If changing to a buy to let mortgage is bothering you, have a chat with your existing mortgage provider first.
It might have changed since I looked at it, but Nationwide for example used to allow you to rent the property for three years on an existing personal mortgage.

only reason I know is because it's changed the way we capitalise and depreciate social housing stock, it used to be elemental and now it's component based, which is a royal pain in the backside!!

not sure what impact for tax furniished/unfurnished has, council tax maybe, but not income tax?

As I understand it, but I could be wrong as I was with the window example, is that any furniture you buy is offset against that year's income, and there is an element of depreciation allowed in following years. Again, any replacements are offset also.

You're better asking an accountant, really.

All of my stuff is rented unfurnished anyway.

Best way. Less stuff to get wrecked.

Unless you're renting apartments in a city centre of course - they all tend to be furnished. I mean if you're only staying for six months or so, would YOU want to lug all your stuff up ten flights of stairs...?

Whenever I've looked at the difference in income it's never seemed worth furnishing the properties I have.

Totally agree. I find that most people want unfurnished properties anyway, and the lack of people wanting to rent furnished property effectively negates any gain in value you would get by including furniture. Certainly round here, anyway.

Eg With furnished you can claim a 10% (of net rent) wear & tear allowance - which usually works out better than the alternative.