Tucked within the rolling greenery of the Deerness Valley, The Oaks offers a slower pace of life surrounded by open skies, woodland walks, and the gentle rhythm of the countryside. Here in Esh Winning, you're never far from nature - yet just a short drive from the historic charm, culture, and convenience of Durham city. It's a place where you can breathe deeply, stretch out, and feel truly at home - all while staying connected to everything you need.
Whether you're enjoying morning coffee in your private garden, strolling through green valley trails, or heading into the city for work or leisure, The Oaks gives you the best of both worlds: countryside calm with urban convenience.
Inside, each home features high-spec finishes, modern kitchens and bathrooms, and spacious layouts perfect for families, couples, or downsizers. We're proudly pet-friendly too - because home isn't truly home without every member of the family. This property 1 The Oaks also comes fully furnished!
With on-site parking, rolling tenancies, and 24/7 in-house maintenance, life at The Oaks is made easy. Our friendly resident services team is always on hand, ready to help when you need them - or just say hello.
This home is available with flatfair's Nil Deposit solution, so instead of a traditional deposit, you'll pay a one-off check-in fee equal to 28% of a month's rent (+VAT). It's a simple, upfront alternative that keeps moving costs down - though please note this fee is non-refundable and can't be used to cover any future damages.
A snapshot of your new home:
* Type: 3-Bedroom House
* Location: Esh Winning, Durham
* Energy Efficient: EPC rating B - so you'll save money on bills
Your new home has:
* Great natural light
* A big bathroom perfect for long soaks and bad karaoke
* 1 spacious master bedroom with a built-in wardrobe and en-suite
* 1 double room with a built-in wardrobe and plenty of room for your floor-drobe
* A medium sized double room, perfect for another bedroom or an office for your WFH needs
* Open plan kitchen and dining, great for hosting your mates
* A large but cozy living room, ideal for entertaining or Netflix nights
* Top spec integrated appliances, including dishwasher and washer-dryer
* Downstairs bathroom
* Car parking with EV charging
It also comes with:
* Excellent village location with countryside charm and local amenities
* Private garden and communal green spaces
* Quick transport links into Durham and beyond
* Onsite resident & maintenance team
* Resident community events
* Resident app
Energy incentive - terms and conditions apply - please view details in the development brochure!
Who is my landlord?
Renting with Placefirst means stability, service, and no surprises. Our homes come with rolling tenancies, giving you long-term security without the hassle. We're a pet-friendly landlord with a dedicated resident services manager, 24/7 in-house maintenance and round-the-clock emergency support - so you're never left chasing a fix or feeling on your own.
How do I view?
Our lettings team will happily arrange either a virtual or in-person viewing for you, please contact the team by making an enquiry or by phoning them on the number listed on this advertisement.
*One to bear in mind - Pics are representative of the quality and finish of our homes, please don't be shy, arrange a viewing for the exact property type and layout.
Kindly be advised that this property, while constructed within the last 2 years, has had previous occupants. Consequently, there might be signs of wear and tear. However, we rigorously maintain and inspect each property after a tenant vacates to guarantee it upholds our high standards of quality. Additionally, we perform any necessary repairs and improvements we deem essential before the new tenant's move-in to ensure a comfortable living experience.
COUNCIL TAXA payment made to your local authority in order to pay for local services like schools, libraries, and refuse collection. The amount you pay depends on the value of the property.Read more about council Tax in our glossary page.
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About Placefirst, The Oaks
Esh Winning,
Durham,
DH7 9DP
Renting with Placefirst is renting as it should be. Our priority is to provide high-quality homes that are yours for as long as you want, with no surprises and no hidden fees.
With a dedicated Resident Services Manager on hand and 24/7 maintenance support, you can relax - if something goes wrong, we've got it covered.
Every home is built with energy efficiency in mind, so you can save on bills without sacrificing style. And when it comes to pets, there's no need to hide them - we love pets around here.
We are landlords who think like renters, and we don't believe you should have to compromise on a great home.
This all-time rating combines reviewer scores for Experience, Value, Location, Facilities, Management and Design as well as the age and verification status of each review.
Experience
4.5
Value
3.8
Location
4.4
Facilities
4.3
Management
4.2
Design
4.5
Showing reviews 1–5 of 11
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The Oaks, DH7
Finchale (Tenant)
Verified resident
HomeViews has verified the reviewer as a resident of this development.
