Furnishing Student Housing: Benefits of Furniture Hire Services

Published on 3 October 2025

Posted in Blog

Student life comes with unique challenges, tight budgets, temporary accommodation, frequent moves, and the constant balancing act between academic priorities and practical necessities. 

Among these challenges, furnishing student accommodation often presents a particularly complex puzzle. Should you invest in furniture you’ll only use for a few terms? 

How do you create comfortable living spaces without breaking the bank? 

What happens to expensive purchases when it’s time to move on?

Furniture hire services have emerged as an increasingly popular solution, offering flexibility, affordability, and convenience that traditional purchasing simply cannot match. 

For students, parents, and landlords alike, understanding the benefits of furniture rental can transform the entire accommodation experience.

The Student Accommodation Challenge

Student housing presents a unique set of circumstances that make traditional furniture purchasing less than ideal. Unlike settled homeowners, students face constant change, uncertainty, and financial constraints that demand more flexible solutions.

Short-Term Needs vs Long-Term Costs

Most student tenancies run for 9-12 months, with many students changing accommodation annually as they progress through their studies. Purchasing quality furniture for such short periods often proves economically inefficient, particularly when factoring in the costs of transportation, storage, and eventual disposal.

Furthermore, students frequently relocate between different cities for internships, study abroad programmes, or post-graduation employment. Transporting furniture across long distances or storing items between tenancies adds substantial costs that can quickly exceed the original purchase price.

Space Limitations in Student Housing

Student rooms and shared houses rarely offer generous living space. Standard university halls might provide single rooms of just 8 – 10 square metres, whilst shared student houses often feature bedrooms designed for compact living rather than spacious comfort.

These space constraints demand furniture solutions specifically designed for small-scale living. Multi-functional pieces, compact designs, and clever storage solutions become essential rather than optional. 

Unfortunately, these specialised furniture types often carry premium pricing, making purchase even less attractive for temporary use.

Space limitations also extend to storage. Many student accommodations lack adequate storage for seasonal items or furniture not currently in use. The ability to return hired furniture during holidays or gap periods eliminates storage challenges.

Why Furniture Hire Makes Financial Sense?

The financial advantages of furniture hire extend far beyond simple monthly rental costs when viewed through the lens of total cost of ownership and practical flexibility.

Upfront Cost Comparisons

Traditional furniture purchasing demands significant upfront investment that can strain already tight student budgets. A basic bedroom setup with bed, mattress, desk, chair, and wardrobe, easily exceeds £800 – 1,200 when purchasing new items of reasonable quality.

Furniture hire transforms this substantial upfront cost into manageable monthly payments that align perfectly with typical student budgets. 

Instead of finding hundreds of pounds simultaneously, students can spread costs over their actual period of need, improving cash flow management significantly.

Hidden Costs of Buying vs Hiring

Purchase costs extend well beyond initial price tags. Delivery fees, often £50 – 150 depending on distance and item size, add immediate expense. Assembly services, if required, contribute another £30 – 80 per item. These auxiliary costs can increase total investment by 15 – 25%.

At tenancy end, students face choices: pay for professional removal services (£100 – 300), attempt DIY transportation and storage, or sell items at significant loss through online marketplaces. Each option involves either direct costs or a substantial time investment.

Practical Benefits for Students and Landlords

Beyond financial considerations, furniture and bed hire offers numerous practical advantages that address the real-world challenges of student accommodation management.

Flexible Rental Periods

Rental periods can typically be adjusted to match exact tenancy lengths, whether that’s a single term, a full academic year, or an extended period for research students or international visitors.

Course extensions, early graduations, study abroad opportunities, or summer internships often require accommodation adjustments. Furniture hire adapts to these changes without financial penalties or complex logistics.

Professional Delivery and Collection

At BedHire, we include professional delivery, installation, and collection as standard service elements. This comprehensive approach eliminates the stress and physical demands of furniture logistics, particularly valuable for students without access to suitable transport or helping hands.

Professional installation ensures proper assembly and positioning, which is important for both safety and optimal space utilisation in compact student rooms. 

Similarly, professional collection at tenancy end removes another burden from typically hectic moving periods.

Quality Assurance and Hygiene Standards

Reputable furniture hire companies maintain rigorous hygiene and quality standards that often exceed what students might afford through individual purchases. Professional cleaning, sanitising, and maintenance between rentals ensure consistently high standards.

