Choosing the best flooring for a rental property comes down to four things: how it handles tenant turnover, whether it resists water and scratches, what it costs per square metre installed, and how it photographs for listings.
Get any of those wrong and you end up replacing flooring between every tenancy. Get them right and the floor outlasts multiple lease cycles without a complaint.
This guide breaks down five hard flooring options we install across Melbourne rental properties every week. Each one sits on our Hard Flooring Sample Board, which we deliver to property management offices so you can compare materials in person before quoting a job.
What Is the Investa Hard Flooring Sample Board?
The Investa Hard Flooring Sample Board is a physical display with five curated flooring ranges built for investment properties. It includes hybrid, vinyl plank, laminate, and engineered timber options across multiple price points.
Property managers keep it in their office. When a landlord needs flooring replaced, you pull out the board, compare two or three options side by side, and make a decision in the same meeting. No waiting on supplier samples. No guessing how a colour looks outside a screen.
We deliver them free to property management offices across Melbourne.
Summerhill Hybrid Flooring (6mm)
Best for: Apartments, mid-range rental houses, kitchens, bathrooms, living areas.
Summerhill is a 6mm hybrid with a stone plastic composite (SPC) core. It is 100% waterproof, scratch resistant, and comes with built-in acoustic underlay.
Nine colour options: Brown Marle, Safari Tan, Smoking Quartz, Blackbutt, Barista Tan, Mariner, Plantation, Oakmoss, Sycamore.
This is the range most property managers choose for general rental use. The waterproof core means it works in kitchens and bathrooms without needing a transition to tile. The 6mm profile installs over most existing subfloors without major preparation.
If you need one product that covers the majority of rooms in a rental property, Summerhill is where to start.
Internal link: View Summerhill range →
Daybreak Vinyl Plank (2.5mm)
Best for: End-of-lease turnarounds, budget-conscious landlords, low-traffic units.
Daybreak is a 2.5mm vinyl plank. Four colour options: Merino Matt, Spotted Gum, Burnwood, Vienna Oak.
This is the thinnest and most affordable option on the board. It installs directly over flat surfaces with minimal preparation, which keeps labour costs low. For properties where the owner wants fresh presentation at the lowest cost per square metre, Daybreak does the job without cutting corners on appearance.
It won’t match the underfoot feel of thicker products, but for speed and budget it is hard to beat.
Internal link: View Daybreak range →
Forestbrook Laminate (8mm)
Best for: Bedrooms, living rooms, hallways in houses where the owner wants a timber look without the timber price.
Forestbrook is an 8mm laminate in three colours: Shadow Spotted Gum, Coastal Blackbutt, Pinecord. All neutral tones that photograph well for rental listings.
At 8mm it delivers a solid underfoot feel. The wear layer handles furniture movement and daily foot traffic without showing damage quickly. Laminate gets overlooked because people assume it cannot handle moisture, but Forestbrook holds up well in dry areas and common living spaces.
Good fit when the budget sits between vinyl plank and engineered timber.
Internal link: View Forestbrook range →
Riviera Engineered Oak (14mm)
Best for: Higher-value investment properties, pre-sale renovations, premium rental listings.
Riviera is a 14mm engineered oak with a real timber veneer. Four colour options: Amblewood, Laurel, Acacia, Honey Oak. The wear layer can be sanded and refinished.
This is the premium option on the sample board. It makes sense for properties targeting a specific tenant demographic or preparing for sale. The look and feel is noticeably different from hybrid or laminate. Tenants notice. Valuers notice.
Higher cost per square metre, but for the right property, the rental return and resale value justify it.
Internal link: View Riviera range →
Australian Species Engineered Timber (14mm)
Best for: Properties where the owner specifically requests Blackbutt or Spotted Gum.
Same 14mm engineered construction as Riviera, using native Australian timbers. Two options: Blackbutt and Spotted Gum.
These are the two most requested timber species in Melbourne. Engineered construction delivers the real timber look at a lower price point than solid hardwood, with better dimensional stability in Melbourne’s variable climate.
Internal link: View Australian Species range →
Quick Comparison: Which Flooring Suits Which Rental Property?
| Range | Type | Thickness | Colours | Best Use Case | Price Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summerhill | Hybrid (SPC) | 6mm | 9 | General rental, wet areas included | Mid |
| Daybreak | Vinyl Plank | 2.5mm | 4 | Budget turnarounds, low-traffic | Entry |
| Forestbrook | Laminate | 8mm | 3 | Bedrooms, living rooms, dry areas | Mid-low |
| Riviera | Engineered Oak | 14mm | 4 | Premium rentals, pre-sale | Premium |
| Australian Species | Engineered | 14mm | 2 | Owner-specified Blackbutt/Spotted Gum | Premium |
Why Property Managers Use a Physical Sample Board
Digital swatches do not show texture, edge profile, or how a colour reads under office lighting. A sample board on your desk means you can compare options during a landlord meeting and confirm a decision the same day.
Less back-and-forth. Faster approvals. Shorter vacancy periods.
One Quote for the Whole Job
Once you have picked a range, we quote carpet, flooring, and blinds together. One team, one visit, one invoice. No coordinating three separate contractors.
Scope to quote in 48 hours. Installation scheduled around your vacancy timeline.
Request a sample board or get a quote →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best flooring for rental properties in Melbourne? Hybrid flooring (SPC) is the most popular choice for Melbourne rental properties because it is waterproof, scratch resistant, and works across kitchens, bathrooms, and living areas without needing a separate product for wet zones. Summerhill Hybrid (6mm) with 9 colour options is the range most property managers select.
How much does rental property flooring cost in Melbourne? Costs vary by product type. Vinyl plank starts at entry-level pricing for budget turnarounds. Hybrid sits in the mid-range. Engineered oak is the premium option. Investa quotes all flooring installed, not just materials, so the price includes labour and preparation.
Can I get flooring samples delivered to my office in Melbourne? Yes. Investa delivers the Hard Flooring Sample Board free to property management offices across Melbourne. The board includes five ranges with physical samples you can compare side by side. No obligation.
Should I use the same flooring throughout a rental property? Using one main hard flooring product throughout (with tile in wet areas if needed) simplifies quoting, reduces installation time, and creates a cleaner look for listing photos. Hybrid flooring works in most rooms including kitchens and bathrooms, which often eliminates the need for multiple products.
How quickly can rental property flooring be installed? Installation timelines depend on property size and product type. Investa schedules around your vacancy timeline and provides scope to quote within 48 hours.