Rented Flat New doors on existing kitchen units & flooring

chickmug

I have a small 1 bedroom flat which I want to cheer up before new tenants go in and could do with some help.

Where can you get replacement kitchen unit doors and any ideas on costs or any web links?

The kitchen floor is 90 feet square and I wonder what the best flooring would be sheet vinyl, vinyl floor tiles or wooden look flooring. I know the new tenants and have said they like hard surface tiles but I guess that would be extremely costly?

Icey77

My first thought was "they can prefer hard surface tiles as much as they like, they'll get what they're given".

As long as the flooring is in good condition and does what it is meant to do there shouldn't be a problem as far as I'm concerned. I would try to make a new floor suit the existing kitchen but allowing tenants to dictate what I do with my property which could result in a large difference in cost for me is not going to happen.

Perhaps you could find a vinyl flooring that looks the part but is within your budget and is ascethically acceptable to your tenants - they're not likely to go somewhere else on the strength of not liking the kitchen floor are they?!

I hope you find something suitable

lynnexxxo

B and q often have sales on their kitchen doors - a couple of months ago the were £1 each. Assuming you have standard sized doors that might be the way to go.

tbs624

Agree with Icey - sheet vinyl. Vinyl tiles can be an absolute pain if you need to get them up for pipe repairs or if they start peeling along the joints after the tenants have a washing machine flood. Also, getting the residue glue off to replace the flooring at a later date will be a nightmare..

If by wood look you mean laminate flooring, I wouldn't bother. It's noisy, you have to get the more expensive moisture-resist ones for kitchens or bathrooms and IMO it's so over-rated.

As Lynne says, if you have standard size doors it should be an easier job - some of the smaller fitted kitchen firms will sell off display kitchens from time to time (they get them free or at a huge discount from the manufacturer).

Maybe avoid this bloke: http://www.oft.gov.uk/news/press/2008/69-08 :eek:

Could you maybe repaint the current doors or get them sprayed at a car paintshop, and then fit new knobs/handles?

clutton_2

i have just repainted my own kitchen unit doors in gloss paint and they look brill - but time is money - maybe there are shops which sell just doors -

chickmug

The replies so far are good and thanks all. I need to add I have known the young couple coming in as family friends for most of their lifes. They have said they would do any of the work, go out source and get the materials but I would need to reimburse them as they are skint. It's a really good situation as they need to there for two years and I see the flat being enhanced in value (relative to the prevailing market) as they have good design taste as proven by the flat they currently rent.

clutton_2

all well and good but you still need to make a profit/pay your costs

Icey77

I'm not sure that new kitchen cupboard doors and a new floor will add that much value to the property as a whole - it's not as though we're talking about a conservatory here (although that would be a unique selling point on a flat )

Please remember that your tenants are going to be "using" the flat whilst they live there so any redecoration now could look used / tired / battered in two years time.

Whilst repair / redecoration costs are generally deductable for tax you don't want to be making a capital improvement to the flat which won't become deductable under capital gains tax until you sell it. If the current floor is perfectly adequate and you replace it with a "hard surface tiles" one this could be viewed as a capital improvement - it already exists in an adequate state but you're choosing to replace it with a better / more expensive floor. I might be going off on a wild tangent here as I#'m guessing your tenants aren't wanting cotswold flagstone floors ... or are they?

From a tax point of view I think the issue is with the current state of the floor/doors and what you want to replace them with and how much it's going to cost.

I might be talking out of my hat here anyway - your current floor might be ripped and a trip hazard and the cabinet doors might be hanging off

Heatherbell

Hi all, first time poster - long time reader. :j

I read on another post that someone was doing up kitchen doors professionally for a reasonable rate but I can't find it. (Will search into the wilderness :eek: )

Would an invoice from such a company be tax deductable?

Thanks,

Heatherbell. :A

zebulon

tbs624 wrote: »

Vinyl tiles can be an absolute pain if you need to get them up for pipe repairs or if they start peeling along the joints after the tenants have a washing machine flood.

you actually don't need a washing machine flood for vinyl tiles to be a pain.

had them in my last flat - they were a pain.

they starting peeling just by cleaning - and even with just a tiny piece of the corner peeling, I would trip on it, making things worst - pieces of dust etc., etc etc.

they were probably bad quality, and had other tenants before me so were already damaged but didn't like the experience - I like to be able to clean my kitchen!

I just like a good thick, one piece, vinyl, flooring - mainly for renting.

barnaby-bear

chickmug wrote: »

The replies so far are good and thanks all. I need to add I have known the young couple coming in as family friends for most of their lifes. They have said they would do any of the work, go out source and get the materials but I would need to reimburse them as they are skint. It's a really good situation as they need to there for two years and I see the flat being enhanced in value (relative to the prevailing market) as they have good design taste as proven by the flat they currently rent.

B&Q sell nice ceramic floor tiles at 15quid for 10 (30cmx30cm) but if not ground floor you need BAL technical grout and marine ply down first to absorb movement if not a solid floor and not an amature use any old floor grout...