original floorboards or carpet?

[pippala]

The house we are doing up to rent out has at present got very dark stained orginal floorboards and whitewashed walls.
It is quite a dark house which is why I think they whitewashed it.
We have thought about trying to stain the floorboards a lighter colour but it would mean sanding them down etc Iam thinking mess!
On the easier side we could put in light carpets.
There is a cellar underneath the floorboards which we are going to add airbricks as it is damp and smelly. Would that make the floorboards cold to walk on?
So pros and cons please. WWYD if you were renting would you prefer boards or carpet? Many thanks

Depends on who you're likely to rent to. Carpets will be ruined by anyone with kids, especially if they are light. Could you maybe put a few light and bright rugs around to brighten things up? Invest in a few strategically-placed lights to brighten up especially dark corners?

The damp is more of an issue I think - I would be completely put off renting somewhere that smelled damp.

I was going to say carpets as they are more comfortable and cosy but for a rental house floorboards all the way, with a patterned rug on for warmth/brighten things.

For a landlord they are easy to maintain, and for a tenant they are low stress as spills are so easy to clean. Do tell them not to wear stilletos though, my sister put little dots all over the ones in my old house!

Also, wood is never that cold to walk on but can give draughts if gappy, but you can fix that with glue and sawdust mixture - google it.

Thank you,
Yes I will save money if we keep the floorboards, a bright rug will help too I hope.
I guess the tenants could be whoever, professional couple, family or older ppl.
Prehaps if the tenants want it carpetted we will say we don't have any objection and if we don't like what they put down we can rip it out when we relet?