Furnished or Unfurnished

To Furnish or Not to Furnish?

By taking valuable advice on property furnishing, landlords can attract quality tenants and generate the best results. Lisa Brand, Partner at Humphrey and Brand, explains how.

What comprises a ‘furnished’ property?

There are no firm rules and expectations vary so it’s best to talk to a specialist lettings agent like Humphrey and Brand. We advise landlords which market sector their property will appeal to, what that market typically expects and how current market conditions are affecting demand.

As a general rule ‘fully furnished’ homes are presented with fixtures, fittings, furnishings and kitchen utensils whereas ‘unfurnished ‘ properties only include the basics such as appliances, carpets, curtains and light fittings. Both landlords and tenants should be flexible with furnishings and consider the current market conditions, the quality of the offer made and the proposed length of the tenancy when considering what should be included. At Humphrey and Brand we’re renowned for providing sound advice to generate positive results.

Duty of Care

Landlords have a duty of care towards tenants. Any furnishings included with a let must meet The Fire and Furnishing (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (amended 1989 and 1993) which state that furniture and soft furnishings must be fire safety compliant and carry the appropriate fire safety labelling prior to letting the property. We regularly conduct compliance checks on behalf of our landlords, because breach of the regulations is a criminal offence and the landlord’s responsibility.

The Importance Inventories

Before a tenancy commences, we also ensure both parties understand which items are included (and covered by the landlords’ contents insurance policy) and which are not. Without a professional inventory and schedule of condition at the start of a tenancy, the contents and condition of a property is uncertain so landlords can face difficulties recovering charges for breakages or repairs. At Humphrey and Brand we ensure inventories are prepared by experts who are trained to avoid omissions or errors for complete peace of mind.

For more information, or to request an accurate valuation, call 020 8399 1888, email lettings@humphreybrand.co.uk or visit Humphrey and Brand at 24 Brighton Road, Surbiton.