Introduction
Rental accommodation is usually provided partly furnished, which means that appliances such as a washing machine, fridge, freezer and oven/hob are included. The outlay for these items doesn’t have to be huge; budget at around £1000 for basic models. What it does is give your property a broader appeal within the rental market. This is because the accommodation needs to be attractive to tenants without their own appliances, as well as some who have their own. In the case of the latter, if they like their place, they can still take it and then choose to store or dispose of their appliances.
The other option is to opt for the fully furnished option. In this scenario, you would offer a full range of furniture and appliances. This package is often offered as a way to attract corporate rentals where a tenant is required to move for work and does not want to have to pay the cost of furnishing the property for what may turn out to be a relatively short period of time.
Options
Having decided that I want to furnish your accommodation with electrical appliances, what should I look for?
Firstly, if you are looking to provide cooking facilities, you have a number of options and what you choose will largely depend on the type of property you have and the type of tenant you want to attract. My target is the market of young professionals between the ages of 20 and 30, which represents the largest proportion of the total rental demand.
I opt for a combination hob, oven and extractor fan as I usually renovate my properties before renting them out. This may seem extravagant to some landlords, but I believe that providing new, well-appointed accommodation will get your property rented out faster and help avoid costly voids. Buying a combination of appliances also means you’re likely to get a discount for buying a bundle rather than having to buy separately.
For cheap appliances, try B&Q Appliance Warehouse, Appliance Deals, Appliance City, or Top Appliance online stores.
The drawback to providing appliances this way is that if one fails, it may not be possible to get a replacement or matching appliance, leaving your kitchen a mess. Some homeowners suggest that it is better to have stand-alone units, as they are easier to replace. Personally, I think the aesthetic benefits of built-in appliances override this argument, but it really comes down to personal preference.
When you rent a micro unit in central London, for example, your tenants probably don’t do much cooking, and the food they prepare is likely to only be heated. In this situation where space is at a premium, then consider a combi kitchen microwave, which is much smaller than a cooker and can be placed on a countertop or wall-mounted to save space.
Obviously, if you have just purchased a period farmhouse, the addition of an Aga would greatly increase the property’s appeal and hopefully increase your rental levels. However, you should keep in mind that the running and maintenance costs of these pieces of rustic nostalgia are high.
Finally, if you don’t use gas yet, installing a single gas appliance will require you to obtain a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC) for each year. Pricing for this starts at around £60 and up and is a significant annual expense. Therefore, although it is generally recognized that gas hobs are superior to electric ones, it would be the case that if it is the only gas appliance on the property the additional costs of obtaining this certificate would not be justified. Take a look below for more details on GSC.
Washing machines are really a must for all professional renters. Gone are the days when you were prepared to haul all your dirty laundry to the nearest laundromat. Refrigerators and freezers are another essential. The main considerations here are size and whether to choose two separate units or one combined. I would always recommend the latter. This is because it offers space savings and practical advantages. A single top-level fridge freezer only takes up the same space as a separate fridge or freezer. Plus, the fridge compartment is also at eye level which is much easier to use than a floor level unit. I would always recommend that you provide more in terms of space. Don’t be stingy with the size of these appliances. It will really start to annoy tenants if there is not enough space for their food, especially when they are paying high rents. It’s probably not enough to force them out, but it could be a factor in them starting to watch. For the sake of a few pounds, it really isn’t worth bothering your tenants.
Sure
It is possible to get insurance for your appliances, because if they fail, it can be expensive to repair. Overall though it’s actually cheaper to buy new after factoring in labor and replacement parts costs, so I wouldn’t recommend it.
Security
You should remember that when you purchase electrical appliances, their installation will automatically mean that you are subject to the provisions of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Act 1988. This provides that the owner is responsible for the gas pipes and electrical appliances being certified as safe. working conditions. The inspection process must be carried out at least once a year and by a trader registered with CORGI (Council of Registered Gas Installers).
These inspections shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours, and plumbers charge by fixture or by time. Prices have doubled in the last two years as plumbers have realized the opportunities in the ‘buy to let’ market and the plumber shortage is becoming more acute. Expect to pay £60 upwards just to have a gas boiler and furnace serviced. For your money, you will be issued a gas safety certificate. A copy should also be left for the tenants and kept by the gas engineer for his records.
In fact, the landlord is legally required to provide this record to the tenant at the time of granting the lease and within 28 days after each annual inspection. The record must be kept for a minimum of two years from the date of the check and must contain the following information.
* The date of the check
* The address of the facility
* The name and address of the owner or his agent
* A description of the location of each verified appliance
* Any corrective action taken
* Confirmation that the check complies with the rules established in the regulation
* Name and signature of the person who carried out the control and registration number of your company before the health and safety executive
Homeowners who do not comply with these rules can be held criminally liable (not to mention the possible invalidation of the property insurance policy). Just so you realize how seriously the courts take matters. In 1999, a landlord was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after a tragedy caused by a breach of the Regulations.
Fortunately, there is still no legal requirement to check electrical appliances in the same way. However, I would recommend that this be done if there is any question about the safety of the device or its wiring.
