Chapter 4

How to Choose Flooring for Your Rental Property

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The Guide to Rental Property Renovations

Variations of hardwood flooring.

Choosing flooring for a rental property is different than choosing flooring for your own home. Rentals typically endure more wear and tear, and tenants may not take care of flooring the same way an owner would.

Since the goal of your investment property is to make money, the cost of new flooring has to be justified — you’ll want to find flooring that meets a handful of criteria and brings your property some return on investment. Here are the factors you should consider as you choose new flooring for your rental property.

Affordable Flooring

The cost of flooring depends on three factors: the cost of material, the cost of installation labor, and the cost of routine maintenance.

Like most products, there are high-end versions of each type of flooring and their more affordable counterparts. The flooring we suggest below is generally the most affordable flooring on the market:

  • Tile
  • Carpet
  • Cork
  • Floating wood tiles
  • Vinyl sheets
  • Vinyl tiles
  • Laminate
  • Linoleum

Low-Maintenance Flooring

Low-maintenance flooring means you can avoid regular maintenance, like waxing, oiling, or buffing. This is important for a rental property since tenants likely won’t be conducting regular maintenance on the floors.

Since maintenance on floors often requires all furniture be removed from the area, you’d likely only do any flooring maintenance between tenants, which adds to the work required during tenant-turnover.

Ideally, you want floors that are low-maintenance to eliminate the expense and headache of maintenance itself. For this reason, we suggest the following floors:

  • Carpet
  • Engineered hardwood
  • Cork
  • Floating wood tiles
  • Vinyl sheets
  • Vinyl tiles
  • Laminate
  • Linoleum

Flooring That’s Easy to Maintain

Floors that are maintainable are easy to fix without having to replace the whole thing. This is especially important in the event of flooring damage, which is more likely to happen in a rental property.

Maintainability is also based on how easy it is to clean the floors. Being able to easily remove stains and marks from flooring is essential for a rental property, particularly if you rent to families with younger children or college students. Here are flooring options that are the easiest to maintain:

  • Floating wood tiles
  • Vinyl sheets
  • Vinyl tiles
  • Laminate
  • Linoleum

Durable Flooring

Durable flooring lasts longer. It has the ability to withstand frequent moves with furniture coming and going. Floors that are not durable are not a good option for rental properties, which is why we recommend the following durable flooring options:

  • Vinyl sheets
  • Vinyl tiles
  • Laminate
  • Linoleum

Flooring That’s Aesthetically Pleasing

You want attractive flooring so you can more easily rent your unit. We recommend having the same flooring throughout your unit, with the exception of bathrooms (bathrooms require water-resistant flooring). Uniform flooring throughout helps your unit look bigger and more modern.

Keep in mind that tenants will pay a higher rent price to live in a nice, modern unit. After updating your floors, you should raise your rent price to reflect the updated value of your unit.

We recommend the following aesthetic flooring options:

  • Vinyl tiles
  • Laminate
  • Linoleum
  • Hardwood

Flooring With Easy Installation

Easy installation is dependent on two factors: how easy the installation process is and how easy it is to find a supplier. The less time it takes to install, the lower chance of vacancy. And the less time you spend finding a supplier, the more time you have for other important landlord tasks.

Keep in mind that while stone, tile, and hardwood floors are visually appealing, they are also usually the most difficult to install.

Safe Flooring

As a landlord, you always need to stay conscious of tenant safety and potential lawsuits. If your tenant slips and falls, there’s a chance that he or she could blame you.

Flooring like stone, marble, and concrete are not great options for rental properties since there’s a higher chance of physical harm if someone falls.

Our Recommendations for Rental Property Flooring

Each landlord should choose the flooring that makes the most sense for their rental property. Here are some additional factors to consider:

  • The value of your property: Higher-end rentals attract tenants who expect nice flooring. You’ll likely need hardwood or other luxurious, durable floors.
  • Location of the property: For areas that are hot and humid year-round, tile is better than hardwood floors or carpet. Tile keeps the unit cooler and is low-maintenance.
  • Pet-friendly rentals: Floors like hardwood, laminate, or tile are the best flooring options for pets.

Your decision will also be based on whether you want to put in a larger initial investment or would prefer to update your flooring in the short-term. Durability and affordability often contradict, meaning if you want your floors to last a long time, you’ll likely need to pay more up front.

Based on our recommendations above, the following floors make the most sense in a rental property:

Vinyl Tiles

Vinyl tiles can look like tile, wood, or stone. They’re highly water resistant, so you don’t have to worry about spills. Vinyl tiles are also highly resilient when it comes to damage, making them easier to maintain. They are flexible and can cover most surfaces with little or no prep, so installation is easy. Vinyl tiles are also low-maintenance and affordable.

Laminate

Laminate is another affordable option, and it’s easy and quick to install. We recommend having a tough finishing layer for your laminate flooring to protect the floor from fading, stains, and wear-and-tear. With the tough layer, the floor will be durable and easier to maintain, even in units with pets and young families. Laminate floors are a great hardwood alternative for budget-conscious landlords who want the appeal of wood floors.

Linoleum

Linoleum is affordable, easy to maintain, and can last up to 40 years. Linoleum comes in many patterns and can look like hardwoods or tile.

Hardwood

Hardwood floors are a more luxurious form of flooring. Hardwood also requires more maintenance to stay in good condition, and for this reason, hardwood only makes sense in higher-end rentals. Hardwood is a larger initial investment, but the durability and high-end appeal of hardwood makes it a great option for some rental properties.

Don’t Forget to Assess Your Property for Other Needed Updates

Once you’ve made a decision about the best flooring for your rental property, make sure you’re also assessing whether you need to invest in other parts of your rental property, as well. Updated and upgraded rental properties are able to command high rents, so if you’re investing in one area, making sure you have the best appliances for a rental property or windows that will help cut energy bills can be the best move for return on investment.

If you’ve made updates to your rental (or you’re thinking about it), see how other rentals in your area compare or use these tips and tricks for setting the right rent price.