Best flooring for a rental property

As a landlord, finding the best flooring for a rental property can be difficult – you need to strike a balance between a cost-effective material and one that can withstand heavy use.

There are a variety of factors that will impact the suitability of different flooring materials, so let’s go through them one by one to help you determine the best flooring for your individual needs.

Later in this blog post, we’ll also advise tenants looking to replace the flooring in their rental properties. But for now, let’s focus on landlords.

Best flooring for a rental property: landlord considerations

What sort of property do you own?

Different types of properties will have unique requirements from a flooring material.

For example, apartments and condos with downstairs neighbours will likely benefit from flooring with good sound reduction to avoid disruptions between occupants. The best options here are carpet and vinyl. Single-level homes and multi-family occupancies can also reap the rewards of sound reducing flooring, as it can help reduce the noise that travels between rooms.

What size is the property?

Properties with a larger number of bedrooms are likely to be occupied by bigger families, often with young children. In these instances, durability is key. Vinyl is a cost-effective, durable flooring option. Laminate flooring is similar to vinyl, with a slightly lower durability at a lower price point.

What rooms are you replacing the flooring in?

Bear in mind that tenants may have standards for the type of flooring they expect in certain rooms. Carpet is a common choice for bedrooms, and may be a desirable feature to many potential renters. If you do opt for carpet, make sure it’s a durable fiber type like polypropylene. Nylon is also a durable carpet fiber, but due to being more absorbent, it can stain much easier than polypropylene.

Stairs and hallways require durable flooring types due to the level of regular, heavy foot traffic. Vinyl flooring is best for these applications.

Rooms that experience higher moisture levels, like bathrooms and kitchens, need flooring with good water resistance. The best option here is tile, but a more cost-effective choice is vinyl.

What lease length do you offer?

If you offer shorter leases and have tenants regularly moving in and out, you’ll likely be paying for regular professional cleans inbetween tenants. It may be more cost-effective to opt for hard flooring, like vinyl or laminate, rather than carpet, as these are easier to keep clean and free from staining.

Is your property used as student accommodation?

Although any tenant has the ability to neglect to look after your home, students are notorious for leaving rented properties with a lower level of cleanliness and potential damage. Durable, hard flooring options like vinyl or laminate are most suitable for student rentals.

Do you allow pets?

If tenants can move in with their pets, you should opt for a flooring material that is suitable for these circumstances. Vinyl and laminate flooring are the best options for homes with pets as they offer good water resistance and are easy to clean. If your flooring absorbs moisture well, pet accidents can quickly soak into the floor and underlays, often requiring a complete replacement to eradicate the smell.

How much rent do you charge your tenants?

A higher monthly rental cost means tenants may expect flooring of a higher quality. Depending on just how much you charge, you may consider hardwood floors, which look and feel more luxurious than other wood and wood-look materials. Hardwood also boasts an impressive lifespan and can be sanded and refinished to remove scuffs and dents. So, despite a higher initial cost, hardwood can be a worthy long-term investment, increasing the amount you can charge in rent and the overall value of the property when it comes to selling it.

For properties with a lower rental cost, you may choose to stick with cost-effective flooring options like laminate, which offers a fair level of durability and water resistance, and can be purchased and installed for a reasonable price. A step up from laminate would be vinyl flooring, which is slightly more expensive (but not by much!), and offers superior durability and water resistance, and also good sound reduction. Luxury vinyl products are another small step up, offering enhanced features for a slightly higher price, but still much lower than hardwood flooring. Laminate, vinyl, and luxury vinyl can all be found in designs and colors that mimic the natural wood look, if that’s the aesthetic you’re after.

Best flooring for tenants

Flipping the view away from landlords, let’s now look at the best flooring types for tenants looking to replace the floors in their rental property. Similarly to above, there are certain factors that will impact the most suitable flooring type.

Are you allowed to replace the flooring?

As a tenant, you should always get your landlord’s approval before replacing the flooring in your home. You may be given free rein to replace the floors in any way that you choose, but your landlord may have a preferred type of flooring or request specific colors or brands.

It’s advisable to get confirmation of the initial permission and agreement on your chosen flooring type from your landlord in writing. This can prevent any issues that may arise at the end of your lease.

What type of property is it?

If you live in an apartment, condo, or multi-family occupancy, consider your neighbours when selecting a flooring type. Hard flooring types like tile, hardwood, and engineered hardwood tend to have poor sound reduction, increasing noise from footsteps, moving furniture, and even talking or the TV. Vinyl is a solid floor option that’s softer underfoot and therefore reduces sound well, but the ultimate choice for noise reduction is carpet.

It’s important to consider your neighbours in these instances, not just out of common decency, but also to avoid disputes down the line. If a neighbour complains about the noise levels of your new flooring to your landlord, they may order you to replace the floors with something quieter, meaning you’ll need to pay out for materials and installation again.

How long is your lease?

A rented property isn’t the same as a home that you own. Replacing the floors in a property that you rent can’t be classed as an ‘investment’, as ultimately you aren’t the one benefiting from the upgrade. As much as it may improve your experience whilst residing in the property, one day you’ll move out and effectively throw away the costs of replacing the floors.

If you aim to stay in the same property for many more years, and feel confident that your landlord isn’t planning to sell up in the near future, you may choose to spend a bit more on your flooring renovation since you’re able to reap the benefits for a long period of time. You may choose to enjoy the comfort of carpet, specifically triexta or polyester, which are comfortable, stain-resistant, and have low water absorption. Both are reasonably priced, with polyester coming in slightly cheaper per square foot. For hard flooring, luxury vinyl plank (LVP) or tile (LVT) are great options for an upmarket look and feel for a reasonable price.

If you’re unsure how long you’ll be staying in this specific property, it can be a smarter financial decision to reduce the amount you spend on the renovation. Laminate flooring can be purchased and installed for a low cost, and offers a sleek appearance with plenty of colors and styles to choose from, with reasonable durability and water resistance. Certain vinyl products, like vinyl plank and vinyl sheet, can also be purchased and installed for a cost-effective price, offering similar but enhanced features to laminate.

How is your household structured?

If you live alone, there’s much less to consider than if you have a large family made up of young children and pets. Every household is different, but here are some general recommendations for the best flooring types to suit specific needs.

If you have young children, you may prioritise flooring with good stain resistance, water resistance, comfort, and low risk of allergens. The best options here are polyester carpet, or vinyl flooring.

For homes with pets, you may want to avoid carpeted floors in case of potential damage from your pet’s paws, or staining from the animal dragging in mud from outside. Laminate and vinyl are the best options for households with cats and / or dogs.

What is the best flooring for a rental property?

There’s no simple answer to ‘the best’ flooring for a rental property, as all of the factors above will play a big part in your decision. Taking these considerations into account, use our handy comparison guides to delve further into the benefits and drawbacks of each flooring material:

Whether you’re a landlord or a tenant, always have new flooring installed by a professional. This eliminates the risk of incorrect installation, damage, or safety concerns, and can help increase the lifespan of the floors.

Looking to replace your flooring in Texas? Contact our experts today!