As the average cost to rent an apartment in inner cities rises, so does the price premium for pre-furnished – resulting in an average difference of £3,129 a year, according to a new study.
The figure equates to £261 per month between a furnished and unfurnished two-bedroom apartment.
The study, carried out by MADE, analysed rental listings in 20 of the UK’s most populated cities.
The study pinpointed the most and least expensive cities to rent a furnished apartment, highlighting which cities have the largest difference. The data also revealed what renters really think about their landlord’s furniture.
Bristol registered the biggest price difference, with a furnished two-bedroom apartment costing on average £573 per month more than unfurnished – which equates to a 33% difference every month.
Regarding the biggest percentage difference, Newcastle upon Tyne led the way, where a furnished two-bedroom flat costs on average 35% more than its unfurnished counterpart.
The city impacted the least by the pre-furnished premium in the top 10 was revealed as Hull, where choosing furnished over unfurnished will cost £181 extra a month on average, or a 23% difference.
Regarding the words UK renters used to describe their landlord’s furniture, the most popular responses given were cheap (18%) and bland (17%), closely followed by stained (12%) and old (12%).
It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that almost three-quarters (73%) of tenants said they wish they could change the furniture that came with their rented accommodation, while three-fifths (58%) find it difficult to make their space feel like their own.
I’d like to see a survey on whether renters prefer furnished or unfurnished.
I’ve always let furnished, probably because my first let was ‘accidental’ and it was fully [and very nicely] furnished, and I assumed it was what renters expected. But, renters have often asked me to remove furniture because they have their own, especially beds. However, I didn’t reduce the rent.
My partner is letting a furnished house, and because it was her home, it has everything [she likes Miele!]. But she will tell renters that the white goods are provided as a favour, and if they fail, she is not responsible for replacing them. I think it encourages them to treat the appliances as if they are their own.
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