Last week we blogged about our perfect, dream house, and today it has been reported, in a rather contradictory, ironic fashion, that apparently landlords are doing away with dining rooms in order to try to make their property more attractive to potential tenants. Well, in all honesty, I’d quite like a dining room!
Survey Carried Out
Lloyds TSB carried out a survey to determine whether property owners were considering a more open plan design, and whether a dining room was really necessary. The survey revealed that over a fifth of homeowners have already set about knocking down walls over the last ten years, and it is expected that around a similar number will do the same over the next ten years.
The study by Lloyds TSB also revealed that there are now several new rooms that are becoming increasingly attractive to potential tenants. For example, the utility room is thought of as a necessary addition, whilst the en-suite and the games room are added bonuses. Every young man would surely love their own games room, wouldn’t they? I know I would! I’d deck it out with a large flat screen TV, some computer consoles, a pool table, a darts board and a foosball table…maybe I’m just a big kid though?!
Update Your Insurance!
Now of course, for a property owner, such changes will need to be included within a landlord insurance quote as they may well affect the value of the property. So, be sure to update your policy! It will also be important, if you are a landlord, to advertise such fantastic additions such as a games room and an en-suite. They could be a real selling point for prospective tenants!
Simon Hamilton, International Director at the British Institute of Interior Design, has been commenting about such changes: “Property particulars are starting to look very different. Houses, especially older properties, were designed with people’s lives in mind, with set rooms for set activities, but as times change so does what we want from our homes.” I agree, however, surely a games room is a set room for set activities…
If I was a prospective tenant, a games room or an en-suite could definitely win me over, provided the price was right of course. What would work for you?