, I recommend to stay away from this apartment complex; it is run by idiots UPDATE: Wow, I read some of the other reviews onj this site and the negative ones are dead on. The leasiing office's only concern is a rent check. As you can see from my review, they don't care about the money they owe back to the tenants. Additionally, I recommend that you review the flagged responses. It's my understanding that not only has 425 Mass provided their own fake reviews to bring up their own rating, they've worked hard to silence the honestly negative reviews from previous customers. I think they should spend more time focusing on fixing their problems than covering them up! read more

This building is such a great place to live! I moved here from the suburbs of Maryland and I never thought I would become a city boy but this building changed it all for me! It is such a great location and close to EVERYTHING! The amenities in the building are great, the sound proofing is incredible and to top it off the team here is simply amazing! Let's just say I don't plan on going back to the suburbs lol This is definitely by far one of the best Luxury Apartment buildings in DC! read more

I have been living here for a month now, and my experience thus far has been very positive. The apartments are nice and updated, you can't beat the location, and all the staff I have interacted with from leasing, to concierge, to maintenance have been incredibly friendly and professional. read more

Yup...it's still absurdly terrible. These heroes "running" the place sent out an email out of the blue telling residents one of the four parking decks will be converted to public parking during weekdays. Meanwhile, our monthly parking fee went up! It's going to be wonderful dealing with the traffic jam getting in and out of this place mornings and evenings. Oh yea, and the loss of one floor of parking. read more

Living at 425 Mass truly changed my life for the worse. * Staff The staff itself changes faster than milk expires. In my tenure at 425, I found concierge partying with college residents while smoking in the supposedly non-smoking building, and overnight concierge sleeping at the desk while guests entered the "secure" building. The maintenance staff did not understand why it was inappropriate - some would say illegal - to enter residents' units without cause or notice, even when the privacy lock was engaged. After personally experiencing this problem several times, when one worker entered while I was disrobed, I called the D.C. police. What did 425 management do? The Leasing Supervisor defended the employee, saying he had iannounced himself upon entering my unit. Read your lease carefully! The General Manager claims it gives 425 Management permission to enter your unit ANYTIME, even if your privacy lock is engaged. The police encouraged me to "try my best work it out with management," as they have a right to enter if they claim they are completing maintenance, but police also offered options for better securing my unit. As you can image, a staff that behaves this way, is also dishonest. They'll promise you the moon when you lease, but then deceive you. From missing packages to "miscommunications," you will find them untrustworthy at best. * Mold, Water, Maintenance Issues Let us now talk about the issues of mold, water leaks and my own apartment of ruined belongings. I am speaking of the mold that makes you sick with asthma, allergies and so many other things that never fully go away. That's the black mold I had growing on my heating and cooling system, inside my walls, under my carpet, on my possessions, etc. After personally employing professionals to test exactly what it was and where the water was coming from, I lost all of my belongings to the toxic mold contamination and lived in a hotel for months while still paying 425 rent as they supposedly tore out walls and "remediated" the place. (425 Mass was cited by a DCRA city inspector for violations in my unit during this time.) Why did I have to personally pay for someone to find the mold and diagnose the problem? 425 Mass would not do anything until I did so and I was idealistic. I hoped they would do the right thing - fix the water leak so no one else would ever get sick and suffer this nightmare again. That did not happen. During my ordeal, I also learned it was not just my unit with the mold issue. I talked to neighbors with plaster falling off from roof leaks, paint bubbling from flood damage, mold growing behind appliances and repeated maintenance issues being ignored. Neighbors spoke of water problems throughout the building over a period of many years. There's also evidence on Yelp and other review sites that 425's mold problem has been around a long time. * If You Still Tour the Building If you still decide to tour 425 Mass, look beyond what the Leasing Agent shows you. Tour all levels of the garage. Notice the piles of debris in the corners because 425 Mass received citations for rats. Also note the sewage smell on level four. Consider the water problems associated with that and look carefully at the ceiling tiles on level one. Again, think of the water problems because some of those tiles look like they might burst. Perhaps the visible water problems in the garage are why we had such horrible water problems in our apartments. You will also see large, white pipes in the garage labeled "sewage" with sewage splattering on the nearby walls. Those are obvious signs of additional sewage/water problems. 425 Mass was cited (10/2015) for these types of violations by a DCRA government inspector. One final note about the garage - the door is often broken and many of the spaces are rented to non-residents. When viewing inside 425 Mass, think a great deal about the building's dark hallways that are kept dim enough to disguise water stains, damaged ceilings and previously flooded carpets. When inside apartment units, note any dark stains on hardwoods, as they are the mark of water damage and be cautious if the carpet has staining at the wall's edges. Certainly be hesitant of musty smells. College students are the prominent group renting at 425 Mass, so visit on a weekend evening for sure. Lastly, it goes without saying that I would never suggest anyone rent from 425 Mass. I hope I have provided enough information to light your path in a different direction. read more

