Should You Renovate Your Rental Home?

By Steve Graham, Networx

The home improvement bug seems to bite everybody these days, even renters. It’s tempting to upgrade a rental, either to add a personal touch or make the home more comfortable. Your landlord may encourage a remodeling project because he knows you are more likely to stay past the typical one-year lease if you have invested in upgrading the home. He also knows some projects will make the house more attractive and valuable to the next renter. However, there are legal and financial questions for both the renter and landlord.

Will the landlord allow the project?

Renters should always check with the landlord and read the lease before starting any renovation project. Whether repainting a room to remodeling the kitchen, ask for permission and read all the fine print. Even if the landlord approves, he or she might still withhold a security deposit, evict, or sue. A lease is a binding contract that takes legal precedence over a verbal agreement.

Will the city allow the project?

Even if they approve a project, landlords may not be aware of local building codes and restrictions. Make sure any addition or remodel meets code and has the proper permits. The landlord may force you to undo your work if he or she finds a code violation. A homeowner may also be sued — a case that would likely involve the remodeler, i.e. you.

Who will pay for the project?

A landlord may allow the project but offer no help with payment. The landlord would get all the added value at no cost, so you would have to really want the upgrade to agree in that case. On the other hand, if you provide a high-quality project, the landlord may offer to cover costs upfront or credit your rent to pay back the project costs. Either way, keep all receipts and keep track of your time spent on the project.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Eternal G.

12:25AM PDT on Mar 22, 2011

When renting we only rented houses with a compatible interior style!

send a green star

Trish K.

1:42PM PST on Mar 12, 2011

Will be sitting down with landlords to paint over the wall paper.
It is in every room and there is no place for the eye to rest.
It drives me insane.

gerlinde p.

8:41PM PST on Mar 5, 2011

i´ve invested so much i my rented place, i think i could have bought the new landlord says it`s not his concern what i invested before he bought the house.

Jane L.

4:50AM PST on Feb 27, 2011

I have leased here so long. I do what I want. Hey, I should have bought the place. Eleven years rent down the drain. I have on occasion pay for repairs and shorted the rent check by that amount and send the receipt.

Robert O.

8:11AM PST on Feb 24, 2011

Thanks.

John S.

5:11PM PST on Feb 23, 2011

But I've always written down what I was going to do, and then have them sign that I can do it. That way it's not an imposition on them. I always got my security deposit back in full.

Vera Y.

11:43PM PST on Feb 21, 2011

well....it is not an easy desicion because it will be a wasting money eventually, because it is not your property. But, if you are unhappy where you live what it matters is that you are not happy. So a bit of a money wasted may make you happier eventually. And that has no price

Past Member .

7:17PM PST on Feb 16, 2011

probably worth it if you are going to live there for a long time..especially if it just paint.

8:07AM PST on Feb 16, 2011

forgive me -- I have so little time, so I am just here briefly for points to put towards the animals ...

Julie W.

1:50AM PST on Feb 16, 2011

I would only go so far as painting, which I have done more than once. A relatively cheap way to make an improvement, and some landlords have paid for the paint if Ido the work.