Appliance rental for landlords and letting agents
Keep a unit of refurbished appliances and rent them to landlords, agents and tenants, with delivery and repairs included.
- £8k-30k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
1,108 UK companies in this field, 41% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 77299 “Renting and leasing of other personal and household goods”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A larger rental operation based in a small unit or lock-up. You hold a stock of washing machines, fridges, freezers and cookers, refurbish them, deliver and install them, and swap or repair them if they fail.
Your first three steps
- Visit local letting agents and landlords to ask what they would pay for supplied appliances
- Price up a unit, a van and 30 or more appliances from auctions, trade suppliers or house clearances
- Set up rental agreements, direct debit collection and a simple stock list with service dates
Who pays
Landlords of unfurnished or part-furnished properties, letting agents, student housing providers and tenants who prefer a monthly fee.
How it makes money
Monthly rental per appliance, bundle prices for a full kitchen set, plus delivery, installation and collection fees. Longer agreements with landlords give steadier income.
Skills that help
- Appliance repair or refurbishing
- Driving and safe lifting
- Dealing with landlords and agents
- Stock and payment tracking
Watch out for
- Rental to individuals may fall under consumer hire rules, so check with the FCA whether you need authorisation
- Electrical safety rules and testing for appliances you supply, plus waste electrical (WEEE) disposal rules
- Stock insurance, public liability and motor insurance for business use
- Unit lease terms and business rates
- Cash tied up in stock and late payments, so work out how long each appliance takes to pay for itself
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: appliance rental for landlords and letting agents
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start an appliance rental business with a unit?
Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £30,000, depending on how much stock you hold. These are estimates, so work out how long each appliance takes to pay for itself, as cash tied up in stock is a key risk.
What rules should I check before renting appliances to landlords and tenants?
Check with the FCA whether rental to individuals falls under consumer hire rules and needs authorisation. Also check electrical safety testing for appliances you supply, WEEE disposal rules, your unit lease and business rates, and stock, liability and motor insurance.
How much can an appliance rental business for landlords make?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £2,000 to £9,000, depending on the size of your stock and how many landlords and agents you supply. Expect to spend around 25 hours a week or more on it.
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