Should I furnish my let property?
Ben Hackney-Williams, 3rd September 2018, Landlords
To furnish, or not to furnish? That is the question...
The question of furniture in houses for rent or any property is one that has been batted around between many private landlords and drafted up in just as many a tenancy agreement. With each, pros and cons will provide plenty of food for thought, so here are a few ideas about which you should pick.
Whether or not your landlord insurance quotes change between a furnished or unfurnished property, the thing you need to remember is that whether you choose one or the other could make a big difference in who you attract as a tenant.
Think of your prospective tenant
Who are you looking to attract? Are you in an area of high student population? In which case, the offer of desks and study space (or, let's be honest, any furniture at all) would be a massive draw for young tenants. Or, if you're trying to appeal to couples and families that want a long term tenancy, think of durability for flooring, doors, fixtures and fittings.
On a similar note, short termers (one to three-year tenants) are likely to want as much provided as possible, whereas those looking to be in one place for longer will likely have their own furniture that they're bringing with them.
Safety first
Of course it's important to save as much money as possible when it comes to furnishing a house, flat or other property, but one thing you can't scrimp on is safety in regards to things like fire regulations and buying items with fire retardant materials.
Property essentials
Even if you choose the unfurnished option, there will be plenty of property essentials that tenants have come to expect, and will give them every opportunity to find comfort in your property as soon as they move in.
Unfurnished doesn't have to mean empty. One furnishing option is any combination of beds, sofas and tables, but what's usually involved in an unfurnished property to still provide convenience is found in the kitchen.
Including white goods and an oven/hob will draw a lot more attention from all prospective tenants and will give you more leverage for rent prices, regardless of any other detail about the property.
Where you advertise
However you choose to furnish your property, if at all, think about where you're promoting your pad, who it will best suit and where they'll be looking for listings. Similar to the "think of your prospective tenants" point above, different platforms will be frequented by different prospective tenants, whether it's a listing site, social media, physical advertising boards or anywhere else. Of course, if money or hassle are variables that mean you don't want to get involved yourself, hire an agent to do the legwork for you.