Dec 2025
Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating
This development review is rated 4.0 out of 5.0.
Well appointed bungalow but potential parking issues.
The location is nice and rural with lots of trees in view (oaks) and there is a ten minute walk down into the village which has a good range of shops and services.
The level of fittings in the bungalow is excellent especially the kitchen with a full range of white goods including a dish washer. The bathroom however is somewhat spartan although a mirror was retrospectively fitted. There is however no shaver/ electric tooth brush socket. There is a very smart well designed mirrored fitted wardrobe in the main bedroom.
The patio which is south facing is ideal for growing a few plants in pots and can accommodate a garden bench and is a sun trap! There are solar panels on this side although information on usage etc has been somewhat lacking.
The biggest issue though must be availability of parking. When we first visited the show bungalow we noted that it and the nearby bungalows and houses had two “driveways” which is more than adequate. The location we are at was still a building site. Now completed we are aware that of the houses opposite, only a few have driveways and the bungalows have none with only a meagre “garden” area in front with very questionable planting. There are a handful of block paved parking areas but as these are limited I can foresee issues in the future when all the currently empty properties are occupied. The road at our location is quite circuitous and not really suitable for parking without causing issues for bin collections, deliveries etc. It is also noted that several of the houses with a drive are actually two car families who decant into the other parking areas.
Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:
In our latter years we were looking to downsize to a two bedroom bungalow (no stairs!). Most of the nearby affordable for sale bungalows were old style and required a lot of expensive work whereas other, more modern ones, had a price to match. We decided to look at new build, long term rental solution and visited the show bungalow at The Oaks a year gone November.
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
Reporting via web easy with provision to add photos. Had a couple of new build issues one was completely resolved but other was only a cheap work around solution. Feel that there is an element of interpretation in actioning of reported issues.
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
Inadequate parking* - especially for older residents with some associated mobility problems.
* potential to worsen when all properties are occupied.
Value
Location
Facilities
Management
Design
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Manager's response
We’re pleased to hear that you’re enjoying the setting, quality of the bungalow, fittings, and outdoor space, and that our team has been pleasant and easy to deal with when contacted.
We appreciate your comments regarding parking availability and understand how important this is, particularly for residents with mobility considerations. Your feedback has been noted and helps inform how we review and manage parking arrangements as the community becomes fully occupied.
Thank you again for recommending us and for sharing your experience at The Oaks.
Posted by:
Kirsty, Head of Marketing
Jan 2026
4
Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating
The Oaks, DH7
Tim F (Tenant)
Verified resident
HomeViews has verified the reviewer as a resident of this development.
Dec 2025
Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating
This development review is rated 4.0 out of 5.0.
Oaks by name and nature
I'm not sure what you mean by 'services' - it is a housing development and has no 'services'. Unless you mean energy supplies, broadband etc, all of which are fine. The estate will be attractive when it is completed, as the planted trees mature and garden areas get established. Of course, as the name implies, we are surrounded by beautiful oak trees which attracts birds and wildlife.
Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:
We lived in Esh Winning before moving into our Placefirst bungalow so were familiar with the area. It is a convenient place to live just 15 minutes from Durham City and surrounded by beautiful walks in countryside. Esh Winning is really a big village and has the services you would expect - a Coop, a couple of take aways, hairdressers etc. Big supermarkets are only like ten minutes away. The site is still in development so you are living on a building site, a bit messy and noisy but we know that is temporary and all the guys on site are great - helpful and polite. Parking is a challenge I'm not going to lie - I have no idea why we simply can't have one allocated bay per house. If you have more than one car that is your problem but it is usually a case of first come first served which can be difficult as we have a disabled badge on the car.
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
Urgent problems have been dealt with quickly, less urgent ones not so much.
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
I wish I'd known parking would be such a challenge.
Value
Location
Facilities
Management
Design
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Manager's response
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad you’re enjoying the location, the countryside walks, and the wildlife around the estate. It’s also great to hear that our team on site has been helpful and polite during the ongoing development.
We appreciate your comments about parking and understand the challenges this can create, it’s something we continue to monitor as the neighbourhood fills up. Your feedback on repairs and tenancy queries is noted, and we’re committed to improving response times wherever possible.
Thank you again for recommending us and for sharing your experience.
