What do renters really want?

[WilfSell]

We will be renting out a property (until she died, the house of my MIL).

We would like to know, if you were a young couple, or small family (it's a 2 bed in a good newbuild suburb in catchment for the Salford primary that came top of the table), what items you would consider essential and what you would just really like.

For example, furnished or unfurnished? Would a dishwasher make a difference to the rent you might pay? What other things...?

Thanks very much.

[ELR]

not furnished with, nutural decor, shower, dishwasher a bonus but not essential being allowed to hang pictures

[WilfSell]

Bump

Come on. Imagine I'm the nicest landlord in the world. Not Nicholas Van Hoogstraten. I'm not making pots of money doing this. Only hopefully breaking even. We bought the house for MIL to live in when she had terminal cancer and have paid the mortgage so she could live there free for 4 years. She died last month.

Our fixed rate residential mortgage is coming to an end in December. We face being forced to sell at a loss if we can't show mortgage companies that the house is lettable, so I'm trying to maximise it's appeal before we get letting agents in to assess it.

[WilfSell]

Sorry ELR, posted my bump before seeing you had responded: thanks.

[princessglitter]

not furnished. Neutral walls, nice kitchen - dishwasher nice, but not essential.

[Elmosgirl]

Not furnished, decent carpets that don't look horrific after being hovered everyday or laminate flooring. No strange bobbly wallpaper that is painted. Maybe a cooker built into the work surfaces but no need for any white goods as long as there is space for them.

Securely fenced garden, and a landlord that never pops round but is on hand should they be needed.

[Mercy]

Unfurnished

Decent kitchen

Shower

Decent carpets/rugs/curtains

As it's a newbuild I assume all the plumbing, wiring, roof etc is in working order.

Do you want more specific details?

[WilfSell]

Thanks all.

What counts as a decent kitchen and bathroom? Please be as specific as you like

For example, both are currently tiled, but tiling is a bit 1980s. Likewise kitchen doors not to my taste (slightly old-fashioned with coachline style and cheapo handles.) There is an over-bath shower...

carpets are clean and in good nick, plain but pale green I think.

I'm not sure whether these things would bother people - do they expect brand new decor to pay a decent rent? We're just wondering if it is worth doing place up before offering to rent...

[Smittals]

When I was renting, a washing machine was a massive bonus. However, now I'm letting, I'm worried it will break and I'll have to replace it (from its very awkward location)! It would def. make the house more appealing though imo.

[BettySpaghetti]

If it has a garden then provide a lawnmower and some basic tools to help tenants maintain it.

When DP and I moved into our first unfurnished rental we managed to beg, borrow and steal the basics for indoors (sofas, fridge etc) but had to buy a lawnmower to mow the tiny garden

[WilfSell]

I suppose I would expect - if a family was moving in - that putting up pictures and stairgates was just normal (or am I being a gullible neverbeenalandlord type?). I would also certainly expect to provide a lawnmower if expecting tenant to maintain garden (though also thinking about getting someone in to do it also...)

Washing machine will be in there if required; cooker is built in; will also provide FF if required.

Will prob offer it either furnished/part-furnished or unfurnished.

Hmm, there IS carpet in the bathroom. May need to deal with that one... New loo seat: yes, I can see why that would appeal!

[moonmother]

I rent and my landlady is the best landlady ever.The only time I hear from her is when I need something doing,or ring her.

In my opinion,I'd like it to be decorated neutrally so I could add colour in accessories.Darker coloured carpets, or laminate, in my house we have beige and we are always cleaning them, not helped by the fact that the only access we have is through front door.

Un-furnished furniture wise but with white goods in the kitchen, dishwasher would be a dream wish

A nice clean bathroom with white bath etc ,and I agree wholeheartedly on the no carpet and new toilet seat.

[BettySpaghetti]

Wilf -getting someone in to do it would be every renters dream

[SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore]

i have only ever rented fully furnished. nutral colours and lamintaes go down well in rented homes. laminates will avoid any stains on carpets

cooker is provided even in unfurnised

[eenybeeny]

I would never even consider going anywhere I could not make a home i.e. stairgates, pictures etc. You can always make good and that is partly what deposits are for.

I want good decorative order - doesnt have to be perfect but GOOD. A dishwasher would speak to my heart! Shower would be great too! No carpet in bathroom, yuk.

[Mercy]

I suppose what I mean is for certain fittings/fixtures not to be very obviously the cheapest thing available and for everything to be in working order (as far as is possible)

Another factor is for the landlord/lady to be approachable and to respond quickly if anything needs repairing.

Copies of any manuals are important too, eg how to operate the central heating and for any white goods you may provide.

[GrapefruitMoon]

A shower. The last place I rented before I bought didn't have one (one bed flat). The letting people at the time said it was unusual to get a shower in such a property. We had to improvise with a bath attachment...

I've also only ever rented fully furnished but depends who your target tenant is..

[Mercy]

That's a good point Grapefruitmoon.

Two youngish single renters would generally speaking have different expectations compared to a family with one or 2 children.

The option of a long lease is always welcome too, especially if you have children.

[yomellamoHelly]

For me last year, obvious DIY was a major put-off (one place I saw was somebody's project) and also unfinished/broken jobs. Carpets in decent nick (irrespective of colour) also important. Washing machine and drier was vital (have 2 kids). Otherwise preferred the neutrally decorated places I saw.
Some flats had the main bed and a sofa. The one we rented was unfurnished so lack of furniture didn't put me off. 15 years ago, though, one of the places I rented had lots and lots of very old fashioned furniture. HATED it with a passion!
Power shower is important to dh.

[moonmother]

Oh forgot the main point as to why my landlady is my dream landlady.

I was on Housing benefit,when I got this house and looking for a long term rent.Both these are very hard to come by where I live.

Landlady prefers people on Housing Benefit,esp single mums , she says they look after the places better, and likes long term lets, as its less work for her finding tenants every few months.

Its great as a tenant to know that you have a stable home, in previous houses I've had to move house on a yearly basis,and luckily that was before children.

[WilfSell]

Do you mind telling me (ignorant newbie lanlord questions: sorry) how much the maximum rent someone on HB can pay? Or doesn't it work like that?

And what counts as a long lease?

Assured shorthold tenancies are 6months I think and this may be all my mortgage company would allow (?) but obv would renew for a good tenant. If it were just up to us, we'd probably prefer a long lease to a good tenant but I guess you never know how good they are until they're in and sometimes I imagine they're not so good.

[WilfSell]

[Dummymumm]

hiya for housing benefit, you need to look up the "Local Housing Allowance" on your local council's website. the rate varies and is based on number of bedrooms. for example here in bristol it's £650 pcm for 2-bed, 750 for 3 bed. what area is it? i am looking to rent another place as my landlord is pants. he is being prosecuted by envrionmental health as he has failed to carry out essential repairs. you need the gas and electric tested if it hasn't been done in the last 12 months.