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I have been living at 425 Mass for almost a year and a half and I can honestly say that it has been a great experience! Before moving in I was a proud resident of the Shaw neighborhood and was sad that Equity didn't have any apartments in the neighborhod, however, Mt. Vernon is a 10 minute walk to Shaw, a few steps from Gallery Place/ Downtown, a 15 minute walk to Union Station/ H st. a 5 minute bus ride to Dupont, you get the idea? The Location is unbeatable! The concierges, leasing, and service team have all been very helpful with any inquiries I've had as well as service issues inside of my home. I love hosting bbq's with friends on beautiful days or just enjoying a simple book and glass of wine on the rooftop, the view is AMAZING! The only thing that would make this home better would be a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods downstairs but other than that I am truly happy in downtown haven! read more

I came to hang out with a friend who lives in the building. What a great building with an awesome 360 view of DC, Silver Spring, the National Harbor, and Arlington. There are two pools on the rooftop and lots of places to sit and grill. There's a 24 hour concierge and the building is nice and clean. The large windows are a great feature but instead of blinds they have curtains that pull up. This means people can see clearly into your unit .. I don't know how I feel about that (but then again I don't have to live there). I don't know if all the units are the same size, but the one I visited seemed small. The bathroom however was large. From the rooftop I was able to see other nearby buildings with rooftops and there were a lot of parties going on. I was also able to see new and nearby restaurants. The location and amenities make this place a great place to visit if you know someone in the building. read more

Figured I update my review since I'm moving in a couple of weeks. First and the most important reason for my move is the rent. DC, is expensive. I should've known better. Now that I'm more familiar with the area and have a car, I don't really need to be "in the middle of everything." I've lived at 425/401 Mass for 4 years in July. Anyone who has ever visited or seen it from a distance could probably tell you it is a wonderful building. Outside of a few mishaps with my washer and dryer and dishwasher, everything about the apartment itself is state of the art. (At least it was when I moved in), but I digress... The turn around time for 95% of my maintenance request was almost immediate, which was important to me as I am prone to "accidents". It is a dog friendly community (and I think cats, but I've never seen one). Parking is expensive, but convenient considering it could be worse in other areas (none come to mind at the moment...New York?). I used both gyms quite often and the other amenities (pool, pool table, etc.) often as well. The bottom line is, every apartment has its issues. I noticed a couple of people complaining about late fees. I too was a victim. The automatic withdrawal that equity residential has set up for rent work against my favor. I tried to explain the situation, but wasn't helped in any kind of way. The situation only happened once, and nothing really occurred in terms of money in a negative way since then. Hopefully if you have read along this far you'll understand that I loved this building(s), most of the staff, and the accessibility I had to anything I could think of. However, this area isn't necessarily the only place that provides that. After at least 20 (feels like 100) apartment visits, I found another apartment complex that is as comparable to this specific equity residential property as possible. Yes I did check other equity residential properties if you were wondering* read more

