What do I do with the fireplace?

Posted under Advice by Alan

The title of this topic is a common question asked by budding landlords. If you are planning on letting a property with a fireplace (or several fireplaces for that matter) what should you do with it?

The problem is of course that your potential clients are a mixed bag of needs and wants. Some might like a fireplace some might not.

Even if they do want a fireplace they might prefer something modern and sleek or they just could want a simple traditional fireplace. This predicament is made even worse by new types of fireplaces, such as “hovering” fires built part  of the way up a wall with no base and just a basic frame.

The best bet is to keep the fireplace to begin with and see how its appeal pans out. You could even try quizzing viewers what they think and would prefer and draw up some survey-esque results. Generally more people prefer a fireplace than not, so it is safer to keep the fireplace. Plus the costs of getting a fireplace completely removed, especially if it is a gas-fitted fire.

If the fireplace is a bit of an eyesore, try investing in a new surround or in a more economical, modern fire fitting. This can help persuade people with both a newer look and environmentally-friendly output.

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