Practicality, durability, cost. These are key factors in determining what flooring you choose for your buy-to-let property.
Whether you’re looking to refurbish a property you bought recently with a view to renting it out, or need to replace flooring in an existing buy-to-let, you’ll need to research the types of flooring available and what will work best in your rental property. Aim to find a balance between flooring that is visually-appealing (you want potential tenants to like the property after all), durable (it needs to be able to withstand wear and tear, especially in communal, high-traffic areas), and has the potential to boost the property’s value (for example, by installing hardwood flooring in the living room).
The main things to consider are practicality, durability, and the function of the room, but naturally cost implications will always be a major factor in your decision-making process. There are many different types of flooring to choose from, including carpet, vinyl, tiles, linoleum, laminate, and hardwood flooring. But what’s the best flooring for a rental property? We’re going to look at what type of flooring works best in each room.
The Kitchen
First thing to remember: it’s not your kitchen, it’s not your home; this property is your business. Therefore you should not choose the flooring based on what you personally like. What is most practical for your target tenants? What is most practical for a kitchen in a rental property? Those are the questions.
Naturally, one would never install carpet in a kitchen. Hardwood (solid or engineered) can work well in a kitchen. It is easy to maintain and easy to clean. However, warping can occur due to heat from the cooker. Laminate flooring can also work well, as it is affordable, practical, and scratch resistant, as well as being easy to clean. Vinyl flooring is another option for kitchens.
The Bathroom
A bathroom needs flooring that is water-resistant and mould-resistant. Tile effect vinyl flooring can work well, as it has anti-slip properties and is water-resistant. Vinyl is good value, and there are many designs available.
The Living Room
Laminate flooring can work well in a lounge area, and good value rugs can always be used in sections of the room, such as in front of the sofa. Laminate flooring imitates the appearance of hardwood flooring. Laminate is more affordable than hardwood, yet still gives the space a streamlined, stylish and homely look. Carpet is another popular option for living rooms, but we’d give laminate flooring the edge as it is easier to clean that carpet, and in living rooms, stains and marks are more likely to occur.
The Bedrooms
Carpet is the usual choice in bedrooms. This is because it provides warmth, insulation, and reduces noise pollution. It is also pleasant to walk on with bare feet, so ideal when you step out of bed.
The Hallways, Landings and Corridors
These are usually high-traffic areas, especially the hallway or front corridor. It is therefore practical to install flooring which is able to withstand a lot of wear and tear. Vinyl plank wood flooring can work well as it is strong, durable, and does not scratch or stain easily.
The Utility Room
Utility rooms and laundry rooms produce moisture when the washing machine or dryer is on. The floor in this room is also quite likely to get wet, especially if there’s a sink for hand-washing clothes. Ceramic tiles are often popular for utility areas in homes, but in a rental property, vinyl tiles might be more appropriate as it is more affordable.
In a nutshell, you want the floors in your rental property to appeal to prospective tenants and to enhance the appearance of the property, but it’s more important to install flooring that will last for a long time. Constantly having to replace the flooring will prove costly, so don’t go for the cheapest option, as this is a false economy. Think good value, practical, and durable.