What flooring is best for rental properties?

What landlords should look for in flooring for their rental properties is practicality, durability and value for money.

You cannot guarantee that tenants will take care of the property in the same way a homeowner would. They may spill things on the floor, drop objects on it and tread in mud. The tenants may not regularly clean the floor, so you need a covering that can easily be cleaned when tenants leave.

The main choices of floor coverings are carpets, engineered wood, vinyl sheets or tiles, and laminates. All of these, except carpets, are easy to clean. This doesn’t necessarily mean you should avoid carpets, but they may need to be professionally cleaned between tenants. Carpets need replacing more often than vinyl, laminates or engineered wood. However, they can work out cheaper than other floor coverings.

When it comes to cost, landlords need to consider the total lifetime cost. Engineered wood is expensive, but will last a long time. Luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) are not cheap to buy and install, but many makes are guaranteed for 15 years and upwards.

People renting higher-value rental properties expect good flooring, so consider installing engineered wood or even sold wood. Wood floors also have the benefit of increasing the value of the property.

If you allow pets in your properties, most floors except carpets are pet friendly.

Vinyl tiles are good because they are water resistant and can withstand spills. If the floor gets damaged, replacing tiles will repair it.

Laminate floors are coated with a tough layer, making them suitable for families with young children as they can withstand lots of abuse.

There's no definitive answer to what the best flooring is for rental properties is. It depends on several factors including budget, property type and the kind of tenants.

Don’t throw away your corded vacuum cleaner, says Which?

Cordless vacuum cleaners are very popular, but consumer organisation Which? has suggested that corded vacuum cleaners are better at cleaning, and are cheaper.

Cordless cleaners can work for up to an hour before needing charging. This can make them unsuitable for commercial rooms where there are large areas of carpet that take longer than an hour to clean.

Which? reports that corded vacuum cleaners are usually better at sucking up dirt across all floor types. They are especially better at cleaning carpets.

The average cost of Which? best buy corded cleaners is £249, compared to £300 for cordless ones.

Which? found that corded vacuum cleaners tend to last longer too. The average warranty for a cordless vacuum is two years, compared to five on many corded models.

Cordless cleaners do not hold a lot of dirt before needing emptying, whereas corded cleaners can hold more dust and need emptying less frequently.

Corded vacuums are also quieter than cordless ones, and this may be an issue for commercial premises.

Which? recognises however that cordless cleaners have improved over the last few years. Batteries last longer and their dust capacity has increased. Some come with LED displays that show the user exactly how much cleaning time is left. Dyson’s V11 model knows if it is on a hard floor or a soft carpet and automatically increases its motor speed on carpets that need more suction power.

Whether corded or cordless, carpets in Wrexham homes and workplaces need regular vacuum cleaning to maintain their appearance and cleanliness.

Is laminate flooring good for rental property?

Laminate flooring is an excellent choice for rental property, and there are many reasons why.

A landlord of rental property needs floor coverings that are not too expensive and will last a long time. Tenants want a good-looking floor that’s easy to clean. Laminate flooring satisfies both landlords and tenants needs.

Laminate flooring provides the natural look of wood but at considerably less cost. Rental properties need a neutral floor that most people are happy to live with. Vibrant colours and patterns may suit some people, but many prefer more neutral tones. Few people dislike the natural look of wood, so from a design perspective, wood effect laminate flooring is ideal. Modern printing technology has made the look of laminate flooring almost indistinguishable from solid wood.

Tenants who want a more colourful look can simply place a rug of their choice on the floor to brighten it up.

Laminate planks with grooves are easy to install, as they just click together. This means a local floor company will not charge a lot for installation.

Good quality laminates should last between 15 and 20 years, but could last up to 30 years if there are not many tenants and they treat it gently. Good quality laminates are coated with a protective layer to make then stain and scratch resistant. In case an area does become damaged, be sure to buy a few extra planks to replace damaged ones.

Although some tenants prefer carpets, they can attract dust, debris and stains. They are fine if you have careful tenants who vacuum and regularly deep clean the carpets, otherwise laminates are preferred as they only need sweeping and mopping. When tenants leave and they have not kept the home clean, laminate floors can be quickly and easily cleaned ready for the next tenants.

Best laminate flooring for landlords

Laminate is a good choice for floor coverings in rented properties.

There are many landlords that own property in the Chester, Wrexham and North Wales areas. Understandably, they like to keep their proprieties in good order, and this means sometimes replacing the floor coverings.

From the landlord’s perspective, laminate is a good choice because it is cost effective, lasts a long time and is easy to install. Meanwhile, tenants like laminate flooring too, because it looks good, is stain resistant and easy to clean.

There are various grades of laminate flooring. Top grade ones are thicker and more durable and are best for high-traffic areas such as hallways and living areas. If the budget is limited bedroom areas can use cheaper laminates. Laminates are water resistant so are fine for entrances that lead outside where people come in from wet weather with dripping clothes.

Generally, it is not recommended to install laminate in bathrooms and high-moisture areas but some laminates have been developed that are suitable for bathrooms and are also non-slip.

Laminates can look like natural wood or stone – choose a neutral colour that will be acceptable by tenants.

Laminates can be bought with or without grooves. Planks without grooves create a smooth uniform surface, while grooved planks emphasise the natural plank effect. Grooved planks are generally easier to install as they click together.

When deciding which is the best type of laminate flooring, it makes sense to go for the best grades. These may cost more for the initial purchase, but because they last a long time, the long-term cost can work out less than using cheap laminates that have to be replaced regularly. Good quality laminate flooring should last between 15 to 25 years, unless your tenants entertain droves of people with wild parties every night!

Plastic jerrycan waste turned into carpets

Plastic containers in Ghana have been made into carpets to draw attention to a waste problem.

Containers known as jerrycans are widely used in the West African nation, but many of them are thrown away and pollute the environment, often blocking waterways. Serge Attukwei Clottey, founder of the Ghana GoLokal collective has found a way of making plastic carpets out of the containers.

Clottey finds the containers on the beach and waste sites and converts them to works of art and the plastic carpets. He wants to raise awareness of the waste plastic issue, and says:

“It’s not just about collecting plastics, but sending a powerful message back to manufacturers: waste is becoming a problem every single day.”

The plastic carpet is not designed to be a replacement for standard carpets. By installing the carpet in public spaces that are visible to lots of people, he is drawing attention to the issue in a dramatic way. He wants manufacturers of plastic items to care about where the plastic objects end up, says that his carpets ‘hijack’ public spaces to showcase his work and his message.

Many floor covering manufactures are including recycled waste materials in their flooring materials. Some laminates and LVT are made with a proportion of recycled materials. Wood can be recycled and used for wood floors.

It is unlikely that plastic carpets in Chester rooms will be available soon, but new floor coverings can be bought that use recycled or sustainable materials to minimise the effect on the environment.