Home office - how to give your rental the edge

Home office - how to give your rental the edge

Over the past couple of months in lockdown there is one space in every property that has suddenly become even more important: the home office. With large swathes of the UK population working from home, those properties that have room for an office environment are as appealing as those with outside areas. For landlords looking to the future this is likely to remain a key priority for tenants, particularly given the uncertainty over how long any type of lockdown may continue and whether full lockdown could at some point return. That's why creating a home office is now a very simple way to give your rental an edge.

Why create a home office in your property?

Rented properties with home offices have shot up in popularity as more and more Brits look ahead to months of working from home. Given the apparent ease with which many businesses have shifted to a model of remote working during the COVID-19 crisis it's likely that flexible and home working will be much more the norm even after the pandemic itself has passed. As a result, space to work quietly and productively at home has risen up the list of 'must haves' for many tenants. Landlords able to offer a genuine home working space are able to charge a premium in rent and are potentially likely to attract more long-term tenants.

How to create a home office in your property

• Consider a conversion. Depending on the space that you have available you might want to look at a conversion to create a home office space. A garage, loft or adding a conservatory are all options here. This type of investment can add value to your home too - for example a loft conversion could add around 10% while a good conservatory can add 12%.
• Make economical use of space. Many properties, especially those that are older, have nooks and awkward spaces that with some clever planning could be converted into an area that will work well as a home office. There are lots of ideas for this online, from creating a smart office under the stairs to converting a box room.
• Don't sacrifice a bedroom. It's important to retain some flexibility in your property, especially where there are only two or three bedrooms. Permanently converting one into a home office may make the space less appealing to other tenants in future who don't need this function. Instead, be smart and create a room that could work as either a bedroom or an office, or both.
• Dress the property for viewings. The aesthetic and current set up of a property can make a big impact on tenants in terms of whether they can see themselves living there. If you're dressing a property with furniture don't forget to include a desk in a space you feel would work as a home office so that tenants can see that this is an option.

Whether or not working from home continues to be a dominant trend in the months to come, home office space is likely to remain in demand. For landlords keen to give their property an edge this is a simple way to do it. Storeys is a letting agent in Hackney with a wealth of experience in finding great tenants - we can guide you through the process of ensuring your property appeals.