Fully Furnished, the UK's leading furniture solutions provider to the property industry, has reported an increase in overall business of 23 per cent year on year.

Managing director Alec Watt puts it down to a combination of strong demand in all business areas across the group, and agents and the public adapting to changing markets.

Mr Watt says that in 2009 the company saw an 80 per cent increase in their furniture sales packs, due to landlords realising the importance of furnishing to reduce void periods and increase rental yields.

He said: "Landlords are quickly coming round to spending a budget on furniture to create a lifestyle for potential tenants as they understand that it helps to let their property quickly and ensures that they can make a bigger monthly rental return.

"Last year saw a huge increase in the service that we provide for landlords and I believe that we will only see our numbers increase throughout 2010.

"The reason for this is that we could see changes to conditions in the sales market with the impending general election and recent warnings from the Bank of England that we may experience a double-dip recession.

"This could see people who need to make a move this year opting to turn to the rental market and becoming, once again, temporary landlords."

The sales market is continuing on from a busier-than-expected fourth quarter in 2009.

Troubled times beforehand have, Mr Watt says, caused agents to become more switched-on in helping to assist sales transactions, ensuring that they exchange and complete.

This meant that Fully Furnished experienced a substantial surge in its dress for sale and let service in 2009.

As well as this, it has seen demand for its emergency furnishing soar recently following on from the horrendous weather conditions that hit the UK which included snow and freezing temperatures.