Furnished or unfurnished: Which is best?

Looking for an apartment can be a daunting task: you have to spend so much time and energy in order to find the perfect place. There are so many choices you have to make, for example, should you choose a furnished or unfurnished rental? Check out our tips below to see the various advantages and disadvantages in choosing these types of rentals.

Furnished rentals

Furnished rentals are often hard to come by. A furnished rental is an accommodation which includes the furniture and equipment which is essential for everyday life. So a standard furnished rental would include things like a bed, a table, some chairs etc. A furnished accommodation would also include heating, water, a fridge and a hob.

With this type of rental, it's usually set up so that the tenant can move in immediately. These types of rentals are normally targeted at people looking for short term accommodation. Most of the time, the initial lease lasts 1 year (maybe even 9 months for students) and the notice period is usually 1 month.

One of the main disadvantages of renting a furnished accommodation is that the rent is usually more expensive. This is because you're paying for both the fixtures and the fittings of the accommodation. However, the higher rent price makes up for the fact that you do not have to buy furniture for the accommodation. Another main disadvantage of renting furnished accommodation is that they tend to be smaller than unfurnished accommodation. So you're basically paying more rent for a smaller place.

Unfurnished rentals

This type of rental is usually for tenants looking to rent for the long term. The average lease for this type of rental is around 3 years, and with these types of rentals, you usually have to give 3 months notice. An advantage of unfurnished rentals is that the renter may only give notice to the tenant for specific reasons, e.g. if the tenant wishes to inhabit the property themselves or if they wish to sell it. The landlord must also give 6 months notice before the expiration of the lease. Another advantage is that the rent price is much cheaper than furnished rentals. Unfurnished rentals are usually 15% - 20% cheaper to rent compared to furnished rentals.

Furnished or unfurnished accommodation: Which to choose?

Both furnished and unfurnished rentals have their benefits and drawbacks. The different types of rentals suit different people’s needs.

Furnished rentals are great for young people who want to find a place but don't want to invest lots of money in furniture etc, and they also suit people staying somewhere for the short term. Unfurnished rentals are more desirable for people looking for long term accommodation. They provide a blank canvas for people who wish to create a new home, and unfurnished rentals usually allow you to make decorative changes as opposed to furnished rentals.

If you’re moving in to an unfurnished place, check out our blog on choosing the right colours to decorate your home.

Author: Roomlala

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