When you are refurbishing a property for the rental market, you will be looking at how you can redecorate in a way that is appealing to tenants, cost-effective and using materials that are easy to maintain and offer longevity.
This can feel like a difficult balance to strike with the flooring in your property. It might feel as though opting for the same flooring throughout your property is the easiest option, but you also need to consider the ways in which different rooms are used.
We’re going to look at what flooring is best for each of the main rooms in a property, to help you strike the right balance between functionality, style and durability.
We’ll cover:
- Bedroom flooring
- Living room flooring
- Kitchen flooring
- Bathroom flooring
Bedroom flooring
According to a survey by Simply Business, many tenants prefer to have carpet in the bedroom, which is understandable. Many of us prefer to have a soft surface underfoot in our bedrooms, as it’s one of the rooms where we’re most likely to have bare feet.
The challenge with carpets is typically maintenance. As they can stain, they may need replacing more often. In addition, they will need a thorough deep clean between tenancies.
If you do decide to lay carpet in the bedroom of a rental property, choose an option made from synthetic fibres like nylon. This is because these are more resistant to stains than the likes of wool.
In addition, choose a carpet that has a short loop, as this provides durability. Some landlords use carpet tiles in their properties because this enables them to replace stained or worn sections of carpet easily, without having to recarpet an entire room.
Living room flooring
We think the top option for high-use rooms like living rooms is luxury vinyl tiles, because these not only look great but are scratch and water resistant.
The beauty of luxury vinyl tiles is that they come in a range of finishes that mimic other materials, including stone and wood. When you choose high-quality tiles of this nature, they can make a property look high-end without the same price tag as natural materials.
In addition, luxury vinyl tiles are more durable than the materials they mimic, which means they will not only last longer but will also look good for longer.
Because they are very easy to clean, they are an excellent option for rental properties. In a living room, you may choose a set of tiles that look like wood to give the effect of hardwood flooring without the expense.
Kitchen flooring
We also recommend luxury vinyl tiles for kitchen flooring, because they are easy to clean, stain resistant, waterproof and durable. What’s more, if you have an open-plan living space, this means it’s easy to seamlessly blend the flooring between your kitchen and living room.
Alternatively, you could use luxury vinyl tiles in different finishes to denote a break between the kitchen and living room space if you would prefer.
Either way, this is an excellent option for rental properties because of its durability and waterproof nature, which means it can withstand spills as well as high foot traffic.
Bathroom flooring
For bathroom flooring, you naturally want a water-resistant surface. Ceramic tiles have long been a favourite for bathrooms, but in rental properties the likes of luxury vinyl tiles are a better option.
Although it might be tempting to consider laminate flooring, this isn’t fully waterproof, which doesn’t make it the best choice for a space like a bathroom that will experience a lot of moisture.
It’s essential that any bathroom flooring is properly sealed to prevent water seeping into the floorboards below.
Another option to consider in bathrooms is underfloor heating. While this might seem like an extra expense for a rental property, one property renovation expert revealed that not installing underfloor heating in the bathroom was one of their top regrets.
They explained that the floor would dry much quicker if there was underfloor heating in this room, which could be valuable to prevent moisture damage to your property, so it might be worth considering the extra expense initially to avoid more maintenance later.
Whatever flooring option you choose for your rental property, make sure you get professional installation support to ensure that it looks the part and will stand the test of time.
This is particularly important in rooms like bathrooms and kitchens, where properly sealing your flooring once it is laid will be vital for preventing moisture or water damage to the floorboards below.
