Furnishing Rooms to Rent in a Houseshare

Buying the right furniture for rooms to rent in a  houseshare can increase rental income and minimise the time and expense required for maintenance.  This article gives tips on what furniture items tenants expect and which furniture to buy for a reasonable price. Durability is important to avoid spending unnecessary time to replace items.

Landlords who have bought a property to rent and are looking to offer rooms to rent individually in a houseshare will need to think about providing furniture for their tenants.  It is a good idea to consider the cost and timing implications as soon as the refurbishment programme is underway as delays in obtaining suitable furniture can result in unnecessary void periods.  Tenants looking for rooms to rent in a houseshare will generally expect at least some basic furniture in the room.  Especially in large cities such as London, tenants will frequently come to work or study from overseas and bring only personal items with them.  It is therefore to offer the room to rent with at least some basic items .  Well selected furniture will make a room more appealing.  It will be easier to let and possibly achieve a higher rental income.

Quality and Durability are Key in a Houseshare

Tenants will have different expectations of what should be provided but as a minimum each room to rent should at least contain the following: bed with mattress, a wardrobe, chest of drawers, a desk with chair.  In addition, landlords can provide additional furniture such as shelves, bedside tables, CD racks, additional chairs or drawers.  It is usually best to limit the amount of furniture to a sensible minimum as additional items will not only increase the initial purchase cost but maintaining and replacing these will be time consuming and create additional expenses.

With all furniture, durability should be one of the main concerns.  It might be worth investing in good quality beds and wardrobes even if the initial cost is slightly higher than the cheapest models.  Many landlords have tried to furnish their rooms to rent on the tightest budget possible only to find that they are spending a significant amount of time repairing furniture which has started to disintegrate a year later.  Tenants will appreciate if you provide a comfortable room and good quality furniture and stay in the houseshare longer.

Avoiding Unnecessary Maintenance

Although large items will be the most expensive and most difficult ones to replace, smaller furnishings and fittings can be just as time consuming to renew they break.  Binds might need re-fixing or replacement after some time and curtains and cushions need to be washed and cleaned on a regular basis.  It might be a good idea to invest in a spare set of items that are likely to need replacement after some time, such as lamp shades, blinds or curtains and keep those in a safe place.  It will be difficult to buy matching items in a few years time.  If you are a landlord lucky enough to own a number of rental properties it is also a good idea to but the same furniture for all houseshares as furniture can easily be moved from one room to rent to another and re-used if necessary.

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