Making improvements to your rented home
Improvements can be big or small.
For example:
new curtains or furniture
painting and decorating
new windows
a new kitchen or bathroom
building a conservatory
Your landlord is responsible for most repairs in your home. They do not usually have to make improvements.
But your council might tell your landlord to make improvements to make your home safe.
Your landlord might have to agree to improvements if you or someone you live with is disabled.
Find out about landlord responsibilities for improvements or disability adaptions.
Scope has information about funding for disability adaptations.
Get permission
Do not make improvements without your landlord's permission.
Get your landlord's agreement in writing before you start.
If you make improvements without asking the landlord, they might:
ask you to change things back
keep your deposit
try to evict you
Example: improvements without permission
Sara rents a flat from a private landlord.
When she moved in, the flat had carpets in the living room and the bedrooms.
Sara replaced the carpets with floorboards. She did not ask her landlord.
Sara is moving out.
Her landlord has asked her to install carpets in the flat. Her landlord says they might keep Sara's deposit if she does not do this.
Private tenants
Think about how long you're likely to live in the property.
Improvements might not be worth it if you will not benefit from them long term.
Your landlord might also try to increase your rent.
Your landlord cannot evict you without giving you a section 8 notice.
They can only do this if they have a legal reason.
How to negotiate
Speak to your landlord directly about the work you want to do.
An agent cannot usually agree to improvements without speaking to the landlord.
Some landlords agree as long as you will put things back the way they were when you leave.
If you have a good relationship with your landlord, you could ask for:
a rent reduction for a set time period
some of your costs to be covered
Get any agreement in writing.
Council or housing association tenants
Your landlord has to agree in writing to any serious work.
For example, if you want to:
install a new kitchen
build a conservatory
change the type of flooring in the property
Always check what your tenancy agreement says about improvements. You might need permission for smaller changes too.
Ask your landlord if they're planning any work soon.
Decorating
You do not usually need your landlord's permission to decorate your home. You might have to pay for the materials.
Ask your landlord if they can help with decorating. They might help, especially if you're disabled, elderly on have a low income.
Last updated: 1 May 2026
