What are the best carpets for landlords in Chester?

There is a wide range of carpets available, but which is the best for landlords to buy for their rented properties?

There are a large number of houses and apartments for rent in Chester, from small terraces and shared student housing to luxury homes. Carpets are a popular choice of floor covering for landlord, not least because of the wide range of colours, patterns, textiles and grades available.

Colour

The carpet colour needs to appeal to most tenants, so avoid garish patterns and bright gaudy colours. White and very light carpets are not a good idea as they easily show up dirt and stains, while black and very dark carpets may make the room appear dark and uninviting. For most rooms, the best choice is a medium-shade neutral colour.

Durability

Expect wear and tear on the carpets. Chester students are fond of holding parties, so a cheap thin carpet will not withstand many gatherings in student accommodation before it begins to look worn.

Most landlords don’t want to spend too much money on carpets unless they are for the luxury end of the rental property market. The ideal carpet will be durable and not too expensive. It is worth paying a little extra for a higher grade carpet as this will not need replacing as often.

Easy to clean

Landlords expect that their tenants will look after the property and this includes regular cleaning. They can help tenants by installing easy to clean carpets. As a general guide, short pile carpets will be easier to clean than long pile ones. All carpets can be vacuumed, but not all vacuum cleaners are equal. A good quality vacuum cleaner is worth investing in as it will pick up more dirt from the carpet.

If the carpet is stained from spills, nylon and other man-made fibre carpets are easier to clean than natural fibre cotton and wool carpets. Some carpets are treated with a stain resistant solution.

Wool

Wool provides warmth and luxury but is more expensive than carpets made from other textiles. Wool carpets last a long time and are especially suitable for high-end properties. Tenants that pay high rents expect good quality carpets.

Polypropylene

Polypropylene  is a synthetic manmade fibre that is hardwearing and stain resistant. However, after a while, the fibres can get damaged. These carpets are a low-cost option for spare rooms and other rooms that do not get used a lot.

Nylon

Nylon carpets are especially hardwearing and stain resistant. They are ideal for high-traffic areas such as hallways and stairs.

Help from carpet suppliers

There are many carpet suppliers in Chester and the surrounding area. Landlords should use one that is experienced in installing carpets in rented properties. They can provide detailed advice about the best carpet choices for landlords in Chester, visit rental properties, measure the room areas, and recommend the most suitable option. Also, they will have samples of the various carpet grades and will provide competitive quotes.

New technology aims to revive heyday of carpets

A new type of carpet launched in the USA aims to create a resurgence in the popularity of carpets.

Wall-to-wall carpeting once dominated the home flooring market, but now the majority of homes have solid floor coverings such as wood, laminate and LVT. HOME Fresh is a new type of carpet that is 100% hypo-allergenic, recyclable and stain resistant, and its manufacturers hope it will tempt those who favour wood flooring.

Most carpets have three layers – a top fibre layer, a backing and a bottom layer of foam. The HOME Fresh carpets has only one layer, which is made from recycled plastic that has been turned into polyester yarn. It is stain and water resistant and will not become mouldy or affected by mildew. It is claimed that the carpet is easier to clean, allowing vacuums to suck up more dirt and pet hairs than a conventional carpet. It is also claimed that a secret mineral infused in the carpet neutralizes odours.

The manufacturer is marketing the carpet as an alternative to solid floors, with colours that never fade and a level of softness most would associate with carpets. The carpet is hypo-allergenic, which makes it particularly suitable for people who suffer from allergies.

Many people install luxury solid wood flooring in Cheshire homes, whilst others love the feel of carpets. It remains to be seen whether any new type of carpet has enough advantages to persuade people to switch from solid floors to carpets.

How to choose the best carpets for Chester buy-to-let landlords

The ideal carpets for buy-to-let property are easy to clean, durable and can be installed at a reasonable cost.

Easy to clean

Not all carpets are easy to clean. While tenants are expected to keep the carpets clean, a difficult to clean carpet could discourage them from regular maintenance. Any carpet damage can be taken off the deposit when a tenant leaves, and landlords may be able to claim for the cost of cleaning if the carpets are left in a dirty state when tenants leave. Ideally, tenants will leave a clean carpet when they vacate the property ready for the new tenants to move in without the landlord having to thoroughly clean or replace carpets.

Dark colour carpets will not show up dirt as much as lighter coloured ones, but this should not stop tenants cleaning them.

All carpets can be vacuumed, but this only removes loose dirt and debris. Deep down dirt and stains are not always removed by a vacuum cleaner.

Berber carpets are amongst the easiest to clean as they are often treated with stain resistant solutions. Nylon is tough and stain resistant and is relatively easy to clean, while polyester carpets share some of the stain resistant qualities of nylon but can absorb oils. After oil has been absorbed it is extremely difficult to remove. Other than that, polyester is easy to vacuum and clean.

