Do I require linen? Do I require pots, pans and crockery? What essential furniture is necessary? These are just a few of the questions we get from landlords looking to rent out their flat.
Factotum has compiled a list of what is essential for both short term and long term properties.
Short Term, Festival and Holiday Let Essential Furniture
All short term properties must come fully furnished for basic living. This comprises of the following;
- All basic furnishings such as sofas, beds, tables, chairs and white goods in the kitchen
- Full sets of crockery and cutlery – at least enough to feed the number of people the property can accommodate at full capacity
- Full set of pots and pans
- Kettle
- Toaster
- Iron and ironing board
- Hoover (with spare hoover bags if required)
- Toilet paper (at least 2 rolls per bathroom)
- Basic cleaning products in order for the tenant to leave the property as found
- At least two sets of linen per bed (one on the bed and one stored away)
- At least one towel per person
A tenant in a short term, festival or holiday let should only have to bring personal belongings and groceries. They should be able to enter the property, cook themselves a meal, go to bed, have a bath or shower and everything should be plugged in, set up and in full working order.
Should you have any valuables or personal belongings in the property, then we normally advise any landlord to store them away in a locked cupboard.
Long Term Let Essential Furniture
The furniture requirements vary when it comes to renting out your property on a long term basis as you can advertise it as furnished, part-furnished or unfurnished.
Furnished:
- All basic furnishings such as sofas, beds, tables, chairs and white goods in the kitchen
- Full sets of crockery and cutlery – at least enough to feed the number of people the property can accommodate at full capacity
- Full sets of pots and pans
- Kettle
- Toaster
You can generally advertise a long term property with whatever furnishings you wish to have it come with however, we would recommend the above to be included in a furnished flat. If the property were to come as part furnished, then not everything in the above list would be expected.
It’s not even a requirement for an unfurnished property to have white goods. As long as that is clearly advertised. We would also ask that the property is still in good decorative order i.e. walls painted and good quality flooring.
Factotum has previously discussed the advantages of furnishing your property or not. The major advantage of at least part-furnishing and installing white goods is that it allows the landlord the flexibility to augment long term lets with short term, holiday or festival.