What do renter want?

[QueenOfCakeandCoffee]

We are thinking out renting out our excouncil maisonette with garden in London, good transport links, schools, parks and garden etc.

It’s a lived in family home at the moment, my instinct is to make like a boutique hotel but i’m told that’s not necessary, if you rent what feature are important?

Are shower curtains a no no? Do you want a ‘hotel’ finish bathroom?
Do people prefer part furnished (white goods) or completely empty?
When you view it, do you want it empty and ready or staged?
Tell me your pet hates or the amazing things you’ve had in rented accommodation! We want to be good landlords and for the tenants to feel like it’s home rather than somewhere they rent.

Answers on the back of a postcard please!

[purpleme12]

I would want a bath as well.

[Caspianberg]

For me:

• all white goods included. Them fitting in the right places properly means stuff from other rentals might not fit. Plus if I am renting, that’s the bonus that landlords replaces white goods if broken
  

• bathrooms and kitchen I would want well kept, and clean lined so way to clean. Modern.
  

• floors, wood or tiles in all living areas. That’s where food/ drinks/ shoes all likely to make a mess quickly. Bedrooms can be carpets or wood.
  

• walls all white. No wallpaper
  

• no other furniture, leftover pictures etc left as I wouldn’t want to store them

[InTheVelvetDarkness]

Rented loads in my twenties , heres what I looked for :

• neutral decor plain white or cream walls
  
• part furnished as in a sofa / coffee table / cupboards in bedroom etc- neutral leather sofa always felt cleaner as I could wash it down etc
  
• White goods -,washing machine / fridge freezer / cooker a must
  
• Apart from that no personal items or anything on the walls etc ( if landlords left paintings up I took them down and packed away and put up my own more modern canvas etc )
  

I was always fine to buy IKEA tables / chairs etc

All kitchen cupboards empty and surfaces empty
I liked my own crockery / microwave / toaster / kettle

Bathroom with shower
Central heating

[QueenOfCakeandCoffee]

Thanks @Sorka the trades people info is helpful.
We have one of those shower screens and I agree about the water issue. We’ve got another agent coming this week so I’ll walk round and point out all the bits I think need doing and be a bit more assertive.
We have a cat flap so would definitely allow cats.

[Sorka]

@QueenOfCakeandCoffee

I’m a first time landlord too. My first tenants are moving in later this month.

Agents will have tradesmen they use but in the information pack for my property I was able to give details for any tradesmen I’d like to use, which I’ve done. A more experienced landlord I know told me to do this as they found that they were charged more when they used the agent’s tradesmen than when they used their own.

The peeling wallpaper looks like you don’t care about the property and means you will attract tenants who are ok with that, which I expect means they’re not fussed about the house being well looked after. My house is well cared for and I hope the tenants will take care of it.

The bathroom has a shower curtain. There’s not enough space for a separate shower. I hate those screens that only go the length of half the bath so the bathroom gets soaked when you have a shower. Plus this is a very hard water area so I’d rather use a shower curtain that can be replaced than a screen that will get covered in line scale and require scrubbing. I think this is a point of personal preference.

I’m letting my house unfurnished but with white goods. That’s what I wanted/expected when renting and when I asked the letting agents they said that’s what tenants prefer. Your agents should be able to give you a steer for what’s in demand for your area.

I have allowed cats as my agents told me that you’re more likely to get a long-term tenant if you do. My tenants have a cat and will hopefully be long-term. They have a toddler and were asking about schools when they came to view the property which is a good sign.

[QueenOfCakeandCoffee]

@Viviennemary that’s my feeling as well!

[Viviennemary]

Shower curtains = very down market. But no need for boutique hotel.

[emilyfrost]

such as setting out the rough bill costs, having trades ready and using an agent.

You don’t need to set out rough bill costs, that’s not something that is done. If you’re using an agent, you also don’t need a list of tradesmen as they will have their own on the books.

With an agent, you take a step back. You don’t get involved with the tenants or the house directly. They won’t—and shouldn’t—contact you about repairs needing done, they’ll go to the agent who will sort it and let you know.

