Organizing furniture for work and living spaces is often a major challenge for companies and expats. High costs, long delivery times, and a lack of flexibility can complicate the process, especially for international relocations. Sustainable rental furniture solutions offer a practical and forward-looking alternative here.
Find out in this article how rental furniture revolutionizes global mobility, its advantages, and how companies and expats can benefit from these solutions.
Why rental furniture? Mastering the challenges of relocation
Organizing work and living spaces during a relocation process is a logistical and emotional challenge. Companies sending international professionals and expats themselves face several hurdles. Time, cost, and comfort play a decisive role. Below, we explain three of the biggest problems with relocations and how rental furniture can help overcome them.
1. Lack of furniture on arrival – a critical gap in the relocation process
When expats move to a new country, they have often already found a place to live. But what if the apartment is empty because their furniture is still on its way?
- Long transportation times: Furniture from overseas can take several months to reach its destination. Delays due to customs procedures, weather conditions, or logistical bottlenecks are common.
- Alternative solutions are expensive and impractical: Many expats resort to hotels while waiting. However, these are expensive and offer little privacy and no real comfort. Eating in restaurants instead of having your own kitchen also increases expenses considerably and causes additional stress.
- Psychological stress: Living in temporary surroundings makes adapting to a new environment challenging. Without furniture, there is no sense of “home,” which hurts integration and well-being.
2. Uncertain length of stay – a planning dilemma for companies and expats
One of the most considerable uncertainties with relocations is the duration of the stay. This poses problems for companies and expats alike:
- High investment costs for furniture purchases: Buying furniture is often not worthwhile if the length of stay is unclear. The high acquisition costs are unjustified, especially for short- and medium-term assignments.
- Costs for return transportation: If the furniture is later sent back to the home country, high shipping costs are incurred. Return transportation is often just as expensive as the original shipment.
- Environmental problems with disposal: Often the only option left at the end of the stay is to throw furniture away or give it away. This is neither sustainable nor economically viable.
Rental furniture offers a flexible solution here: it can be rented for precisely the duration required without long-term commitments or additional transportation costs.
3. High prices for furnished apartments – an obstacle in the real estate market
The European real estate market makes it even more difficult for expats. Only a fraction of rental apartments are furnished, and these are often significantly more expensive:
- Limited supply: Only around 20% of available rental apartments in Europe are furnished. For expats, this means they must search for a long time or settle for an unfurnished apartment.
- Significantly higher costs: Furnished apartments cost up to 70 % more than unfurnished options. This represents a considerable financial burden, especially for companies that cover the accommodation costs for their employees.
- Less flexibility: Furnished apartments often do not offer the option of adapting the interior to your own preferences. In addition, the quality level of the furniture in furnished apartments is usually unsatisfactory.
Unfurnished apartments, in combination with rental furniture, are the better choice here. They offer cost advantages and allow tenants to use high-quality and suitable furniture.
The advantages of rental furniture for companies and expats
Flexible furniture rental solutions allow companies and expats to save time and money while operating sustainably. Here are the key benefits:
1. Speed and flexibility
Rental furniture is available immediately and can be delivered and assembled within 48 hours. The rental period can be flexibly selected between two weeks and four years. This gives companies and expats the freedom to adapt their needs according to the length of their stay.
2. Cost savings
The financial burden is minimized as no significant investments in furniture purchases are necessary. Delivery, assembly, and return are included in the service, which eliminates additional costs.
3. Sustainability
Rental furniture promotes the circular economy. All furniture is checked, cleaned and, if necessary, refurbished when returned. This reduces the ecological footprint and helps to conserve resources.
4. Individual solutions
Lyght Living offers tailor-made furniture packages from studio apartments to family homes for every living situation. Unique solutions for offices and co-working spaces are also available.
Success stories: How rental furniture makes moving easier
The positive effects of rental furniture solutions can be illustrated using specific examples:
Case study 1: Short-term furniture rental
An expat who moved to Munich from Hong Kong needed furniture for a studio apartment at short notice. The apartment was completely furnished within two days. The rental period was only six weeks, which perfectly met the short-term need.
Case study 2: Long-term furniture rental
A family moving to Switzerland from the USA rented furniture for 14 months. A 3-bedroom apartment was delivered and furnished in just four days. This solution enabled a stress-free start in the new environment.
Focus on sustainability: how rental furniture protects the environment
The concept of furniture rental goes hand in hand with the promotion of the circular economy. Lyght Living focuses on sustainability by carefully inspecting and refurbishing every piece of furniture after use.
In addition, Lyght Living offsets CO₂ emissions caused by deliveries and collections in collaboration with climate partners. Therefore, companies that use rental furniture are actively helping reduce their ecological footprint.
This is how simple the rental process with Lyght Living is:
The rental process is straightforward and transparent:
1. choose the duration of the rental period
Flexible terms offer maximum freedom.
2. select furniture
Suitable furniture packages are put together according to individual requirements.
3. delivery and assembly
Furniture is ready for use within a very short time.
4. enjoy carefree living
Thanks to all-around support, expats can concentrate on the essentials.
Wrapping up
Rental furniture solutions offer companies and expats an efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable way to design living and working spaces. Especially in times of globalization and increasing environmental awareness, furniture rental is an ideal alternative to conventional furniture purchases. You, too, can rely on flexible, sustainable, and customized furniture rental solutions and make the move easier for your expats.
Do you have any questions about renting office furniture? Our team will be happy to help you – by email [email protected], phone +49 (0) 69 460 99 809 (Germany) or +41 (0) 41 539 11 44 (Switzerland). Or follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram. We look forward to meeting you!
