What a furnished rental is
No law defines “furnished” for rentals in general, so listings use it loosely: semi-furnished often means the big pieces only, furnished adds the household basics, and fully furnished or turnkey means a suitcase is all a tenant needs. The listing and the lease should say exactly what’s included — an inventory signed at move-in settles it.
Furnished vs unfurnished
| Topic | Furnished | Unfurnished |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | Higher — the tenant is getting a furnished home | Lower |
| Your costs | Furniture, linens, replacements, often utilities and Wi-Fi | Usually none of those |
| Typical stay | A night to a year — most often one to twelve months | A year or more |
| Taxes | The IRS treats furniture in a residential rental as 5-year property | No furniture to depreciate |
| Deposits | Some states treat them differently — Delaware’s deposit limits don’t apply to furnished units | The state’s standard limit |
Furnished rentals and mid-term stays
Furnished is what makes a midterm or medium-term rental work: travel nurses, project crews and families between homes arrive with a suitcase and stay for months. By the estimate of Tyler Sorenson, Nexxus’s founder, even a furnished home on a yearly lease typically rents for 50–100% more than the same home unfurnished and unequipped — one operator’s experience, not market data. What to buy is in the free furnishing and move-in checklist, and where to list it in Furnished Finder for landlords. Nexxus runs furnished stays of any length — nightly, monthly or yearly — on one calendar and one ledger: see mid-term rental software, or open the live demo set up for mid-term, no sign-up.
Related terms
- MTR — the furnished stay of a month or more. See what MTR means.
- Corporate housing — furnished stays paid for by a business. See corporate housing.
- Security deposit — what protects the furnishings. See security deposit.
Furnished rental FAQ
What does fully furnished mean in a rental?
Move-in ready with a suitcase: furniture in every room, a made bed with spare linens, towels, a stocked kitchen, cleaning supplies and usually utilities and Wi-Fi. There’s no legal definition, so the listing and the lease should say exactly what’s included.
How much more can you charge for a furnished rental?
Whatever furnished comps in your market support. By Nexxus founder Tyler Sorenson’s estimate, a furnished home on a yearly lease typically rents for 50–100% more than the same home unfurnished and unequipped — one operator’s experience, not market data. Subtract furnishing, utilities and turnover costs before you compare.
Do furnished rentals include utilities?
Usually, especially for stays of a few months: tenants expect one monthly price with utilities and Wi-Fi. Some landlords set a monthly cap and bill usage above it. Say which in the listing and the lease.
Is a furnished rental the same as a mid-term rental?
Not exactly. A furnished rental describes the home; a mid-term rental describes the stay — usually one to twelve months. Most mid-term rentals are furnished, but a furnished home can also be rented by the night or on a yearly lease.
Sources
Read on the official sites on October 7, 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice.
- IRS: Publication 527, Residential Rental Property (depreciation)
- Delaware Code: Title 25, chapter 55 (§5514, security deposits)