If you’re new to renting property, you might be wondering whether it is better to let it furnished or unfurnished. There are pros and cons to both, but the biggest factor is making sure your property appeals to the right market. 

In this blog, we’ll look at the benefits of letting furnished and unfurnished properties, what furniture you should provide and how to decide what’s best for you as a landlord. 

What are the advantages of letting a furnished property?

In general, furnished properties are more popular than unfurnished ones. So if you let your property furnished, you might find tenants more quickly. 

Potential tenants might find it easier to imagine how a property would be to live in if they see it furnished during a viewing. This could also help you let it faster.

Furnished properties have a strong appeal for students, young professionals and anyone else who doesn’t have their own furniture yet. If this is your target market, consider letting your property with furniture in it. 

Tenants often stay in furnished properties for a shorter time than they do in unfurnished properties. After all, renting a property with someone else’s furniture in it is a sign that this is not a “forever home.” In certain circumstances, this might be the ideal solution. Perhaps you’re letting your own home while you temporarily move abroad, or you feel that a regular turnover of tenants gives you the opportunity to review your options.

What are the advantages of letting an unfurnished property?

When you let your property unfurnished, you have one less thing to think about! Unfurnished properties have easier inventories because there are fewer items to consider. You won’t have to replace furniture when it gets worn – that’s up to the tenant because any furniture will belong to them. Your insurance might be cheaper and you’ll only have responsibilities for the building, not the contents. 

Just as furnished properties appeal to tenants who don’t intend to stay for more than a year or two, unfurnished properties have a strong appeal for families and people looking to put their own stamp on a property. This means unfurnished properties can attract families and the sorts of tenants who intend to stay longer, treating your rental property as their permanent home. 

As every tenancy changeover comes with some expense, redecoration and paperwork, you can save on these headaches by attracting tenants who are likely to stay for the long-term.  

What furniture should a landlord provide?

If you decide to let your property furnished, you should provide the essentials. 

Any tenant would expect an oven, fridge-freezer and washing machine, but in furnished accommodation you should also provide a kettle, microwave and vacuum cleaner. 

Landlords should also provide dining table and chairs (space permitting), easy chairs or sofas, beds, wardrobes and chests of drawers. If you’re specifically targeting the student market, each bedroom should also have a desk. Beds, mattresses, sofas, armchairs and soft furnishings must all meet the BS7177 fire retardant standard.

While it can be tempting to indulge in some serious interior design, it’s usually better to keep things simple. Choose neutral colours and basic furniture and try to find a balance between quality and affordability. On the one hand, you need furniture to last; on the other, you don’t want it to be too expensive to replace. 

Please note that even if you let a property unfurnished, you should still provide floor and window coverings (e.g. carpets and curtains), a cooker, fridge-freezer and washing machine. 

Should I let property in Guildford furnished or unfurnished?

Whether you let furnished or unfurnished depends on the area and the target market. For example, if you’re letting property in a student area, and you hope to let to students, it’s a good idea to let your property furnished. However, if your property is more suitable for a family, they would probably prefer to rent an unfurnished property as they are likely to have their own furniture.