What’s the best flooring for my rental property?

As a landlord, you’re looking to weigh up the look and feel of your rental property against obtaining the maximum yield. That’s why, when it comes to flooring, the best solutions for rental properties balance durability, cost-effectiveness and low maintenance to ensure it can withstand a high turnover, heavy footfall and general wear-and-tear from the tenants.

For this reason, Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) and laminate score highly, since they offer a cost-effective combination of aesthetic appeal and high durability.

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)

The pros of LVT are that it’s fully water-resistant, it’s extremely durable, and to the naked eye it looks like wood or stone tile. To that end it’s ideal for high-traffic areas such as kitchens, hallways and bathrooms.

Laminate flooring

Laminate flooring is the best budget solution because it has a lower price point and is very scratch resistant, meaning that it’s a good option for living areas.

Carpet tiles

Carpet tiles offer flexibility, because it’s easier to replace individual damaged sections than it is with full sheet carpet.

Engineered wood

If you’re at the premium end of the property rental market, your tenants will be expecting more, and they will be comfortable with paying for it. Engineered wood is durable and adds genuine value to the property, although it is, of course, more expensive to install.

Overall, it’s a question of evaluating your property, the rent you’re planning to charge and the likely profile of your tenants. LVT’s scratch-guard technology and resistance to spills make it a solid choice, and its click-lock system will allow for efficient, often glue-free, installation. With added underlay you’ll reduce sound transmission between floors, which can be beneficial for everyone, especially in flats. Not only that, a good quality LVT can last for more than 30 years in domestic settings if it’s treated with respect. For most rental scenarios, we therefore recommend LVT over solid hardwood, budget carpets and delicate flooring, but the final choice lies with you the landlord.

To request further flooring advice and a no-obligation quotation for your rental property, please call us on 01480 598800, send us an email or complete our enquiry form.