This review is for our concierge at building 401, Bemnet Shimiles. It's always a pleasure when he's at the front desk- he greets you with a smile, is great to chat with, and even gets your packages ready for you right as he notices you walking through the door. He's always willing to help, whether it's printing out items at the front desk or helping locate a lost package. He does an outstanding job and has been a big part of the reason I've loved living here. Thanks for everything, Ben! read more

I'm surprised to read all of the negative reviews. I've lived around the country in the bay area, Seattle, and here -- and this is by far the best managed luxury apartment complex I've seen! The price is actually really reasonable compared to other buildings in the area (much cheaper than U St/14th St options for sure). Plus, the amenities on the rooftop are the best I've seen in the entire city. I've never seen it too crazy up there. I have had trouble with the grills and have often given up planning grilling parties (the igniters just don't work) -- so that's a frustration, but I've always been able to find a nice man with a lighter to save me when I've been in a pinch. I think the staff at the front desk are awesome! Howard is a great guy -- and I am happy to be living on the 425 side of the building because he's fun to chat with after work each day. The maintenance team is INCREDIBLE. I submit my electronic requests at 2pm on a Friday -- and find that they are fixed by the time I get home at 5 pm! I love having such an accessible maintenance team to help with anything from a burned out light bulb (hey, these LED bulbs are getting pricier and you don't have to pay for them in 425 Mass!). I'm working on renewing my lease right now -- and likely upgrading to a larger unit. So I'll be around for a while! I'm deducting a star because I live directly below the gym, which is annoying when people make noises with the weights (they shouldn't have an apartment located here). read more

We were staying in a vacation rental booked through Booking.com. An employee entered our unit unannounced in the middle of the night, scaring our daughter who was on the fold-out sofa terribly (she is still having nightmares). I told her she should have screamed bloody murder when he came in, but she was too scared and shook under her covers! When we reported it to management the next morning (when our daughter finally told us what happened) the asst. manager said she would talk to all her employees, She then informed us that nobody had entered our apt. They said we were lying!! We asked the on-site general manager to contact us about this, but she never did and actually avoided us for the rest of our stay!! According to other reviews I read, this has happened to others after us--it was even reported to the DC police!! Stay away from this place!! It is NOT safe or secure! read more

425 Mass is a great apartment complex. The amazing rooftop alone should sell you. The rooftop has a ton of space, pools (yes plural), and the views are fantastic! The apartments are beautiful and spacious, for a good price. The maintenance team is fast and helpful whenever we have an issue. The 425 Mass team is friendly and they put on all kinds of fun events (virtual cooking classes, sushi making, wine tasting). The gym is great and has a peloton! I love it here and would definitely recommend to anyone to live here!! read more

I have lived in this apartment for the past 2 years. The quality of amenities and customer service have gone down drastically. The washing machine is outdated and has had to have 7+ maintenance visits. Recently, we have been told that we will not have hot water. This has happened THREE times. Why would anyone want to pay 2800+ for a vague email telling us that we can't shower on a Monday morning. The neighborhood is booming with competitive apartments which means I will not be resigning a lease here. Save your money and wait until the pathetic equity apartments corporation invests in new infrastructure for the hundreds of tenants they are stealing hard earned money from. The only thing that would keep me around is the fact that I love Johnson (who should get a pay raise) in the 425 building. He is the reason I smile when I get home from work! read more

Living at 425 Mass has been a great experience! Great location, nice amenities, friendly and helpful staff - especially Johnson and Mo!

