Hi @ Donna28, thank you very much for your message.
Yeah I fully agree with you, but different people have different preferences.
All of our BTL properties comes fully furnished with average of £8-15k spent on interior designers putting the place together from windows dressing to bathroom mats. We never wanted to spend this extra as it did not add any value in terms of getting higher or above market price in comparison to unfurnished. But the agency convinced us to do it due to the location of the properties and the potential clientele that would attract which is basically mostly working professionals.
But now that we see the landscape changing, we will need to rethink our strategy and would be reconsidering adjusting, doing away with the furnitures for future lets if necessary.
Hi again @Donna28, I’ll like to point out that with regards to the hygiene you mentioned with furnished homes, all of our tenancies start with a professionally sanitised and deep cleaned home with steam cleaning of all mattresses, carpets, sofas, throws as well as deep cleaning of appliances (oven, microwave, dishwasher, water kettle etc).
But unfortunately most tenants never returned the property in the same condition and often refused to pay for the additional cleaning to bring the property to the same standard as they got it.
We gradually changed our strategy from furnished to unfurnished over the past few years across our whole portfolio, by selling, donating or recycling furniture as and when tenancies ended. Renting furnished was a lot more work with no additional value compared to unfurnished, as you have found. This change in strategy has definitely made things a lot easier for us in the long term: no hassle with damage/wear & tear and replacing furniture, tenants not liking specific furnishing etc. Also as you mentioned, tenants will rarely do the additional deep cleaning on furnishings to the same standard as they received it. This topic is definitely a tricky one as there are different market segments with different preferences, I suppose it’s a matter of looking for the best fit for your specific property and locality. I would ask your agent to advertise and communicate to prospective tenants that the furnishings can be removed as per their preference, as this may receive more interest from those looking for unfurnished. Hope the viewings go well.
Thank you everyone for your suggestions. Happy to update that after 4 whole months and 4 days of void period, we finally have a signed TA. Not sure how the tenancy would be but we hope it would be good and for a long term. We intend to do all we can to keep tenants happy in their new home so they stay longer with us.
A big thank you to openrent team! After been all over the place with other competitors out of desperation, You “Openrent” are still the best! Thank you!
Would you mind sharing how did you manage to get a HMO additional license (assuming yours is a leasehold flat)? I am in the process to apply a HMO license for my 3-bed flat in East London but my freeholder didn’t agree to help applying planning permit change from C3 to C4
Has your flat been rented to a similar number of people as you now want in the past? Obviously every case is different but if you are simply trying to have a set up like an old fashioned flat share where everyone is joint tenants it may be worth getting some expert advice re the change of use planning. There are specialist cos out there. I guess what I’m saying is that not every property that needs an HMO licence needs change of use planning.
Yes it’s been rented same way until council introduced the additional licensing.
I forgot to mention our flat is in a very modern purpose new built of +~ 10 years old. It’s recently classed C1 so no issues with all the stuff you’re mentioning.
Most of the High Street agents offers this as additional services at extra cost and can help you with the application provided you have all necessary and required documentations ready.
Hi David! I was reading through this thrad and noticed that you said that agents offer good rents and few voids. Is this a service that you are currently using?
@Lynda4 forgive me if im re treading old ground
You say you di t think your property is suitable for families due to no garden (possibly this was before you knew about the roof garden) who else would want a 3 bed
You.were asked about showing us the ad for constructive help and you said you didnt know if it was allowed and IT WAS A HASSLE FOR YOU if your not prepared to have hassle why be a ll
Also you say that its being rented furnished personally as someone who was recently searching for property thats a major no no a lot of people who are looking for 3 bed would already have and be re-locating so will have THEIR OWN furniture and wont want the hassle (see works both ways) of storing your stiff or getting rid of theirs plus dont want the responsibility of someone elses belongings (although i respect and look after whatever i have regardless of owner) its still off putting it MAY be an idea to empty.the property 1st then re-video (if you can be bothered) and display it empty I think this will be.kore appealing