Revealed; the biggest turn-offs for tenants

Revealed; the biggest turn-offs for tenants

The private rental sector as we know has been growing as many make this their lifestyle choice as homeownership levels decrease. Around 20% of households in the UK are privately rented and it's estimated to rise further in the next couple of years. With this being the case the market is extremely competitive and therefore you need to do everything you can to ensure that you do not turn off tenants from your property.

The home furnishing retailer Terry's Fabrics has recently undertaken research to discover tenants biggest interior decor turn-offs. Tenants are more particular than ever before, as this research demonstrates. It may come as no surprise that a dirty home would put off nearly half of your potential tenants, therefore it is essential to ensure you have your property clean and tidy before you start to re-launch it.

Impressions

It is not just cleanliness that is a major deciding factor, so is the aesthetics of your decor also, for example an outdated kitchen would make 48% of people say no according to the research, whilst 47% would turn their nose up at an old-fashioned bathroom. It is worth putting a maintenance plan together so you can ensure that you set time aside for decor upgrades and thus continuing to strengthen the desirability of your property to rent.

You may have turned a blind eye, or are perhaps in complete denial, but once you actually start to de-clutter your home you will soon realise that you have way more stuff than you imagined. From things that belonged to old appliances that you said goodbye to years ago, to things you've saved for a rainy day, or those presents that you have never, ever used, all this 'stuff' quickly piles up!

It doesn't have to cost a lot, and you may not want to undertake major renovation work, simply a fresh coat of paint, and an appliance update could be all that's required. We are happy to advise you on where to spend your money to best maximize your property's potential.

Aromas

How your home looks is just as important as how it smells, as Terry's Fabrics discovered 46% of tenants would not sign the contract on a home that had bad smells. Bad odours are an easy fix, and by doing so you will hopefully win back that 46%.

Outside space

Other areas highlighted in the research were damp and unkempt gardens. Nearly half those questioned stated that damp would give them grave concerns when renting a property, whereas 37% were reluctant to rent a home with an unkempt garden.

The outside space of your property is just as important as the inside. An unkempt garden may give the impression that the property is not cared for or maintained properly, thus giving tenants concerns. Tenants want to know that should an issue arise it will be handled swiftly and corrected to the highest standard, an unkempt garden, will start to niggle in the minds of prospective tenants.

Create a home

Tenants are basically looking for a home, just because they are paying a rent rather than a mortgage doesn't mean that their standards and expectations lower. In fact, they need to be assured in other ways other than just the property itself, therefore the more you can do to make the property look and feel good, the more successful your chance will be of it soon being let.