Is the British idea of furnished the same as ours?

Hi guys! We are looking on-line to get an idea of what is out there to rent before we arrive.  There are some listings that say unfurnished and some that say semi-furnished and some that say furnished.
I was told that it might be about 100 or 200 pounds more to get furnished.  When I think of furnished, I think of all the major furniture, ie. table, beds, night stand, dresser, etc.
Can you tell me if that's right.

Also, my dh thinks it'll be cheaper to buy furniture (an aside,we have 4 little kids) than to rent something furnished. 
I'm trying to convince him that it'll be A HUGEf hassle to buy-we probably won't have a car, it'll be expensive, what about the first week or so that we move into the rental-just a whole bunch of considerations.  But he thinks it'll be cheaper and doable. 
Thanks for any advice

Furnished means everything, often including cutlery, plates etc.  Semi furnished would mean white goods (fridge, washing machine) probably beds, but possibly not sofas, tables and kitchenware.

I agree with you - too much hassle, especially to get that all sorted before you arrive.


Vicky

I rented two "furnished" flats and all it came with was

Bed
Wardrobe (no built in closets in either flat)
Chest of drawers
Sofa
Arm Chair
Dining Table with 4 Chairs.

I ended up buying bits and pieces:
Coffee tables
Night stands
Outside garden furniture
Additional storage units
All cutlery, appliances, including microwave, toaster and kettle.

I think it just depends on the landlord.  Definitely ask when viewing places and be specific if you view it when it is occupied.  Don't assume something is included just cause it's in the flat.

As far as furniture shopping....The Ikea in London is accesible by tube/bus and has a delivery service for a fee.  Department stores etc, will all deliver.  So not having a car shouldn't be a huge problem.   But it is expensive.  We just bought a place and had to furnish it.  Just as an idea here is what we spent on some things you will need if you have to furnish a place your self.

L-shaped leather sectional sofa from DFS - £1200
White wooden bed frame and Queen size mattress from John Lewis - £1600 (we bought the luxury mattress cause I LOVE to sleep).
Glass top table and 6 fabric dining chairs from Next  - £650

Take a look on some of the websites for someplaces and get an idea of what you are likely to spend on furniture.  Another thing to consider is delivery time. Delivery took anywhere from 2 weeks (Next) to 13 weeks (DFS).  You don't want to be sitting around for 2-3 months without a sofa.  So your choices might be limited as to what you can get with immediate delivery.  I know some of the John Lewis Sofas can be delivered within 7 days, but you have limited colors and styles. 

My house is furnished and I didn't need to buy anything- had curtains, cookware (though I appreciated mine more than you ever know, once it got here), dishes, pillows, blankets, toliet brushes, pictures on the walls, vacuum cleaner, brooms, lamps, lights, ladders, microwaves, tea kettle, toaster, coffee pot, lawnmower, strimmer, not to mention sofas, beds, tables, chairs, outside stuff, it even had a television and a stereo to boot.  Sure made my life easy because I didn't have a car for the first 4.5 months and I didn't need to get anything!   

From my own experience there is quite a range of what furnished can mean.  I've seen places "fully furnished" with just a bed to everything you could possibly ever need.  I rented a "Fully furnished" property and showed up on moving in day to a fully empty flat.  Luckily I had a signed contract stating all of the furniture that should have been there.  It took a day but they put in brand new furniture and even a welcome package with dishes, toaster, trash bin, etc.  My two cents: get it in writing! 

Oh and if you like Ikea furniture, the prices aren't too bad and they deliver quickly! 

I'm sort of looking at rented flats at the moment, and *all* i can find are furnished ones... but i want UN-furnished!  I want my own stuff... particularly my own bed!

Has anyone ever asked the agent/landlord of a furnished flat to remove the furniture?   I haven't dared yet, cos i reckon it would be a massive inconvenience and expense to the landlord, but... im half-thinking of it.

Hi Genau!, I  think that it depends on the landlord.  Like when I was looking at flats, I had one who said, "If there is anything you don't want, including furniture, let me know and I'll take it out". When you're looking, you can ask?

Hi Genau!, I  think that it depends on the landlord.  Like when I was looking at flats, I had one who said, "If there is anything you don't want, including furniture, let me know and I'll take it out". When you're looking, you can ask?

yeah, maybe i will... thanks.

My flat in London was fully furnished but all it had in the way of white goods was a hoover, kettle and small rubbish bins.  My landlord provided dining table, chairs, couch, comfy chairs from Ikea, bed, wardrobe, dresser, curtains.  I had to buy a microwave, coffee tables, lamps.  I didn't have a car so a lot of things I ordered from amazon.co.uk or had delivered from a shop.  Lugging stuff from Ikea on the bus is a royal pain.

yeah, maybe i will... thanks.

Sorry didn't mean the frowning question mark face, I have to stop using so many question marks!

Yeah, never hurts to ask, I think, because ultimately, you want a place to live that you want to be in, which includes your own bed!

We've rented our new house fully furnished and it came with everything except a microwave.  We have 2 double beds, wardrobes & dressers, sofa, futon, coffee table, TV, bookshelf, desk, dining table & chairs, dustbins, washing machine, cooker/oven, fridge/freezer, toaster, kettle, pots/pans/baking trays, plates/cups/glasses, utensils, lamps, curtains, vacuum, broom, mop, dustpan. But for some reason, no microwave!

I appreciate all the responses.  I especially like the advice of getting things in writing. One more question.. I was told that most landlords will take care of the upkeep of the garden-cutting the grass and the like- but that you have to ask or else it would be your responsibility.

I appreciate all the responses.  I especially like the advice of getting things in writing. One more question.. I was told that most landlords will take care of the upkeep of the garden-cutting the grass and the like- but that you have to ask or else it would be your responsibility.

I think that also depends on the landlord.  Mine provides a lawnmower and strimmer, so its my responsibility to do it.  I don't mind, its not a big garden and I love the smell of cut grass.  (Just wish it weren't electric- always feel like I'm gonna cut the cord!)

I appreciate all the responses.  I especially like the advice of getting things in writing. One more question.. I was told that most landlords will take care of the upkeep of the garden-cutting the grass and the like- but that you have to ask or else it would be your responsibility.

At the house I rented, I was responsible for all the garden upkeep. But it was clearly spelled out in the lease, so no surprises there.

In both the places we've rented, it has been our responsibility.  At the last place, it was an unwritten rule, but a fairly small garden that my DH was able to take care of with a strimmer.  At the house we live in now, much larger garden, and it's in the leas that we're expected to keep the garden 'in trim', but a lawnmower and strimmer have been provided. 

So, here again, you will definitely want to ask and probably best to get it in writing so there are no misunderstandings...