What alterations can tenants NOT make to a rental property?
Are you a tenant that loves where you live but want to be able to make it feel a little more homely? Do you wish you could refurbish the property to suit your style? Read this article to discover what you can change in a rented property and what you should leave alone.
The rental market is tricky at the moment, with properties being snapped up in no time, and there are very few available homes to choose from. If a property is available and within your budget, you will likely take it and compromise on the condition or decor. Because of this, there is a chance that you may have rented a property that wasn't exactly perfect for you, but it would do for now.
While it may not be ideal to compromise on elements of the property you are renting, with a lack of supply for available rental properties and rising prices, there are not enough houses to go around.
But, after you've secured the property and moved in, those points you compromised may be starting to grate on you. Sitting on your sofa in the evening, are you looking around at the property, wishing you could change things?
The issue is that, as a tenant, you are limited as to what you can do to the property because the property belongs to your landlord. Follow these guidelines to make sure that you are not making any changes that you shouldn't so that you get your deposit back when you move out.
- Structural changes. You can not alter the property's structure, including internal walls and windows.
- Keys/lock changes - The locks and keys must not be changed during the tenancy. If there is a reason that you must do this, such as damage, loss of keys or personal security, you must have permission from the landlord and share a new key to the property with them.
- Fixtures and fittings - Bathrooms, kitchens, light fittings, doors, windows etc., are all the fixtures and fittings in the property, and they belong to the landlord.
- Anything that should be done by a professional for safety reasons - Gas and electricity systems are not to be touched or altered by anyone not qualified and regulated.
- No material changes to the property - If you want to make significant changes, you probably shouldn't proceed. A material change to the property will jeopardise your deposit money.
A general rule of thumb is that if something is a part of the property and you wouldn't be taking it with you when you move out, it is inappropriate for you to change it.
Whilst, as a tenant, the property is your home, it is still owned by your landlord, and it will return to them when you move out. As such, you can not make changes to the property that would make a significant change that could affect the value of the landlord's asset.
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