Renting a Furnished Unit?

Question

I have a condo in a great part of Charlotte, NC.  I'm relocating to Tampa but I don't want to sell this condo.  I'd like to rent it out furnished because it's easier than moving everything and I would just be putting it all into storage anyway.  I thought about AirBNB, but I'm not sure occupancies are back up from COVID and I know how anyone to manage it.  Long-term rentals seems to make more sense.

Couple questions:

1. Does anyone have a good template for a lease agreement on a furnished rental that they'd be willing to share?

2. How much extra should I charge for furnished vs unfurnished?

3. Should I ask for an additional deposit above and beyond the typical "1 month's rent"?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Christian

Katie Phillips · Answer

@Christian Jones RentPrep.com has lease agreements. I use it and it has worked great. You could just edit it to include the furniture. Furniture is not always a plus for tenants, so I would offer it as an option, but be willing to put it into storage if necessary. The amount you should charge depends on your area.  I would look for other furnished rentals, and then look on roommate websites such as Roomies and Roomster to find single furnished bedrooms. Those are usually easier to find than long term furnished rentals. You can ask for a larger deposit, but some states limit the security deposit amount. Also, in Ca you can only charge one month's rent for unfurnished, and two months' rent for furnished, so look into your state's laws. A larger security deposit will cover you in case your tenants destroy your stuff, but it also limits the number of tenants financially able to rent your place. Just something to think about!