You know that feeling when you’re looking for somewhere to live, and you find just the right one? The ideal home that has that something about it? The place you can see yourself in, just chilling out, chatting, cooking and relaxing...

What about when you buy somewhere to let? Do you try and find somewhere that feels like a home, or are you focussed just on the bricks and mortar?

If your property doesn’t feel like a real home, you’ll lose money. Tenants, especially high-quality tenants who want to stay somewhere long-term, want more than a place to sleep each night. 

Welcoming properties with a good standard of home decor are let more quickly and stay let for longer. They’re usually well-looked after because their tenants value them. The landlords of these properties have lower void periods and lower repair bills. 

Sounds good, doesn’t it? So what can you do with your home design to sell the houses you let to the quality tenants you want?

Letting a home, not a house

What makes a home is, of course, partly subjective. One person’s colourful, welcoming space is another’s cluttered, oppressive one, after all.

We asked our shared living community and beyond what would be the first thing they would choose. 483 people responded and this is what they told us makes a home for them:

71% said they wanted a comfy sofa 

That’s not surprising. After a long day at work, most of us want somewhere comfortable to chill out and socialise (or even have a cheeky nap). 

14% wanted an awesome TV

Of course, no comfy sofa would really be complete without a decent TV to watch from it. An awesome TV is one that’s big enough for everyone in the house to gather around comfortably. And it needs to be a Smart TV to make Netflix easy – no scrabbling around for an HDMI cable.

8% said a bathtub was a must

Showers are good for getting washed in the morning, but for many people, getting home to a long soak in a hot bath is one of life’s great pleasures.

7% wanted artwork on the walls

Bare, white walls are just that – bare and white. They don’t exude any personality and they don’t help anyone feel at home. Look around your local pub or cafe – the chances are they’ve put some art up to make it feel welcoming. Houses need art too. 

What else can you do to make a home?

There are a few other things we think are important, and that our co-living community members have told us they value in the homes we let. 

A cook’s kitchen

Cooking is no fun in a dingy galley with a strip light. Try and make a kitchen sociable by opening it up to the dining area, so tenants can entertain while they cook for friends. A breakfast bar is ideal. Make sure it’s in good condition too, with quality appliances and plenty of storage for those all-important gadgets.

A music system

Landlords sometimes worry that they’ll encourage tenants to have big parties if they put a music system in, but we think that everyone needs music in their life. It’s a huge part of communal living for many – lots of people want to listen to music every day.

A bit of colour

Whether it’s a wallpapered feature wall, bright cushions or a colourful rug – these things really turn house from dull to welcoming. Many rental properties have little in the way of interior design, with white walls and brown carpets in every room. If you can do better than that, your property will be the one that stands out and lets faster.

Can you think of any other homely must-haves? What do your tenants like most about your home? We’d love to know, and if you’d like more inspirational Lyvly content, sign up to our newsletter here.