[Smallsteps88]

I asked the agent twice when we met about removing the paper/redoing it and he assumed me it was okay, I sill didn’t think it seemed right (it’s something that would put me off)

Go with your gut. Agents have one aim- profit. All their conversations with you will be geared around doing the least work for the most profit. Employ and agent, but don’t trust them on anything. Check up on them, including with your tenant.

I don’t need to be ‘caught out’ as I said above if you read my posts with the intention that were written you would have seen A. I am inexperienced hence asking and B. I want to treat people fairly and do my best.

I didn’t say anything about you being caught out. I answered your question about wallpaper and that’s it.

[QueenOfCakeandCoffee]

@tectonicplates please roll your neck in, I would be happy for the same tenant to stay for 10-15 year however I know that they are not obligated to tell me jack. At no point did I say I wouldn’t give them any notice, if you read my posts with a little more kindness you’d see i’m trying to be the fairest, thoughtful landlord I can be, such as setting out the rough bill costs, having trades ready and using an agent.
Yes this is currently my family home, but i’m ready to move so want to make it as comfortable, clean and ready as possible to anyone who rents it, hence my OP.

@Smallsteps88 I asked the agent twice when we met about removing the paper/redoing it and he assumed me it was okay, I sill didn’t think it seemed right (it’s something that would put me off) so I asked here for general opinions. I don’t need to be ‘caught out’ as I said above if you read my posts with the intention that were written you would have seen A. I am inexperienced hence asking and B. I want to treat people fairly and do my best.

Thanks you everyone else for your input, i’m going to write a list of all the jobs we need to do between now and Christmas so come spring we are ready.

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

As a LL I’d say Do As You Would Be Done By.
Esp. when it comes to attending promptly to any repairs/maintenance/ replacements.
And not whacking the rent up every year just because you can.

As regards furnished/unfurnished, IMO it will depend to some extent on the area and the market you’re aiming for.

Our 2 bed was originally let nicely furnished (not the cheapest old anything) to 2 ‘young professionals’ as they call them, and in over 8 years we’ve never had a single void day. Each time one left, the remaining one would move in their own chosen replacement. Most have stayed for at least 2 years, and one stayed for 6.

OTOH families with children who will definitely want to stay long term will presumably usually want unfurnished properties.

[BuffaloCauliflower]

Right

• yes to white goods (that’s not part furnished that’s just basic) but in good condition and fixed quickly if they break.
  
• no other furniture it’s a pain
  
• let me decorate, if you want me to treat it like my home you need to let me treat it like my home.
  
• let me have my cats, sounds like you had cats before yourself so would be great to allow them.
  
• fix things when they break! Because they will over time, that’s life.
  
• you can’t make someone stay ten years, circumstances change, but letting someone feel really at home in their home will help.

[purpleme12]

@Smallsteps88

would it bother you if some of the paper was coming away? If it didn’t look fresh?

Absolutely. It shows you couldn’t be bothered to fix it/repaper. Which means you won’t be bothered to do other repairs.

Yes. It's interesting that OP had to even ask this to be honest

[Smallsteps88]

would it bother you if some of the paper was coming away? If it didn’t look fresh?

Absolutely. It shows you couldn’t be bothered to fix it/repaper. Which means you won’t be bothered to do other repairs.

[Salamander91]

Our house coming with a dishwasher was a huge plus for me

I prefer unfurnished. Its handy when white goods are provided but for a landlord it's probably preferable not to provide them so you don't have to replace if they break. White goods weren't provided in our current home and it didn't put me off

[mrshonda]

I rent and have done for years. The things I look for in a house: neutral decor with no 'unfinished; bits of DIY or bodging, clean wellplanned and modern kitchen and bathroom, garden, decent area, close to local shops for essentials, easy place for commuting.

[Pyjamaface]

@Notashandyta

Nice, newish kitchen and bathroom

Clean, new carpets

Friendly landlord who we hardly see!

Yep.

I have an amazing landlady. She said when we moved in that it was our home and she would treat it that way. We can decorate & garden as we please, no inspections and any repairs have been done quickly and with no fuss, even over lockdown when a couple of roof tiles broke.