This quality assurance proves particularly important for essential items like beds and mattresses, where hygiene directly impacts health and comfort. 

Professional-grade cleaning and sanitising procedures provide peace of mind that’s difficult to achieve with second-hand purchases.

Maximising Space with Smart Furniture Choices

Furniture hire services often specialise in compact, multi-functional designs that maximise utility within limited student accommodation space.

Multi-Functional Furniture Solutions

Modern student furniture increasingly emphasises multi-functionality. Beds with integrated storage drawers eliminate the need for a separate chest of drawers. Desk-bed combinations maximise floor space in tiny rooms. Folding or expanding furniture adapts to different activities and social situations.

Compact Designs for Small Rooms

Student-specific furniture hire focuses on pieces designed for minimal space occupancy whilst maintaining functionality and comfort. Narrow wardrobes, compact desks, and space-saving seating options help students create comfortable living environments within restricted floor plans.

The Landlord’s Perspective on Furnished Accommodation

Property owners and student accommodation providers increasingly recognise furnished properties’ advantages in competitive rental markets.

Faster Tenant Turnover

Furnished properties attract tenants who can move in immediately without furniture acquisition delays. This immediacy reduces void periods between tenancies, improving rental yield and cash flow for property owners.

Ready-furnished accommodation also appeals to international students and those relocating from distant locations, expanding the potential tenant pool significantly.

Attracting International Students

International students represent a growing and valuable rental market segment. These tenants particularly appreciate furnished accommodation that eliminates furniture shipping costs and import complications.

Furniture hire partnerships enable landlords to offer consistently high-standard furnished accommodation without the capital investment and management burdens of furniture ownership.

Professional furniture hire also provides flexibility to refresh or update furnishing styles periodically, maintaining a contemporary appeal that attracts discerning tenants.

Rent Your Student Bed Today at Bed Hire

Furnishing student accommodation doesn’t have to drain budgets, create storage headaches, or add stress to already demanding academic life. Furniture hire transforms these challenges into simple, manageable solutions that adapt to student needs rather than forcing students to adapt to inflexible ownership commitments.

At Bed Hire, we’ve specialised in student accommodation solutions for over two decades, understanding exactly what students, parents, and landlords need from flexible furniture services. With over 6,000 beds in stock and the UK’s most competitive hire rates, we make comfortable, quality accommodation both accessible and affordable.

Our comprehensive service includes professional delivery direct to your accommodation, expert installation and positioning, and convenient collection at tenancy end, eliminating every aspect of furniture logistics stress. 

From single beds for compact rooms to bunk bed solutions for shared spaces, we provide exactly the right furniture for your situation.

For all your questions, and problems, we’ve designed our services around exactly these requirements.

To discuss your student accommodation needs and receive personalised recommendations, call our friendly team on 0208 933 8888. We’ll help you choose the perfect furniture solutions based on your room size, budget, and timeline requirements.

Fill in our quick enquiry form for a tailored quote that fits your specific needs and budget. With flexible rental periods, transparent pricing, and comprehensive service, we make student accommodation furniture simple, affordable, and comfortable.

FAQs

1. Are hired beds and furniture hygienic and safe for students?

Absolutely. Established providers follow strict cleaning, sanitisation, and maintenance standards between rentals. For example, beds and mattresses are professionally cleaned and sanitised before rehire, ensuring they meet hygiene requirements. 

2. Can international students benefit from furniture hire?

Yes, furniture hire is particularly beneficial for international students who can’t bring large furniture items from abroad. Hiring eliminates shipping costs, import delays, and the need to buy expensive new furniture on arrival. 

3. What if my tenancy is shorter than a full academic year?

Furniture hire contracts are usually flexible and tailored to tenancy length, whether you’re staying for one term, a summer course, or a 12-month academic year. You can even arrange to have the bed delivered and collected on dates that match your move-in and move-out, making it a practical and efficient solution for busy student schedules.

4. Do landlords use student furniture hire services too?

Yes, many landlords and student housing providers rely on hire companies to furnish properties. It reduces their upfront investment and ensures that furniture is modern, safe, and maintained throughout tenancies. Furnished properties also attract tenants faster,  particularly international students, and can reduce void periods.

Back to News