I've lived in 425 for nearly a year now and it has been a great experience. I live in a 1BR/2BA with a den and the den is large enough that it really could be a separate bedroom, but there are no windows in it. The apartment has a spacious living room and kitchen, hardwood floors, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, and in-unit washer/dyer. I looked at several apartments in the area before deciding on 425 and the price is comparable to other places in the area, but I think 425 is of a higher quality. The common areas in the area are beautiful and the roof is incredible; there are two pools (which I wish were open later in the year), lounge areas, and grills. The gym in the building definitely isn't as high quality as a membership gym, but it has several cardio machines and some weight training equipment. The staff has always been helpful and friendly with me and the maintenance team has responded quickly to any issue I've had. There is a 24 hour concierge that holds any packages that you have delivered and lets guests into the building. The area can be a little suspect at times, but I've always felt safe in 425 and have never encountered anyone in the building who did not belong there. As many of the reviews have mentioned, the parking situation has gotten a little worse after the first floor of the garage was rented out to non residents, but I've never had a problem finding a spot. I was a little surprised to see so many negative reviews about 425, but I guess people aren't as likely to take the time to write a review unless they have had some bad experience. However, I've never had any problems and I am very happy living here. read more

Although I only got to live in 401 Mass for a few weeks, I've to say I was very happy with my overall experience. I was extremely lucky I met Patience Davis who's a lease officer in this community and made me feel home from the very first minute. I liked the common areas, the big and well equipped gym, and of course the apartment I was going to live in. The professionalism of the staff in this place during my overall search process made me realize this was the right place for me. My apartment was in perfect conditions, it offered a breathtaking view to the Capitol, neighbors were very friendly, concierge staff was excellent and the building always remained clean. I have to relocate and had to break my contract. Thankfully, Patience was there to help me out! She once again showed her professionalism and knowledge to guide me through the process, explain available options and really made an effort to make the overall process as less painful as possible. I highlight this cause I know is not common to find this kind of service in DC and strongly believe it makes a big, big difference when you want to find the place you want to call 'home', at least for a while. read more

I've lived at 425 Mass for nearly two years. My husband and I are relocating, so we're leaving this building in two months. That said, I wanted to leave some candid feedback about the building and management company (I also had two units at another Equity-owned building previously). PROS 1) It really is a gorgeous building. 2) It's well-maintained. In fact, we see a corporate cleaning staff on site every day, even on weekends. 3) Most of the concierge staff is really friendly and helpful, especially Johnson, who we love. It's wonderful that they're open 24/7. 4) It's a central location for the city, from I-395 to Union Station to downtown, with three different Metro stops within a 10-minute walk. 5) The two gyms are quite large for an apartment complex with a variety of machines. 6) The maintenance staff is really courteous and prompt. 7) There are very modest fees for move-in (with the exception of amenity fees). CONS 1) Even though it's a good location for transportation, it's really loud in this area. There's a nearby fire station, and several times a night, you can hear sirens. It was especially bad during the inauguration and the riots/protests in the area. I was basically held hostage in this apartment from Thursday to Sunday. Noise problems are exacerbated by the brick courtyard, which causes sound to reverberate. 2) Speaking of the inauguration, my car, which I park in the garage, was burglarized during the march following the inauguration. This was because the garage door was broken for three or more weeks, and there was no security working at that time. Staff said the guard was slated to come in later that evening, which proved no use when there was an unusual volume of activity in our area. 3) When I moved in two years ago, they did not tell me about all the construction in this area. A week later, they began it in earnest. Many weekends (at least one-third to one-half of them), the entire block is shut down, which makes it impossible to get anywhere, much less get a cab or Uber. Even on a normal day, getting anywhere in this area can be quite taxing because of all the construction. 4) I'd echo critiques from other residents who have complained about the excessive fees and rent. It's a nice building, but the cost is a bit much for the size of the apartments. 5) On a personal note, Pepco accidentally cancelled dozens of accounts in this building last summer. They gave us all new account numbers, but that didn't stop Equity from charging $50 per month that it hadn't been sorted with them. They told me I'd have to make Pepco pay the charges, but that isn't Pepco's responsibility. 6) This problem didn't end there. When I was working with the management months later to get these fees reimbursed, Equity automatically kicked over my meager outstanding balance to eviction. I was horrified to receive a knock on my door one Saturday morning notifying me that, despite paying all my rent, I was being evicted over less than $200. I was stunned. When I went to the management office in near hysterics, they laughed and said that I wasn't really being evicted. This was an automatic function of their parent office. Equity has any outstanding balances automatically filed with DC court to evict you. Granted, it's nearly impossible to evict someone in DC, but I'm someone who pays my bills on time or early every month, so the scare -- and their assurances that this was totally normal -- was certainly not appreciated. 7) Using the amenities can be ridiculously expensive. There is a wonderful roof for parties, but it's hundreds upon hundreds of dollars to reserve a spot. The same with the party room that no one ever uses, but should you want to, would cost hundreds of dollars! 8) Finally, there are a *lot* of updates on community rules (no Air B-n-B, smoking, pets on grass, etc.) and building-wide maintenance. Today, our water was turned off from 9 a.m. to nearly 7 p.m. Toilets worked, but we couldn't cook, shower, etc. A few weeks ago, they did an alarm test that lasted at least two hours. The elevators are in constant disrepair (speaking of which, my now-husband was stuck in the elevator for 30 minutes, just before we had to take a flight). Certain parking spaces are now not open to residents (there are way too many prospective resident/visitors spaces, especially since they are leasing out our garage to non-residents; they've got zip cars; they've got a newly-reserved spot for a staffer; they've got spots just for electric cars), and if you accidentally park in one of them, you'll be left a note threatening you with the city towing you within 24 hours. Oh, and they allow the city to come in and ticket you if your registration is expired! Overall, not the worst experience I've had an apartment complex. I will emphasize that Equity is a very bureaucratic company that is pretty inflexible with its residents. I also think there are waaaaaaay too many rules for a place you pay so much to live in. read more

