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!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Viviennemary]

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

[QueenOfCakeandCoffee]

@Viviennemary that’s my feeling as well!

[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]

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.

[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

[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

[purpleme12]

I would want a bath as well.