Why good quality flooring is important for buy-to-let properties

Buying property in order to let it out has grown in popularity in recent years, spurred on by a healthy rental market with increasing demand for homes and only a limited supply of them available. Many people are now turning to letting property as a way of investing for their futures, ensuring that they can live comfortably in their later years. Those who have found success with buy-to-let properties have even begun purchasing more property and turning their secondary earner into a full-time career.

However, the process of buying property to let it is not always simple and it is rare for a landlord to make it through the experience without a few headaches along the way. From troublesome tenants to confusing health and safety regulations and expensive agency fees, there are lots of things to get your head around.

A key part of preparing your buy-to-let property is deciding how you will furnish and decorate it. It’s important to narrow down who exactly your target market is. If you make your property too neutral then you run the risk of appealing to nobody, so it’s important to have an idea of the type of tenant you would like.

Flooring options
When it comes to choosing flooring for a buy-to-let property you need to think carefully. A light carpet may well make a room seem large and sterile, but it is likely to cost you a lot of money in the long run. Carpeted flooring is not necessarily a bad choice for a rental property but those with a light colour palette are more likely to need replacing. The fibres of the carpet will show dirt more easily and are tougher to remove stains from so overtime may begin to look very dirty. While as a homeowner you might take extra caution to look after a light coloured carpet, a tenant might not always be so cautious. So, instead of choosing light colours like white or magnolia, you should opt for shades of brown and grey which might be a little bit more forgiving to spillages of food or drink.

Another aspect that is important to consider is the cost of your flooring. While it is important not to overspend on your property, you should know that choosing flooring that is cheap may come back to bite you in the behind. You may end up forking out for new flooring on a regular basis, something that will become tiresome particularly if you own a property where there is a high turnover of tenants such as in student accommodation. Instead, it might be better to opt for mid-range flooring which will last longer, require little maintenance and be highly durable.

Here at Lincolnshire Flooring we regularly source flooring for landlords of buy-to-let properties and can advise you on the best types of flooring available to you within your budget. For more advice call us on 01522 524 374 or visit us at our showroom on Outer Circle Road, Lincoln, LN2 4HU.