_Lettings: how to present your property to tenants

There are various obligations for landlords – legal requirements and responsibilities as well as your personal preferences. When it comes to furniture, landlords need to ensure that the kitchen is fitted with modern appliances and the bathroom is fully functioning and up to date. Whether you include living room and bedroom furniture is up to you.

We asked some of our letting experts for their advice.

Michal Bocian, Head of Islington Lettings
“I’d say that it’s best to present the property furnished and staged if possible. They look better online and when viewed.”

Michal also recommends flexibility for landlords:
“These days, it’s best if the landlords are flexible with offering the property as furnished, unfurnished or being open to removing or adding certain things. This way they appeal to all tenants.”

Francesca Levy, Head of Wandsworth Lettings
“I would say that the majority of sharers would prefer furnished – but they’re usually very flexible, as they know the market is incredibly competitive.”

She agrees with Michal that furnished properties look better in photos.
“With regard to the marketing, photos of course present better furnished, but we still rent properties unfurnished – with unfurnished photos.”

The general consensus is that you’re likely to appeal to more prospective tenants by presenting your property with furniture. It looks more inviting and helps people to picture themselves living there. That said, the current rental market is challenging. Francesca Levy points out. “As it’s so competitive, the tenants aren’t being as fussy as perhaps they once would have been.”

Have you considered home staging?

One solution is to increase your property’s appeal by photographing it with stylish interiors. Knight Frank Interiors can help you with that. They can dress your property to maximise appeal and have it photographed looking its best. The offer a “design-led turnkey furnishing solution on a convenient rental basis.” Industry experts advocate home staging as an effective marketing solution.