If you are looking to invest in a property to rent out to tenants, or simply want to know how to spruce up your rental house after your last tenant has moved out, this guide will show you the simple ways in which you can make your house look brand new again.
From attracting the right tenants to making sure that your property can withstand a long tenancy, there are ample things that you need to think about before renting out your property, the most important of these which are detailed below to help you to start your career as a landlord.
Consider a Grey Laminate Floor
One of the first things that you need to consider when investing in a new rental property is what flooring you should install across the rooms of the house or flat.
Whatever type of tenancy you are looking for, a grey laminate floor is a diverse, long lasting option.
Laying down carpets and other soft floorings can put you at a disadvantage and can be extremely costly in the long term.
Carpets will be more susceptible to damage and stains than flooring, and you will find that you need to replace them more often.
If you do choose to opt for carpets, you should pick dark colours that stains will not show up on as much.
However, the best option is to choose durable flooring such as wood, tiles or a grey laminate floor which can withstand any natural damage or staining that your tenants may cause as well as being able to be easily cleaned and washed in between tenancies.
Go Neutral
When you are thinking about renting out your property to tenants, another consideration that you need to think about is what colour you should paint the walls in your house.
You should try to repaint the walls between each tenancy, especially if it has been long-term, as walls can become easily scratched or damaged and painting these will allow you to give your walls an instant shock of new life.
When deciding on the colour of your walls, you should think about opting for neutral colours such as white and cream as these can adapt to any of your potential tenants tastes, look smart and professional, and also make sure that your house appears light and airy as well as maximising the space in the room.
If you have multiple houses, you have an extra advantage when you opt for neutrals in that you can store the extra paint left over from a job and use the same colour schemes in multiple houses and rooms.
Consider Your Bathroom Equipment
Bathrooms are one of the first places in a rented house that can begin to look damaged, unhygienic, and dirty, and this can potentially put off viewers interested in renting your property.
To make sure that your bathroom is not an issue, you should consider ways to make sure that your bathroom equipment maintains its cleanliness for as long as possible.
Rather than installing a power shower with a shower tray, you should think about choosing an overhead shower attached to a bath as this will reduce the possibility of mould and will be able to maintain its freshness for as long as possible.
You should also choose your colours carefully in a bathroom- although white bathrooms look clean, they are able to show up dirt and wear more easily.
Instead, you should think about installing off-white and beige equipment which can cover any damage far more easily than white equipment.
Solve Mould Problems
One of the major things that potential tenants look for in a house is if there are issues with mould in areas such as the bathroom and around windows.
Not only is mould unsightly for your tenants, but it can also show structural problems that could cause issues in the future, and cause your tenants to become ill due to the nature of the damp.
However, solving mould problems does not have to be difficult, and there are a number of things that you can do to lessen the impact of mould.
There are a number of mould sprays on the market, and you should regularly remove mould with a damp cloth.
You should also invest in dehumidifiers for every room as this will lessen the condensation around windows, install ventilation shafts and fans, and instruct your tenants to open the windows after showers.
You should also reseal your bathroom equipment such as the shower and sink after each tenancy to prevent leaks and other issues caused by damp and mould as this will strengthen your home against mould for a longer period of time.
Go Furniture-less
If you are concerned about the cost of replacing furniture after each tenancy and the potential damage that your tenants may perform to your furniture, then you should consider opting for an unfurnished renting option.
This means that you do not have to worry about the state of your furniture or its upkeep, lessening the cost of maintenance and repairs throughout the tenancy, as well as any work that might need doing once the tenancy ends.
Although this is not a viable option for most rented student accommodation, unfurnished options mean that tenants must provide their own furniture to fill the house, meaning that you only need to provide the basics such as kitchen and bathroom appliances.
If this is a problem, you can opt for part-furnished, where you only provide the furniture which you see fit to do so and which you believe will sustain the least damage possible.
Aim for Modernity
When it comes to arranging your house to be appropriate for your tenants, you should also aim for modernity when creating the style of the house.
A themed style throughout the house is aesthetically important if the house is going to appeal to as many possible tenants as possible, with modern styles making houses look fresh, airy and clean.
Modern styles also show your tenants that you regularly update your household’s style and décor to appeal to the latest trends.
