subject: Decorating Your Property For A Student Let [print this page] It's no secret that the lettings market is currently a lucrative one, with rising house prices forcing many people to remain in or seek rental accommodation. However, one of the most desired rental properties is that of the student home, with landlords in popular university cities seeing their portfolio quickly snapped up by ever increasing numbers of students.
As well as ensuring that gas safety certificates are in place and testing all appliances, one of the main issues surrounding student homes is decor. A common misconception is that students will live in the worst accommodation, with flowery wallpaper, tired, filthy carpets and creaky furniture. Whilst these properties do rent on occasion, they achieve much lower rental incomes and often require constant repair. Students living in such dated surroundings are also much less likely to want to look after the property.
With a few simple touches, a student property can be transformed into a communal-friendly living environment. It's best to opt for neutral wall colours, choosing a hard wearing paint, that won't be damaged by blue tack or heaven forbid, pen. Rather than picking luxurious soft pile carpets, go for laminate flooring so any spills can be quickly cleaned up. Adding modern finishings such as metal curtain poles, chiffon curtains and a funky notice board can add a homely feel, at low cost. On a furnishings front, don't be afraid to buy good quality second-hand furniture, rather than going for cheap, budget sofas or tables that can easily be ruined.
Privacy is vital for shared accommodation so don't forget to put locks on bedroom doors to prevent any squabbling. Blinds and safety locks are important for any students with bedrooms on the ground floor, so ensure these are in place before renting the property.
Student lets can achieve figures of 250 - 400 per student per month in some of the most popular University cities such as London, Brighton, Oxford and Portsmouth, so ensure you make the changes necessary to maximise your rental potential.
