Furnished or unfurnished: which is better to let?

Landlords frequently face the dilemma regarding whether they should rent out their property as tenant furnished or unfurnished. Buying furniture can be costly, so landlords and buy-to-let investors must weigh the various factors involved in this decision.

What does tenant furnished mean?

Tenant furnished means a furnished apartment or house that is ready for the tenant to live in comfortably right from the start of the tenancy. This means no empty rooms waiting for furniture months after move-in day or beds without mattresses. It is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure the property is fully equipped with all the necessary home comforts - such as a place to eat dinner, a spot to relax after work, and a comfortable bed for a good night’s sleep.

Tenant furnished vs unfurnished

Before deciding on whether you let your rental property furnished or unfurnished, it’s a great idea to consider the benefits of each, from both a landlord and tenant point of view.

Furnished or unfurnished - which is best for landlords

Benefits of letting a furnished property

• Your property will appeal to renters looking to move in quickly.
• You'll save time and money if the property is already furnished.
• Once the tenancy ends, the furnishings can be used again.
• If the property is furnished, you may get a higher rental price.
• Demand for letting your property is likely to be higher than for unfurnished properties.

Benefits of letting an unfurnished property

• Your initial expenditure will likely be much less than a furnished property.
• You won't have to worry about damages to furnishings or replacing items because of wear and tear.
• The tenants will be responsible for insuring the furniture that they bring to the property.
• You'll appeal to long-term tenants who have their own furniture.
• Upon completion of the tenancy, there's no need to spend time and money on clearing out the property.

Furnished or unfurnished - which is best for tenants

Benefits of renting a furnished property

• You’ll save money as there is no need to buy expensive furniture.
• You can enjoy more flexibility, such as shorter term lets.
• You can feel fully moved in almost straight away, no need to wait on goods waiting to be delivered.

Benefits of renting an unfurnished property

• You’ll have the chance to make the property more personal, with furnishings suited to your taste and character.
• You may save money in the long run. Unfurnished properties tend to be cheaper and if you have a long-term tenancy agreement, you could save more. Plus, you still have your very own furniture should you wish to move on.
• You don’t have to worry about affecting your deposit. If it’s a furnished property, you would be liable for any damage to the goods in the property.

Time to decide...

When deciding how to present your property for rentals first consider your target market and then consider whether they wish to rent furnished or unfurnished and go from there. And remember, as highly experienced Letting Agents in Edinburgh, ESPC Lettings are here to provide advice and recommendations, along with a full range of lettings services for both experienced landlords and those new to the buy-to-let market.