Making improvements to your rented home
What counts as an improvement
Improvements can be large or small. Examples include:
new curtains or furniture
painting and decorating
replacement windows
a new kitchen or bathroom
building a conservatory
Your landlord is responsible for most repairs in your home.
But they don't usually have to make improvements unless it's related to a health and safety risk or a disability.
Find out if you can make improvements
Some landlords won't consider making improvements unless they have to.
But they might agree to you carrying out the work and may help fund it.
Don't make improvements without permission or you:
could be charged money to change things back
might not get your deposit back
may be at risk of eviction
Private tenants
Before you contact your landlord, think about how long you're likely to be living there.
Improvements might not be worth it if you won't benefit from them in the longer term.
Most private renters have an assured shorthold tenancy which can often be ended quite easily using the section 21 eviction process.
Your landlord may also decide to increase the rent if the property has been improved.
How to negotiate
Speak to your landlord directly about the work you want to do.
An agent can't usually agree to improvements without speaking to the landlord.
If you pay rent on time and look after your home, point this out in negotiations.
Some landlords will agree to the changes you want to make if you agree to 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
a longer fixed term tenancy agreement
some of your costs to be covered by the landlord
Always get any agreement in writing before you go ahead with the work.
Council or housing association tenants
You need your landlord's written permission for major improvements. For example, if you want to:
install a new kitchen
build a conservatory
put in laminate flooring
Always check what your tenancy agreement says about improvements. You may need permission for smaller changes too.
It's also worth asking if your landlord is planning to do any improvement work themselves in the near future.
Decorating
You don't usually need your landlord's permission to decorate your home but you'll probably have to pay for the materials.
Some landlords offer financial or practical help with decorating, especially to older or disabled tenants.
Last updated: 4 August 2019