Polypropylene carpets are made from oil-based fibres and resist stains. They are easy to clean and stains can be removed with a spot treatment.

Natural wool and cotton carpets are more difficult to clean and need more care. They are perhaps not the best choice for tenants who hold regular parties, so near this in mind if your tenants are University of Chester students!

A good vacuum will be more efficient at cleaning carpets. Tenants should be encouraged to use a Dyson or other premium make of cleaner, or landlords may supply one.

Durability

The strength of a carpet and how long it will last depends on a number of factors, including how tenants look after the carpet. Short and cut pile carpets generally last longer and show fewer signs of wear than long pile ones. Quality manmade and natural fibre carpets should both wear well.

The main criteria that affects how long a carpet will last is the quality of the carpet. Thin cheap carpets will not last as long as better grades.

Cost

Carpets vary considerably in cost. A top-quality wool carpet is perhaps the most expensive but may be suitable for a luxury home that attracts high rent payers. On top of the price of the carpet, there are fitting costs and underlay may be required.

For most properties stain resistant, durable carpets are best. It is worth paying a little extra for a better quality carpet that will last and can easily be cleaned after tenants leave.

Choosing the best carpets is not easy. A trusted carpet supplier will advise Chester landlords on the best choice of carpets to suit their properties and budget.

The advantages of LVT flooring for landlords and letting agents in Chester

Luxury vinyl tiles, or LVT, is a good choice for rented property because it is cost effective, easy to maintain and durable.

There are many reasons why people live in rented property in Chester. Students studying at the University of Chester require accommodation during the academic year, people saving up to buy their own home want temporary accommodation, whilst others prefer to live in rented properties rather than have the responsibly of property ownership.

There are many landlords and letting agents in Chester to cater to the high demand for rented accommodation. Though they expect tenants to look after the property, it helps to make their task easier by installing flooring that is not too difficult to clean and is strong enough to cope with a few parties.

There are five main reasons why LVT flooring is a good choice:

• Price

• Durability

• Room type

• Design

• Easy maintenance

Price and durability

Price and durability need to be looked at together. A cheap carpet or laminate flooring will not cost as much as LVT but will need replacing sooner due to its lack of durability. A good quality grade LVT should last over 25 years even in houses shared by many tenants. This means that the total cost of LVT flooring is cost effective in the long term.

The cost of installing LVT floors is not high. They can be laid over existing subfloors, but uneven floors may require a cement screed.

Manufactures of quality LVT will provide a guarantee for a period of up to 25 years if the flooring is installed in residential properties.

Room type

In some rooms such as living rooms and bedrooms, tenants may prefer a good-quality carpet for its warmth and comfort, but carpets are not suitable for kitchens and bathrooms, so LVT is a good choice for these areas.

If lounges have LVT flooring, they can be made cosier with rugs.

Design

LVT comes in many attractive designs. The most popular designs look like wood or stone. Modern digital printing has made LVT stone and wood designs look realistic.

Landlords need designs that are attractive to all tenants. Neutral colours and muted patterns are preferred over bright colours and busy patterns. Your LVT supplier will have many tiles suitable for rented properties.

Easy maintenance

Landlords expect that tenants will keep properties clean, and LVT floors are easy to maintain. Vacuum cleaners with hard floor settings can pick up loose dirt and debris, while stains and spills can simply be mopped up. LVT is stain resistant and can stand red wine and other spills without discolouring.

If heavy objects are dropped on the floor, they could cause dents and marks in the tiles, so it’s a good idea for landlords to keep a few spare tiles to replace any damaged ones.

To find out more about the benefits of LVT flooring for landlords and letting agents in Chester, talk to your local LVT flooring supplier.

Artificial grass market predicted to grow due to innovation

A report by Transparency Market Research has predicted that the artificial grass market will grow due to innovation.

Artificial grass is widely used in sports grounds and schools but is becoming an increasingly popular choice to replace lawns in residential gardens.

Investment in research has resulted in the development of new forms of artificial grass. These include hybrid grass that mixes synthetic fibres with natural grass. In the past, there have been concerns about health hazards associated with laying artificial grass, and this has resulted in natural material infills and manufacturers making sure that no toxic materials are used in manufacturing artificial grass.

Climate change may continue to produce extreme dry hot weather and this could result in water shortages. Artificial grass does not need watering and this benefit is another reason why there is increased demand for natural grass.

An additional benefit of artificial grass is that it can be used all year round. This is an advantage for sports grounds and school playing fields, as users do not have to wait for a muddy field to dry before using it. Many schools and homes are installing artificial grass in Chester so that they can enjoy it on wet or dry days.

The report recognises that the initial cost of installing artificial grass is high, and this could result in cheap substitutes being developed for people and organisations with restricted budgets. This can be a false economy, however, as quality grade artificial grass will last a lot longer and can work out cheaper in the long term.