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

If a landlord said they wanted me to stay ten years, I'd think they were bonkers! Why would anyone want to pay your mortgage for ten years?

Definitely fix the wallpaper - you don't need to paint everything white but the paper needs to be patched. That's a fairly easy job.

I'd get a shower curtain that you replace after every tenant - when glass screens get grimy it's impossible to get the dirt out of the hinges and seams.

With kindness, I think you're still a bit attached to your house - that just doesn't work as a landlord. I second going with an agent for at least your first time round until you get a bit of distance - you're not going to be all hearts and flowers and I just want people to be happy when they're calling you at midnight demanding you replace a lightbulb (true story).

[purpleme12]

Exactly.

[EmbarrassedUser]

When I rented not a single landlord ever fixed things either in a timely fashion or to a high quality. One such example was the letting agent coming round to look at the thermostat. It came off in his hand and yet he still insisted it wasn’t broken I was accused of causing damp so many times yet, now I own my own home, I treat it in exactly the same way as I treated my 4 previous rentals and guess what No Damp!! Just treat people as you would like to be treated basically.

[emilyfrost]

i’m wondering about painting it all white - would it bother you if some of the paper was coming away? If it didn’t look fresh?

You can’t let a property out with damaged wallpaper that’s coming away. That’s just not okay and shows a lack of care.

[Notashandyta]

I think you sound like a lovely landlord btw

[Notashandyta]

Nice, newish kitchen and bathroom

Clean, new carpets

Friendly landlord who we hardly see!

[Catsup]

The damaged wallpaper would bother me incase the landlord tried to then push that damage on to me, and deduct it from the deposit. Flooring I'd prefer something darker vs lighter as I'd have the fear of stains. I'd rather deal with a letting agents vs a direct landlord as its far easier to speak with a neutral 3rd party about repairs (I'd be all is okay to ring/email the landlord at 8am about X, what if they're away or at work?). White goods I think a cooker/washer/fridge freezer is a big plus as they're bigger items you'll not necessarily need at the next rental. I'd not expect or particularly want to reuse a kettle/toaster/microwave as not everyone's cleaning standards are great. An extra tin of paint or a colour match is brilliant for any touch ups. Shower curtain is fine if it's brand new, and curtain poles are a must, also curtains left that are neutral. No crap left hanging about! Nobody wants a bog ugly rocking chair/dresser randomly left cluttering up space as its not useful. If you decide to kit it out then a bed frame/mattress/sofa/table & chairs is fine, but be prepared for people to want it out to bring their own stuff (so be prepared to store it). Mattress will probs need replacing between let's so that's extra expense. Whose your target market? Student let will bring in more money, but you'll need all the furniture in place. However, it'd open up your options more if you decide to take the property back later on. As you have cats yourself would you be willing to let to pet owners? You can specify an additional pet charge for a cat/small dog (v. hard for renters to find).

[tectonicplates]

We redid the boiler and electrics 10 years ago and would have all the correct certificates and checks and go with an agent. I have a list of trades and will update it to make sure they can do repairs when needed.

Agents have their own approved list of tradesmen. I don't think you get to choose, if they're managing the property.

ideally I want someone who will stay for 10-15 years if not longer.

You don't get to choose that. Even if the tenant said they wanted to stay that long, they might have a change of circumstances, or they might lie. The most likely situation is that they won't even know what they'll want to be doing that far into the future.

Do you think it’s worth writing out a list of all the bills costs and catchment areas so potential tenants have a better idea when looking round?

I've never seen anyone do this before.

We want to keep it in case the kids want to move back to London for work when they are adults/if we decide to retire back to London so it’s definitely a long term thing

Right, so you want someone who'll stay for 15 years or longer, you want that level of commitment from them, but you also want to be able to chuck them out at a moment's notice if you want your children to live there. You are trying to have your cake and eat it - you're legally entitled to not renew a tenancy if you want to move back, but it's the attitude that's putting me off.

You know what would absolutely put me off renting any property? A first time landlord who clearly didn't have a clue what they were doing. If you register with agent, they will tell you all this stuff.