Key takeaways
- Furnished tenancies give tenants a home they can live in from day one – often the difference between a tenancy that lasts and one that fails.
- The cost of the furniture is usually recovered through a weekly service charge added to the rent.
- Specify for durability and compliance: fire-safe upholstery, waterproof mattresses and easy-clean finishes.
- A complete two-bed social housing package starts from £2,415 + VAT, delivered and installed.
What is a furnished tenancy?
A furnished tenancy is a social housing tenancy where the council or housing association provides the essential furniture and appliances, instead of the tenant moving into an empty home. Many councils and housing associations run furnished tenancy schemes alongside their standard unfurnished lettings.
The furniture usually stays with the property. The provider recovers the cost through a weekly furniture service charge added to the rent, set out in the tenancy agreement. How charges are set and how they interact with housing benefit or Universal Credit varies, so providers set their own policy.
Who furnished tenancies help
Many people moving into social housing have little or no furniture of their own, including:
- People moving on from homelessness or temporary accommodation
- Care leavers setting up their first home
- People leaving supported or hostel accommodation
- People fleeing domestic abuse who have had to leave everything behind
- Refugees and resettled families
Without furniture, a new tenant may sleep on the floor, take on high-cost credit to buy essentials or struggle to make the property feel like home. A furnished home helps tenants settle quickly and gives the tenancy a far better chance of lasting.
Benefits for housing providers
- Tenancy sustainment – tenants who can live comfortably from day one are more likely to stay.
- Faster lettings – furnished homes can be let and occupied quickly, cutting void time.
- Consistent standards – every property is furnished to the same specification.
- Cost recovery – the service charge recovers the cost of the furniture over time.
- Easier maintenance – one consistent range makes repairs and replacements simple.
What to include
A typical social housing furniture package covers:
- Bedrooms – bed with a waterproof mattress, wardrobe, chest of drawers and bedside
- Living room – sofa and accent chair, coffee table and TV unit
- Dining – table and chairs
- Appliances – fridge freezer, washing machine and microwave
- Extras – clothes airer, curtains or blinds and floor coverings, depending on the scheme
Specifying durable, compliant furniture
Social housing furniture needs to last for years of everyday use and meet the provider's safety standards. When specifying, look for:
- Fire safety – all upholstered furniture must meet the furniture fire safety regulations and keep its labels.
- Waterproof mattresses – hygienic, easy to clean and longer-lasting.
- Robust construction – metal-frame beds and solid carcasses stand up to heavy use.
- Easy-clean finishes – faux leather or durable fabric sofas and wipe-clean surfaces.
- Anti-ligature options – for supported accommodation and higher-risk settings where required.
- A warranty – we give a three-year no-quibble warranty on all hard furniture.
Package prices
Our social housing furniture packages are priced per property, including delivery, assembly and installation:
| Property size | Package price | Lease finance, 36 months (estimated) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 bed | £2,415 + VAT | about £95 + VAT a month |
| 3 bed | £3,060 + VAT | about £120 + VAT a month |
| 4 bed | £3,685 + VAT | about £145 + VAT a month |
| 5 bed | £4,230 + VAT | about £170 + VAT a month |
| 6 bed | £4,770 + VAT | about £190 + VAT a month |
A four-bed package, for example, includes four metal-frame beds with waterproof mattresses, four double wardrobes, four chests of drawers, two two-seater sofas, a four-seater dining set, coffee table, TV unit, fridge freezer, washing machine, microwave and clothes airer. Furniture comes in black, grey, white or walnut. Lease finance is subject to status and approval.
Tips for procurement
- Standardise your specification – one range across your stock keeps costs down and replacements simple.
- Ask about delivery and installation – furniture that arrives built and in place, with packaging removed, saves your teams time.
- Plan for replacements – agree how damaged or worn items will be replaced during the tenancy.
- Think about sustainability – long-life furniture means fewer replacements and less waste.
Frequently asked questions
What is a furnished tenancy in social housing?
A tenancy where the council or housing association provides essential furniture and appliances, usually recovering the cost through a weekly furniture service charge added to the rent.
Who are furnished tenancies for?
They're often used for people with little or no furniture of their own – for example people moving on from homelessness or temporary accommodation, care leavers and people who have fled domestic abuse.
What furniture is included in a social housing package?
Typically beds with waterproof mattresses, wardrobes, chests of drawers, sofas, a dining set, coffee table, TV unit and appliances such as a fridge freezer, washing machine and microwave.
How much does a social housing furniture package cost?
Our packages start from £2,415 + VAT for a two-bed property, including delivery, assembly and installation, with lease finance available subject to status.
