Renting furniture on the rise as tenants seek stylish spaces without big costs

More of us live in rented accommodation; 4.6 million according to the latest estimates. And this number is likely to grow even more in the coming years as the cost of living crisis deepens.

But what should tenants do about furnishing their spaces, when a £2,000 sofa might not fit or won’t fit in the living room of their next home?

Furniture stores offer an answer: They offer dining tables, chairs, couches, beds, rugs — even art — for rent for as little as three months at a time.

Borrowing instead of buying is a brilliant way to create a welcoming space without having to spend your home security.

The trend also has sustainability credentials; renting reduces the amount of cheap furniture that ends up in landfills when it comes time to upgrade.

“We get a lot of people who rent a place for a few months and just want emergency furniture for that time,” says Sam Wilsher, founder of Monty Space (0203 9662598), which offers turnkey room packages as well as individual rooms. pieces for rent.

For a one-bedroom apartment, you get a sofa, coffee table, media unit, dining table, dining chairs, double bed, mattress, bedside tables and two bedside lamps.

You pay £139 per month, which includes delivery, installation and collection. Furniture packs for two bedroom apartments start from £189 per month.

‘Renting furniture is also popular with sharers who don’t want to furnish a place together. It’s easier to rent and return everything at the end of the rental’, adds Sam.

New buyers may also find it helpful if the savings are wiped out, having just been paid out on the property itself.

It also allowed them to “live in their house for a while and figure out how they use each room and what they need for that,” says Sam.

Newly separated or divorced people who need to set up a house quickly can benefit from rental services, as can expatriates moving to the UK who need to set up a house.

This is how renting furniture works

The rental service is simple; you pick and choose individual pieces of furniture, determine how long you want them for, with a minimum of three months, and then they are delivered and assembled.

They are charged at a flat monthly rate, although you may get a better price for pieces with longer leases.

When you have come to the end of the contract you can return the furniture or if you get attached to something there is the option to buy it; you simply pay the difference between the sales price and what you have paid in rent so far. If an item is returned severely damaged, you may be charged.

Where can I rent furniture?

Rental service Homebound offers hundreds of pieces, from sofas and beds to dining tables and chairs, for those living in London and the South East.

There are plans to expand to other cities this year.

A stylish petrol blue velvet three-seater sofa costs from £52 per month and a boho four-poster bed frame from £48.50 per month.

Furniture is offered brand new, or you can rent from the pre-loved range where prices have been reduced.

A number of High Street retailers have tried out furniture hire, but none have made it a permanent fixture.

John Lewis ran a rental service last year, which turned out to be a resounding success.

When the rental service first launched, almost every item was picked up within the first 48 hours. Ikea and Muji also conducted pilot projects.

Deploy style

Renting does not mean compromising on style. At Monty Space you can choose from Scandinavian, contemporary and luxury packages.

“People appreciate being able to choose furniture that they like and that fits their style, rather than having their landlord dictate what furniture they get,” says Sam Wilsher. “Thanks to our white-glove delivery service, they don’t have to lift a finger.”

He said modular pieces are often chosen — by his team of interior designers — for maximum flexibility.

An important decision maker when selecting furniture is looking at interior trends, but also being practical, versatile and comfortable.

At Homebound, Oscar Lie says they focus on timeless versus one-of-a-kind pieces so they can be rented for multiple cycles.

He said: ‘With a broad customer base, we choose pieces that use a plethora of materials and textures – linen, velvet, wood, metal, marble and so on. This way customers can mix and match to their own taste.’

Savings of the week: frying pans

Frying pans have been around since complicated cooking began, with records of their use in ancient Mesopotamia dating back to about 3000 BC.

On February 21, Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday, millions of people reach for a frying pan. Skill is required.

Sweet: The 26cm Le Creuset heart-shaped pan is down from £145 to £108.95 at Philip Morris Direct (philipmorrisdirect.co.uk)

But buying a decent non-stick pan is more satisfying when you pay less for it.

There are discounts at Argos, for example the 21cm Tefal Titanium pan for £13.33 and the 28cm model for £16.

The Tefal Cook Healthy 30cm pan is half price £17 (argos.co.uk). Asda’s Simplicity pan, in grey, is £7, down from £10 (asda.com).

Some argue that making pancakes successfully depends on an expensive pan. So it’s useful to know that the 28cm John Lewis Thermacore pan that was £75 is now £52.50 (johnlewis.com).

Romantics can celebrate Pancake Day with the 26cm Le Creuset heart-shaped pan, down from £145 to £108.95 at Philip Morris Direct.