Top Tips to Choosing the Right Flooring for your Rental Property
Flooring can have a huge impact on first impressions of a rental property, so it’s vital that landlords get it right when replacing the flooring.
Portico has put together some top tips on choosing the right flooring for your rental property:
Consider the property’s use
Top Tips to Choosing the Right Flooring for your Rental Property
The first step to choosing the right flooring is to consider who will be living in your property. If your target tenant type is families, for example, you should avoid flooring that can’t be easily refinished, or could be ruined by a loose crayon or dirty fingers. Portico recommends vinyl or laminate flooring for high-traffic areas, as these flooring types can withstand heavy foot traffic much better than most others. You could also opt for non-slip wood-effect tiles, which are easily maintained, stylish and affordable.
If you have fewer tenants living in your property, you have greater freedom with the flooring, so you could consider more stylish choices of tile, as they’re less likely to be damaged and can improve the property’s appearance.
Think room-by-room
Certain flooring types are best matched to particular rooms so, when changing flooring for an entire property, you should think on a room-by-room basis. When it comes to kitchens, bear in mind the type of material that is easiest to clean and won’t need to be replaced every time you get a new tenant.
Natural stone floor tiles look great in kitchens and will also give tenants a blank canvas when it comes to matching the appliances and room décor. There is also a range of designs and colours to choose from, which gives you the chance to build up the room’s style from the ground up. Tiles are also the obvious choice for bathrooms, as they’re waterproof, durable and easy to maintain.
If you’re avoiding carpets in a bid to avoid having to replace flooring too regularly, bedrooms will benefit from engineered or hardwood flooring for extra warmth and homely comfort. Living rooms are very much dependant on tenant type, as properties with more people will require more durable flooring, so Portico suggests hardwood flooring, as it won’t need to be updated every time your property is up for let.
Avoid the obvious pitfalls
Certain flooring types are a definite no-no, with 14% of tenants saying that carpet in the bathroom would instantly put them off a property. Other pitfalls include installing wooden flooring in wet rooms, light coloured carpets in hallways, or installing the flooring yourself without experience or guidance. All of these mistakes can cost you time, money and tenants, so make sure that you consider all potential pitfalls before rushing into buying your flooring.
With flooring playing such an important role when it comes to property viewings, it pays to make sure the flooring types you choose are well suited to your rental property.
Follow these top tips and build your property appeal from the bottom up!
