Preparing Your Student Property For The Academic Year
Is your student property ready for its next inhabitants?
Buy-to-let student accommodation is an excellent investment, especially in the central London area. With some of the best universities in the world and a vibrant student population, there’s always demand for student accommodation.
But, your accommodation must be ready for its next set of students when September rolls around. This changeover period can be stressful but following these steps will make life easier for you and your tenants.
Scroll down to learn how you can prepare for the next year.
Check Your Furniture Inventory
All rental contacts are different, but if you’re providing a fully furnished property, you’ll need to ensure all basic furniture is accounted for. This usually includes a washing machine, a fridge-freezer, a cooker, curtains, beds, carpets, and wardrobes. Many landlords also offer chairs and desks in student rooms.
In addition to furniture, landlords also provide vacuum cleaners and lawn mowers. Double-check each property before the move-in date to ensure all furniture is present.
Since student rentals aren’t family groups, you’ll need to ensure all furniture complies with HMO safety regulations.
Consider your floor materials
When preparing your property for the new academic year, take a look at your floor. Do you see carpets or hard flooring? If you have time and budget, you might want to consider changing any older carpets to hard flooring.
Laminate and tile flooring are much easier to clean than carpets. Student properties can get messy, and opting for hard flooring can save you time and money in the long term. If you have to choose carpet, opt for a short pile style in a dark colour.
Double-check doors and windows
Unfortunately, student properties can be targets for break-ins. A quick double-check of all windows and doors can prevent any issues in the future.
Swap any hollow interior doors for solid pine options. While hollow interior options may look attractive, solid pine doors are more robust. Additionally, replace any window hinges or closing that seem loose. Ensuring all boxes are checked before the term starts will give you and your tenants peace of mind.
Garden amenities
If your student property comes with a garden, consider hiring a professional team to give it a once over before your tenants move in. This will provide a clean and attractive atmosphere, setting the standard for the next group of students. This isn’t required, but it’s a popular end-of-year technique for most landlords.
You might also want to leave a lawn mower if you’re not working with gardeners throughout the year.
Invest in professional cleaning services
Finally, you might want to hire a professional cleaning service to give the property a deep clean before the term starts. Though most students deep clean their accommodation before moving out, many properties can do with an extra scrub.
The Allen Goldstein team work with trusted professional cleaners to make sure all of our properties start the new year in a new state. If you need any assistance, your personal property manager is just a phone call away.
Another year, another set of students!
Investing in buy-to-let student accommodation is a popular way to generate income while building the property’s value. Are you interested in student accommodation? Find out the benefits of investing here.
Whether it’s your first year as a landlord or not, we’re here to help. The Allen Goldstein student property services are designed to help you navigate the start of the academic year.
Get in touch today to start your landlord journey.