Buying a carpet for let accommodation?
If you’re a landlord, you know all too well the need to balance the considerations that come with letting a house. The attractiveness of the property, and the quality of life of your tenants, is a priority, but outfitting your property with the richest luxury décor available isn’t an option either- there’s both the initial outlay and the long-term costs. You must balance these considerations carefully to provide tenants with a pleasant, desirable home that nonetheless remains cost effective. Nowhere is this truer than when choosing a carpet. Every part of your rented property (including some bits you might not expect!) can be subject to dramatic wear and tear and can need replacing after even a short period, placing added emphasis on the considerations above when choosing your carpet. Whether or not it’s true that tenants in rented property take less care than homeowners when it comes to risking or repairing property damage, you need to choose your carpeting based on common (and financial) sense.
Picking an attractive carpet that presents your house in the best light & is also durable, easy to clean and affordable might seem like no easy task. With Pyramid Carpets, though, there’s a huge range of great value carpets available- here are our suggestions for rented accommodation.
- Go neutral and dark- but don’t forget your tenants
A bright carpet will show stains more easily, decreasing its life even with regular cleaning. Even a more durable lino or laminate might begin to show signs of wear & tear faster if it’s lighter. Choosing a darker design will hide stains and damage, while also helpfully making way for a neutral, yet modern, décor that stands out to tenants and creates possibilities for their own personalised interiors. After all, who doesn’t want to put their stamp on the space they live in? Maintaining a neutral décor presents each room as a blank canvas your tenants can customise as they wish. It’s also important to consider the feelings of your tenants- as we’ve established a neutral-dark carpet or flooring can save money on repairs, yet this can risk appearing unattractive to many renters- so should be redeemed in its quality and appearance in the eyes of potential tenancy.
- Invest in underlay- and stock up
Underlay is essential for durability, and prolongs the life of your flooring. It also limits noise transfer between rooms and floors, and lowers energy bills. Investing in top quality, heavy-duty underlay is vital, with long-lasting flooring continuing to work for decades of use after the initial installation. Crumb rubber or other thinner materials may not work as well- you need to really pursue quality underlay that will protect all the flooring that goes on top of it over the years- buy it right, buy it once. Remember that for project like this- where it might (hopefully!) be decades before you need to replace your work- you should stock up on the exact measurement of underlay you need, in case it isn’t available when you next need it.
- Avoid pile
A shallower carpet might not absorb sound as well as a nice, thick pile, however it doesn’t absorb other things either. Some landlords rate stain resistance above durability, and keeping a flooring surface easy to clean is essential. A thicker pile traps dirt and can be a real chore to clean- so opt for a suitable, thinner carpet, especially in areas liable to attract a lot of dirt.
- To carpet or not to carpet?
Many landlords favour the non-carpeting option as it’s ostensibly more durable than carpet. Laminate or karndean won’t scuff, stain, crease or wear out nearly as easily as a carpet- yet there are other considerations here. Sound travels far better through the harder surfaces, meaning tenants in flats or HMOs (houses of multiple occupancy) might not thank you for installing it on the floor above! Carpet or flooring than can be easily lifted is always an advantage- although it’s preferable not to need to do this: choosing a durable laminate or even lino that’s stylish & professionally fitted can be a perfect solution for kitchens or bathrooms, as well as living rooms as an alternative carpeting. Some landlords feel lino or laminate can look scruffy and worn quickly, yet tenants often prefer an attractive laminate or karndean floor (again, darker shades mask stains) which lets them choose their own rugs & accents.
Come and visit our Sheffield showroom for more information on the best choices of carpet from our team of carpet experts! We stock a huge range of great value carpets suitable for all uses, as well as rugs and underlay to provide the complete flooring package.
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