UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi, I have to put a new dining table in a flat. I am torn between a nice, new oak one (just over £200, solid oak not veneer) or a £48 pine one on Ebay. That looks ok. I know pine is a softer wood than oak. This is slightly minor but I would like to put something sort of nice in so it might attract tenants instead of something used looking. The pine table looks nice but it is soft wood.

If I go for the slightly nicer option do you think it will be destroyed easily and then I will have to get a new table. Thanks for any info on what people think and if tenants might actually treat a table nicely. Oak is a tougher wood so I am just wondering. Ugg. I can't make up my mind but have to decide very soon : (. They are both the same size.

Thanks for any opinions! I don't know if the pine would go quickly from ok to beat up or also the same with the oak.

I don't furnish, not since the 90's.

Furniture is for HMO's, Furniture for HMO's is second hand.

I'm not a fan of pine furniture. Pine resonates with "cheaper" in my mind.

The alternative, as said, is unfurnished. My first two properties were fully-furnished, I thought that was the best way to go. Only after several Tenants asked if I could remove everything as they had their own stuff, did I start to question myself. Eventually the Tenants who moved into my first property were happy with most of the stuff, but still wanted various things removing... which meant I also had to change my Inventory and issue an update. In the future I will go unfurnished by preference. I think people always prefer to choose their own stuff, must be true.

For an apartment, letting to specific Tenant types, furnished is always the way to go. My apartment certainly doesn't have a dining table, though, as there's simply not enough room... 2 bedroom, 733 square feet.

I'd comment that both these tables seem rather cheap (or a great bargain) to me?!?! With furniture (for myself and properties to let) I always go for super-sturdy... with that comes a price tag.