However, you should also make sure that your house maintains classic styles so that your house will have broader appeal in the future without having to extensively redecorate your interiors.
Modern interiors will usually be minimalist, which is perfect for those with tenants as this lessens concerns over damage and allows your tenants to personalise the area at all, and will utilise neutral colours such as creams and whites, all of which works well for rented homes.
Find Storage Solutions
People looking for rented accommodation are more likely to need extra storage to store possessions that they do not have space for and so that they can easily transfer items between houses.
This is especially important in smaller rented houses, when potential tenants may be downsizing or have moved from a larger home.
There are many storage solutions that you can use to make sure that your tenants have enough storage provided for them.
These include under the bed storage facilities that allow your tenants to store items out of the way, making use of any lofts and basements that your tenants may be allowed to have access to, and installing a number of cupboards and cabinets in which they can store items.
You should also think about storage solutions in terms of ceiling and garage storage facilities and spare rooms which your tenants can convert into the appropriate storage facilities if need be.
Light Your Rooms Properly
To make sure that you get enough viewers and potential tenants interested in your house, you should light your rooms properly and allow them to get enough natural lighting.
This is especially important when you are taking photos and holding viewings around the house as potential tenants know the importance of a naturally lit home on both their sleep patterns and their mood.
If your home does not have the most efficient lighting system, you should increase the natural lighting by cutting down any trees or bushes which are blocking the natural light, move furniture away from the windows and invest in lighter coloured walls and furniture to brighten the space.
You should also be wary of what blinds or curtains you choose to use and add soft lighting to amplify the light inside of your room in a natural way.
Add Personality
Although minimalism and neutrals are the most basic and sustainable option for rented accommodation, there is no reason why you should not add a touch of personality to your rooms.
Your rented house will still be a home to someone, and potential tenants want to know that they will feel comfortable and relaxed within the space.
Not only this, but personalisation shows that you take pride in your home, adds character to the space, increases its attractiveness in pictures, and helps the tenants to visualise what it would be like to live there.
You can add personality to the space through many simple methods such as investing in basic artwork for the walls that can appeal to all different tastes, as well as adding soft furnishings such as throws and cushions that will not only increase the appeal of the house but can also help to protect the condition of your furniture.
Add Modern Appliances
Adding modern appliances can also help to make your property tenant friendly as many tenants have checklists of the facilities that they are looking for within a home that can sway their decision on which home to rent, such as dishwashers or tumble-dryers.
However, to make your home even more modern, you should think about other gimmicks that are both durable and yet may still attract people to your property, such as fridges with in-built water dispensers and security systems which connect to your mobile phone as these can help to make your tenants feel safe.
However, you should make sure that these gadgets are hardy and relatively inexpensive to replace in case of damage by tenants, especially if you are choosing to install some of the newer technologies that are currently available and which not many houses have in them.
Touch up the Kitchen
Kitchen appliances such as ovens, hobs and microwaves are one of the first things to sustain damage or age quickly due to the difficulty of cleaning and maintaining them on a regular basis.
Before you allow your tenants to move in, you should replace any appliances which cannot be recovered and which diminish the overall look of the house, such as stained hobs or old-fashioned kettles.
You should also perform safety checks on all kitchen appliances to check that they carry no health and safety risk. When creating a tenant guide to your home, you should instruct tenants on the best ways to look after and clean these appliances, and ask that they perform these tasks on a regular basis.
Replace Soft Furnishings
Although soft furnishings can help to add to the appeal of your house to potential tenants when the time comes for viewings, soft furnishings can become damaged, stained and torn easily, and this can diminish the appearance of your flat or house.
If this is the case, you should ideally clean and replace soft furnishings between tenants, especially if you are a pet-friendly rental, to reduce the spread of bacteria, parasites, and to sustain the high standards that you have afforded to the rest of the house.
Perform a Deep Clean
You should also perform a deep clean between tenants or hire a cleaning company to do so as this will ensure that your house is looking its best and is to its highest standard before your guests move in.
Although your past tenants will have performed an end of tenancy clean before vacating, this may not be up to your rigorous standards or those of your new tenants, and deep cleans can help to repair issues such as broken ovens and other problems that may occur from a build-up of dirt.
This can then help your house to maintain its high standards and help you to avoid repairs for a longer period of time.
