Furnished or Unfurnished What Do Renters Prefer?

When preparing a property to let, one of the first questions landlords often ask is: should I offer it furnished or unfurnished?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Tenant preferences can vary considerably depending on the property, location, rental price and the type of tenant the property is likely to attract.

However, in Scotland’s private rental market, we are seeing an increasingly diverse range of renters – from students and young professionals to families, relocating workers and tenants who already own their furniture. Understanding who you are trying to attract is therefore just as important as deciding how to furnish the property.

Which renters prefer furnished properties?

For certain tenants, furnished accommodation can make moving considerably easier.

This can be particularly attractive to:

• Students and graduates
• Tenants relocating to Scotland for work
• Professionals moving between cities
• International tenants
• Tenants who are renting for a shorter period
• People who don’t already own furniture

A furnished property can reduce the cost and hassle associated with buying, transporting and storing large items such as beds, sofas, dining tables and wardrobes.

For someone moving to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen or another Scottish city for a new job, for example, being able to move into a property with the essentials already provided can be a major advantage.

Which renters prefer unfurnished properties?

Unfurnished properties can be particularly appealing to tenants who already have their own furniture.

This could include:

• Families moving from another rental property
• Long-term renters who have accumulated their own furniture
• Couples moving into a larger property
• Tenants who want to make a property feel like their own home
• People moving locally who don’t need to purchase new furniture

For these tenants, an unfurnished property can provide more flexibility. They can bring their existing furniture with them and choose how they want their home to look.

There can also be a practical benefit: tenants don’t have to accommodate a landlord’s choice of sofa, dining table or bed.

Should landlords furnish their property?

Our advice is to start with the target tenant rather than the furniture.

Before deciding, consider:

• Who is most likely to rent the property?

A city-centre one-bedroom flat aimed at professionals or relocating tenants may benefit from being furnished.

A three-bedroom family home may have stronger appeal as an unfurnished property.

• What is the local market doing?

Look at comparable properties in your area. Are similar properties being advertised as furnished, unfurnished or part-furnished?

This can help you decide how best to position your property in the local rental market.

• Is the furniture good enough?

If you’re going to furnish a property, don’t do it simply because you think being “furnished” will make it more desirable.

Old, mismatched or poor-quality furniture can have the opposite effect.

A smaller amount of good-quality, practical furniture is often preferable to overfilling the property unnecessarily.

• What gives tenants the best value?

With affordability continuing to be a major consideration for Scottish renters, landlords should think about whether furnishing the property genuinely improves its appeal at the proposed rental price.

The cheapest option isn’t always the best option – but neither is spending thousands of pounds on furniture your target tenant doesn’t want.

Thinking about letting your property?

If you’re unsure whether your rental property would perform better furnished, part-furnished or unfurnished, get in touch with the Gilson Gray Lettings team.

We can assess the property, consider the local competition and advise on how best to position it — including the level of furnishing, presentation and rental price.

The right choice isn’t necessarily furnished or unfurnished. It’s the option that makes the property most attractive to the tenants you actually want to reach.

The information and opinions contained in this blog are for information only.  They are not intended to constitute advice and should not be relied upon or considered as a replacement for advice.  Before acting on any information contained in this blog, please seek solicitor’s advice from Gilson Gray.