Letting a Property Furnished or Unfurnished?
With a very competitive rental market at the moment you want to make sure that your property has the edge on others in the same area. Many landlords do this by furnishing the property so it is an easy move, especially for those who are moving out of their family home. It means that they don’t have to worry about saving extra money for furniture as it is already going to be supplied. Often furnished properties find tenants quicker because there is more inspiration provided rather than trying to attract tenants with empty rooms.
These are the positives of letting a furnished property, however it is essential to make sure that you have a landlord insurance policy that includes the contents of your property just in case any damage occurs to the furniture you provide. On top of this there are regulations that need to be complied with in order to make sure that the furniture you are supplying is safe for the tenant to use. If not you could be facing some serious consequences in the event of an accident or fire.
Legal Responsibility
Landlords face a huge amount of legal responsibility so it is essential that everything is taken into consideration and researched properly. You don’t want to be caught out committing a serious offence without realising.
Craig Finch is the group lettings controller from Harrison Murray’s letting services and he has said, “All landlords must abide by a number of legal requirements to ensure the safety and well being of their tenants in relation to fire regulations surrounding furniture and furnishings.
“Furnishing a rented property is not as simple as just supplying the tenants with somewhere comfy to sit and sleep – there are high penalties for not complying with the Fire and Furnishings Regulations 1988.”
Of course, landlords have the option not to provide any furniture which will mean they do not need to worry about complying with this particular regulation, although if you are having trouble attracting tenants, it may be the next step.
What is included in the Regulations?
Furniture that needs to be in compliance with regulations includes cushions, sofas, beds, pillows and padded chairs. If the furniture does not meet the required standards then landlords can face a fine of up to £5000 per item that is in breach of the regulations, six months in prison and even manslaughter charges if a fire causes death.
However, furniture that was made before 1950 are deemed as antiques and are excluded from the regulations, and there are usually labels on this kind of furniture that deem it acceptable.
If you can, try and buy the furniture first hand rather than second hand. This is because older pieces can contain materials that release poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide if they are burnt.
Here is a list of the pieces of furniture that must comply with the fire resistance regulations:
• Armchairs, sofa beds, three-piece suites, sofas and futons
• Headboards, bed bases, divans, pillows, beds and mattresses
• Covers for furniture, seat pads and scatter cushions
• Garden furniture that could be used inside the house
• Nursery furniture
There are also some pieces of furniture that are not included in the regulations such as:
• Antique furniture – pieces produced after 1950
• Sleeping bags
• Pillow cases and bed covers
• Curtains
• Carpets
Do what is Best for You
Overall, the best thing to do is weigh up your options. First things first, you need to decide if your property is in a popular area for attracting tenants, they will be more inclined to purchase an unfurnished property if there are good transport links for example. If the property is in a good location then you might be able to let your property quite quickly. However, if this isn’t the case and you need to offer a little extra to attract tenants then furnishing the property could be the way forward. If this is the option you choose, research carefully all the guidelines that come with a furnished property and ensure you adhere to them.
If you do feel that you need to attract tenants but you are wary of risks of furnishing a property there are other things you can do such as including bills in the rental cost.