What carpet is best for a rental property?

You need carpets for rental property that will look good and be practical.

Carpets may be subject to heavy use in rental properties, so need to be thick and durable. It is not advisable to go for the cheapest carpets, as they will more than likely not last long.

A carpet needs to look good, but don’t go for bold patterns. As a landlord, you may like a bright pattern carpet, but your tenants may not have your aesthetic taste. Choose a neutral design in either a plain colour or with a subtle pattern.

Tenants may not look after the carpet as well as homeowners would. They may spill things and not bother to clean properly, which is why stain-resistant carpets are recommended. It is more common for carpets to need replacing because of stains than through wear and tear. You might also want to avoid light-coloured carpets that show up stains.

Professional tenants renting more expensive properties expect premium quality furnishings. These tenants may love luxury wool carpets, but these are expensive and liable to stain more than stain-resistant carpets. If you are charging high rents, wool carpets may be worth investing to attract reliable and professional tenants.

When choosing carpets, look at the cleaning and maintenance requirements and consider ones that involve the least work. Encourage your tenants to regularly vacuum the carpets and deep clean at least once a year.

A good-quality carpet should last at least 10 years with normal wear and tear. A top-quality one may last longer. Cheap carpets may last between three and five years. You can consider carpet alternatives like wood, laminates and LVT that may cost more to buy and install, but can last longer than carpets.

If you install good looking and practical carpets and have tenants that look after them, carpets are a good floor covering choice for rented property.

Two thirds of families’ flooring damaged by clumsy kids

A survey by Selco Builders Warehouse found that two thirds of the 524 families questioned had their floors stained or damaged by children. The biggest cause of the damage was spilt drinks followed by craft materials like paint and ink.

Carine Jessamine, a member of the team who conducted the research, said that spillages can could serious damage to floors, and although such incidents are inevitable among children, some parents might not be prepared for the cost of repairs, which can run into four figures.

One in five parents surveyed said that they had paid up to £200 for floor repairs, and one parent even admitted to coughing up a £3,000 repair bill.

The most common floor to be damaged is in the children's bedrooms, where 39% of all spills happen. Hard-to-remove foods like peanut butter and beetroot are commonly spilt in dining rooms.

The study found that there is no difference between boys and girls when it comes to causing damage.

The research discovered that carpets are the worst flooring type for damage and stains. Laminates and luxury vinyl flooring are more kid-proof because they are easy to clean and are stain resistant. Some LVT flooring comes with a 20-year warranty, which is ideal for families with young children. It is advisable to buy extra laminate planks or vinyl tiles when installing new flooring, as they can be used to repair floors if they are damaged by adults or children.

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.