Rental advice please

[CraftyClaraChaos]

Hi, we’ve just bought a property to be rented out. It’s in pretty good shape, it just needs a few cosmetic details sorted. My question is, if you are renting an unfurnished house would you expect any of the following?

lampshades
curtains/blinds
mirror (eg in hallway)
Bathroom cabinet
lawnmower
washing machine
fridge freezer
(oven and hob are built in)

I’m happy to provide all of the above, but just checking what’s expected before I spend out. Thank you for your help

Yes, all of the above!

Everything apart from the mirror and lawnmower are standard in a rental and providing a lawnmower is a good idea if you want them to regularly cut the grass.

I've rented unfurnished and the only things they had in them were an oven and hob. Everything I had to supply.

I think that if you are like me and looking for unfurnished, then you probably all ready have everything that you have listed. I wouldn't have needed anything you have listed apart from the oven and hob.

When I rented unfurnished we were provided with nothing from that list not even an oven or hob. We had to provide all white goods

Forget supplying fridge freezer and washing machine. If you supply them and they break then you have to replace. Most tenants have their own.
I would supply curtain poles and a bathroom blind. No to the cabinet and mirror.

How much lawn is there?

Unfurnished house? Only curtains/blinds. Nothing else from your list.

Everything except the mirror a lawnmower but I think you have to provide that if you want them to cut the grass.

A PP has said that they had all their own white goods but I rented for 20 years unfurnished and never did. White goods are notorious for not dealing with moves very well and what’s the chances they’ll fit?

Maybe let prospective tenants know that if they don’t have those bits you can provide them. Save you from buying and installing only for them to ask you to remove. Also keeps good tenants who may otherwise reject your place if they don’t have £1000 hanging about to pay for new ones.

Also white goods could be installed badly or be a fire hazard if they are crap second hand so more peace of mind if you install. Check if you are required to do annual safety tests though and repairs are on you if they fail.

We rented about 4 different houses before buying this one. In our experience

Lampshade No
Curtains No
Mirror No
Bathroom Cabinet Yes
Lawn mower Maybe (last landlord did which was very helpful. They also provided a shed for us to use)
Washing machine No
Fridge freezer No

U think some of it depends on your target market , 1st time / young renters that are unlikely to be moving with furnishings or more established renters that are likely to to have everything they need .

But I agree with @BeepBoopBop , don't provide white goods as it will be down to you repair / replace them .
I also wouldn't provide mirrors or bath as the may not match the decor your tenants want .
I would provide carpets/ laminate but they would be fairy basic.

I have rented all my life
In all the properties
lampshades - yes
curtains/blinds-yes
mirror -no
Bathroom cabinet - once
lawnmower- no
washing machine- no
fridge freezer- no

I've rented my whole life and the only thing on that list I've had provided is a bathroom cabinet - after all it's a 'fixture'. Had curtains once. Everything else - never provided.

Think of it like 'fixtures and fittings' when you buy a house.

Agree with others that it depends on target market. Families going to into a 3 bed home probably have all the white goods.
Young professionals in first home/sharers probably not.
I’ve been in the latter category in London every time and expected those to be provided and they have been there already. All my friends who rent out properties to similar target market in London have provided them too.

When I rented unfurnished everything on your list was included, except the lawnmower because it was a flat. But I would expect a lawnmower if I was renting a house with a garden.
Do you really want tenants drilling into the walls to put up their own mirrors and bathroom cabinet?

White goods not supplied unless integrated as if they break you would need to replace and many tenants will have their own appliances.

curtains and blinds supplied.

possibly lamp shades

the rest definately not.

All my previous rentals bar one had washing machine and fridge freezer included, ovens were always built in models too.

Only the last one had no white goods what so ever and it really caught me off guard. I purchased the fridge and washing machine but didn't bother with a oven. It would have cost too much to buy one and get a qualified electrician or gas engineer to connect the thing for the amount of time I use it. I use an air fryer 100% of the time now anyways.

Everything bar mirror. And I’m on the fence about the lawnmower. I wouldn’t say it’s normal but might encourage them to cut the grass!
I rent out three properties and include as I’ve stated. Be aware if you include them you have to repair them.

lampshades - yes I think I would expect lampshades
curtains/blinds - no property I've rented has had these before so based on this I wouldn't expect it
mirror (eg in hallway) - I wouldn't expect this but wouldn't say no lol
Bathroom cabinet - yes should be provided
lawnmower - I wouldn't expect it but think this is a good thing to provide
washing machine - depends. Some provide this and some don't so I'd check before I rented the property.
fridge freezer - depends. Some provide this and some don't so I'd check before I rented the property.

Depends what type of tenants you are likely to get @CraftyClaraChaos
Two young sharers who might only stay a year or two then I'd let it furnished and supply everything on the list.
But a family who might stay 10 years, I'd let unfurnished and let them supply their own.
Unfurnished would let for a bit less rent pcm.

Yes everything you mention bar the mirror and lawnmower. We rented for a year after relocating, leaving a house with all white good built in. We have now bought a new place, again with all white good built in.

Check what other similar properties in your area offer.

We've moved around the midlands/East and always had to provide white goods, but in our new area in the Soith they're always included in the rental.

I'd like a bathroom cabinet, but wouldn't need the rest of your list.

Everything but the lawnmower, although that would be nice to offer. It depends on the tenants situation, as some would have their own white goods.

I'd provide a bathroom cab, lawnmower, lampshades and curtains/blinds.

Perhaps more important to consider condition of bathroom, Kitchen & boiler, possible new rules coming in on these plus up rated EPC standards.

I’m baffled that so many PPs wouldn’t expect and didn’t have curtains or blinds in a rented property! I’ve rented close to 12 properties over 20 years in London and always had curtains and blinds (and white goods for that matter) provided. It’s not as if you can take them with you! Blinds and curtains have to be measured, ordered, made and fitted to the window size. What happens when you leave? Do you sell them to the landlord?
They are crazy expensive too. Not providing them risks tenants being without window coverings for several weeks while they are being ordered and made and those without the funds to purchase them might end up with just sheets or random bits of fabric hanging off the windows which looks awful.
No way could i have afforded a full kit out given I would have paid deposit, 6 weeks rent, other fees and moving costs.

I think it would make more sense for tenants to own all the furniture, white good etc and sell them between themselves when they move out/in. Take the landlord out of it. I think that might happen more with the new legislation that's about to come in. Especially as landlords are effectively going to have to agree to pets and, while that is in many ways a good thing, people will make stupid decisions and keep an Akita in a top floor flat with a balcony. Or a cat in a flat with no access to the outdoors like what happened to me. That was pre-legislation but I think things will only get worse with irresponsible tenants and pets and landlords will not want to have their furniture destroyed so won't provide any.

You dont have to provide any of those and I wouldn't provide washer abd fridge freezer as you will be liable to get them PAT tested.