Posted by:
Kirsty, Head of Marketing
Jan 2026
4
Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating
The Oaks, DH7
KL (Tenant)
Verified resident
HomeViews has verified the reviewer as a resident of this development.
Dec 2025
Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating
This development review is rated 5.0 out of 5.0.
Fab place to live
The development is coming along fabulous. It will look stunning when finished. The only complaint I have is the many diggers / tractors in and out the development all day but that won’t be forever and will be fab when done. The building management is also great and everything is acted up straight away
Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:
Amazing place to live. Plenty of shops and amenities local. Great travel links and access to public transport
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
In a very affective and timely manner. Never any issues
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
How long it would take for the site to be finished.
Value
Location
Facilities
Management
Design
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Manager's response
We’re so glad to hear you’re enjoying the development and can see how great it will look when finished. We completely understand the temporary disruption from the diggers and tractors and we do thank you for your patience while the neighbourhood is completed.
It’s great to hear that local shops, travel links, and amenities are working well for you, and that our management team has been responsive whenever needed too.
Posted by:
Kirsty, Head of Marketing
Jan 2026
5
Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating
The Oaks, DH7
CLH (Tenant)
Verified resident
HomeViews has verified the reviewer as a resident of this development.
Dec 2025
Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating
This development review is rated 5.0 out of 5.0.
Excellent for families.
Development is lovely, and almost at completion. Building management is excellent, nothing is enough for Dave and quick responses to maintenance, if required.
Facilities in the house excellent, everything you could need and good storage options available.
Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:
Lovely area and development, plenty of local amenities in Esh Winning including barbers, shops, bakers, butchers and pubs.
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
Raised an issue which was resolved promptly and professionally.
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
The area is better than expected, plenty of scenery and paths for walks and exercise.
Value
Location
Facilities
Management
Design
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Manager's response
We’re really pleased to hear how much you’re enjoying the development and your home. It’s great to know the facilities and storage options are working well for you, and that Dave and the team have been quick and helpful whenever needed.
We’re also glad the local area has exceeded your expectations with its amenities, scenery, and walking paths.
Thank you for sharing your experience and for recommending us too.
Posted by:
Kirsty, Head of Marketing
Jan 2026
5
Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating
The Oaks, DH7
Bushra Komal (Tenant)
Verified resident
HomeViews has verified the reviewer as a resident of this development.
Sept 2025
Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating
This development review is rated 4.0 out of 5.0.
Good Design but Ongoing Construction and Limited Management Support
The overall design of the development is good, and the facilities are decent. However, building and property management are not very responsive or easily available when needed. One major issue is that there is still ongoing construction work on the site. Workers often start quite early in the morning, which can disturb sleep if you rest late. Ideally, this work should have been completed before families moved in, as it affects comfort. Once the development is fully finished, it will likely be a much better living experience.
Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:
Living in The Oaks is generally pleasant due to its nice location and spacious rooms. However, the area lacks large supermarkets such as Tesco, ASDA, Aldi, or B&M, which means you need to travel to nearby towns for bigger shopping trips. Similarly, there are no popular coffee chains like Starbucks or Costa in Esh Winning, so options for cafés are limited. Another drawback is that The Oaks does not have a dedicated play area or community space for children, which could be a consideration for families. Overall, it’s a quiet and comfortable place to live, but amenities are limited, so a car is almost essential.
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
Yes, they respond to the problems however the stay is just few days and not experienced any big problem.
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
the place for kids playing area must be near or any indoor space.
Value
Location
Facilities
Management
Design
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Manager's response
Hi Bushra,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We’re glad you find The Oaks’ design, location, and spacious rooms enjoyable. We appreciate your feedback regarding construction noise, early working hours, and the desire for more children’s play spaces.
It’s also helpful to know your observations about local shops and cafés. We’re pleased building management has been responsive, and we’re glad you would recommend your landlord. Your insights are valuable and will help guide future improvements where possible.
Posted by:
Holly, Team Placefirst
Sept 2025
4
Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating
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Disclaimer - Property reference 10503bedlatone1. The information displayed about this property comprises a property advertisement. Rightmove.co.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the advertisement or any linked or associated information, and Rightmove has no control over the content. This property advertisement does not constitute property particulars. The information is provided and maintained by Placefirst, The Oaks. Please contact the selling agent or developer directly to obtain any information which may be available under the terms of The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 or the Home Report if in relation to a residential property in Scotland.
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