While living at 425 Mass, I worked with Deric in the Leasing Office. He was so incredibly helpful and accommodating. Anytime I had an issue, he was ready to find a solution, especially during the pandemic. The staff there, especially Deric, really improved my experience being a resident! read more

IMPRESSIVE I took very seriously the reviews on Google, Yelp, and other sites only to find that nearly all the critiques were not true to my experience. The leasing agents are professionals par excellence and the front desk and maintenance teams are kind, competent, and responsive. The 425 and 401 buildings are immaculate and my studio apartment in 401 Mass Ave is gorgeous. It came with state of the art kitchen appliances--an excellent dishwasher, oven, and refrigerator. I brought my own washer and dryer, which fit nicely into the w/d closet. My apt has exceptional sound insulation, high ceilings, and the floor-to-ceiling windows bring a lot of light. The heater and air conditioner are very powerful and the water pressure is excellent. The wood and tile floors are beautiful and easy to clean. The common areas are stunning: bran new exercise equipment, breathtaking rooftop deck, and wonderful game, conference, and computer rooms. The security and package-notification systems work seamlessly. Equity also has an online community for residents to make payments, request services, post bulletin notices, and connect with other residents. My neighbors are courteous and friendly; most are early- and mid-career professionals. The location is one of the great assets. It's around the corner from Union Station and both the Yellow (Gallery Place) and Red (Judiciary Sq) metro stops. It's within a couple of blocks from great restaurants and everything you need: it's next to a 24 hour CVS, Subway sandwiches, Le Pain Quotidein coffee shop, and a UPS store; it's around the corner from Busboys and Poets, 24 hour Safeway, Ace Hardware (which is huge), Chipotle, Walmart, etc. It's also three blocks from China Town / Convention Center, which has movie theater, Bed Bath and Beyond, and surrounded by many amazing restaurants. It's also a block from Hampton Inn, which has been helpful for my out-of-town guests. In summary, moving to 401 Mass Ave was one of the best decisions I've made. It has become a wonderful place to call home. read more