The property market caters to just as many varieties of buyers as other markets, with some targeted at students, others retirees, and some for those looking for fully furnished, part-furnished or unfurnished properties. That being said, every landlord is legally obliged to include several appliances and other items for an unfurnished property.
But what are these items? In this article, Real Business will outline will highlight these articles, as well as differences between part-furnished and unfurnished, which is best for what client, and more.
Table of Contents
What Does An Unfurnished Property Require By Law?
Landlords in the UK must provide the following by law:
- Certification for gas appliances – Under the Gas Safety Regulations 1998, landlords must provide a valid Gas Safety Certificate for all gas appliances within the property annually.
- Electrical safety – Whilst electrical appliances do not need to be provided, the property must pass an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) to prove that electrical use is safe.
- Smoke detectors – Smoke detectors have to be installed on every floor of the property, by the various fire safety regulations.
- Carbon detectors – Carbon monoxide detectors must be installed in every room that has solid fuel appliances under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations of 2015.
- Safe and functional plumbing and heating – The property in question must have functional plumbing and heating systems to ensure the availability of hot water and heating, falling under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
- Energy performance certificate (EPC) – Landlords need to provide an up-to-date EPC with a minimum rating of E under the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2012.
What Is An Unfurnished Property?
An unfurnished property, also referred to as a property unfurnished, is a property that doesn’t include pre-applied furnishings such as beds and tables. This is ideal for tenants who have their own property to use, as many landlords cannot store furniture to make space for the tenants’ replacements.
That being said, technically, no furniture or even appliances have to be provided by law. This means that things that are considered essential, such as lights and toiletry, are optional.
Of course, most landlords include these things, as well as fully functioning kitchens, as without them, most tenants wouldn’t consider the property liveable.
What Are The Benefits Of An Unfurnished Property?
The following benefits make these property types appealing:
- Control – Renters can choose whatever furniture they want, or use their furniture.
- Reduced liability – Landlords, nor tenants, are liable for replacing items that are damaged during the tenancy.
- Security deposit – Renters don’t have to worry about having their security deposit docked as a result of damaging furniture provided by their landlord.
- Cheaper – Unfurnished properties can be cheaper to rent than furnished ones.
- Compatibility – Tenants may not want pre-selected furniture provided by the landlord.
Renting unfurnished property is a good idea for renters who have a lot of their own furniture and place value on putting their stamp on rental homes. Long-term renters are also suited to unfurnished properties as long term they’re likely to want to add to their space over several years.
What Are The Cons Of Unfurnished Properties?
Renting unfurnished properties can be less convenient compared to the option to rent furnished properties, which come with ready-to-use furniture and amenities:
- Furniture availability – For tenants without their furniture, renting unfurnished properties may be a significant cost, or feel barren.
- Logistics – Moving furniture in and out of unfurnished rental properties can be complex, requiring several people and care not to damage either the furniture or property.
- Incompatible with the short-term – Due to the inability to leave without requiring extensive packing and moving, it’s not considered worthwhile in terms of time or money for tenants who do not plan to stay for the long term.
What’s The Difference Between Part-Furnished And Unfurnished Properties?
A part-furnished rental, also known as part-furnishing, will usually include everything in a standard unfurnished property plus white goods. Standard white goods usually mean fridges, freezers, cookers, dishwashers, and washing machines. It’s also not uncommon to see beds being included.
Some landlords will be open to removing some of the furniture offered in a part-furnished property if the incoming tenant already has something that would otherwise be included. For example, if a sofa is included in the rental but the new tenant already has one to bring with them, the landlord may be open to storing the sofa included in the property elsewhere for the period of the tenancy.
What About A Furnished Rental Property?
A fully furnished rental property will be rented out to tenants with all white goods and basic furniture including a sofa, dining table and chairs, beds and wardrobes. Landlord insurance is a must for furnished properties to protect against potential damages.
The tenancy agreement should outline exactly what is included within a property furnished. Some landlords may choose to include additional items such as cutlery, microwaves, hoovers and garden furniture.
This is great for young professionals or new renters who are just leaving home.
Is Unfurnished Better Or Worse Than Furnished?
Whether a furnished or unfurnished property, one thing is constant – each targets a different type of client altogether. A landlord offering a furnished property may not have the capacity to store the items, and unless you can store your furniture with family members, this can cause incompatibility issues.
It’s worthwhile noting that council tax exemption is based on whether the property is furnished or unfurnished, with furnished properties that are temporarily vacant potentially not qualifying for full exemption and landlords incurring costs ranging from 50% to 100% of council tax for allowable void periods.
Those who opt for unfurnished rentals are almost always going there long-term, and are usually more senior in age than furnished clientele. But regardless of whether we’re talking about a furnished, part-furnished or unfurnished property, the price will likely be more reflective of size, quality and location than what’s included within.
What’s The Price Difference Between Furnished And Unfurnished Properties?
Typically, the price difference is more reflective of logistics than being set to attract tenants:
- Furnished property – A furnished property has higher rent as a result of all the included furniture and amenities, typically between 10% to 20% more expensive than renting an unfurnished property.
- Unfurnished rentals – Unfurnished rentals are typically cheaper monthly. However, there is likely to be a bigger upfront cost for tenants as far as moving all their belongings goes, although this isn’t factored into the final sum.
Having long-term tenants who pay on time and cause few disturbances/damages is the most important asset a landlord can have. That being said, of the two, unfurnished properties typically are more valuable to both tenants and landlords:
- Landlords – Landlords don’t need to become financially burdened by furnishing the space, and enjoy a lowered responsibility toward repairing or replacing furniture.
- Tenants – In an unfurnished property, tenants enjoy less possibility of having their security deposit withheld partially or fully as a result of damage to the furniture. Understand that damage to floors, walls, appliances, plumbing etc. may still apply.
Conclusion
This article has answered the question of what a landlord should provide in an unfurnished property in the UK. In the end, there’s a massive disparity in what is required by law, and what is included as a standard. Many landlords of unfurnished rentals simply must include things such as gas appliances not as a matter of adhering to regulations, but rather to stay competitive within the market.
