Wood, laminate or vinyl flooring for a rental

[TwinkleCrinkle]

We moved into our current house at the beginning of the year and have been planning to put engineered wood flooring throughout the downstairs (inc kitchen) and new carpet upstairs.

Due to a change of circumstances we are planning to move out and rent this house out instead.

WWYD regarding flooring for a rental? We don't want to spend a fortune but as we want to keep this house long term are willing to pay more if necessary.

[MediumBox]

vinyl in 'wet' rooms (kitchen, bathroom) laminate everywhere else.

[specialsubject]

...and keep some spare bits of laminate for when something heavy gets dropped on it or someone walks on it in silly spike heels. And the checkout clerk doesn't notice.

[TwinkleCrinkle]

Thanks for the advice. The kitchen is open plan to the living room so I'm not sure what to do with that. Good idea to keep some spare

[LittleFeileFooFoo]

I did my rental in laminate and tile ( lenient floors). The laminate is great, really easy to clean, easy to put in myself as well. All of the renters have liked it I have it on the bedrooms too

[Ripeningapples]

What's the rental value? That's the biggest indicator. The higher the rent the more top end the finish.

[TwinkleCrinkle]

It will probably be around 1300pcm. It's also very close to an oversubscribed primary so will likely be tenants with a young family.

[Hopefully]

We have been looking at flooring and there is a lot of negativity towards laminate among floorers we have spoken to (high heel issues/dropping things on it/getting it wet). We have been repeatedly recommended vinyl tiles (either cheaper polyflor colonia or more expensive amtico/Karndean type products). Have been impressed with the look and feel of them, but absolutely no experience with the reality yet!

[TwinkleCrinkle]

Thanks Hopefully I was wondering about karndean but I couldn't remember the name! I think amtico is probably out of our price range.

Unfortunately I don't know anyone who has it in RL either!

[BasinHaircut]

laminate. I wouldn't expect anything else in a rental regardless of the rental amount.

You can get relatively nice ones for not very much these days. Laminate has come a long way IMO.

We are holding off on the dream floor (parquet) until DS is older and have just bought a decent looking, and so far hard wearing laminate to go through our entire downstairs for just under £10per square meter.

[NewLife4Me]

We left ours exactly the same, cleaned it up a bit, painted what needed it, did basic repairs and had a tenant within hours of finishing it, honestly.
We bought ours 2 years ago and have decided tonight to sell. Only positive things to say and only selling to invest in another property.
It is carpeted throughout and the tenant loved it.

[TwinkleCrinkle]

Thanks I will take a look at Polyflor!

Newlife unfortunately we inherited some rather shocking peach carpets downstairs and a mix of purple and beige upstairs along with one bedroom of very crooked laminate (all with wall colors to match/clash)! So new floors are pretty much a must.