Landlord responsibilities for improvements in your home

Improvements could be large or small.

For example:

• disability adaptations

• painting and decorating

• new carpets or furniture

• a new kitchen or bathroom

• replacement windows or loft insulation

Improvements are different from repairs.

In most cases, your landlord does not have to make improvements but you could still ask.

It might be easier to get improvements if you've lived there a long time, or you rent from a council or housing association.

Your landlord must fix most repairs in your home.

Disability adaptations

You can ask for home adaptations if you or someone you live with counts as disabled under the Equality Act 2010.

Your landlord must make 'reasonable adjustments' if it would be easier to live in your home with a disability.

For example, you can ask them to:

• provide signs or notices

• replace taps or door handles

• change a door bell or entry system

'Reasonable' can depend on what is practical and affordable for your landlord.

Councils and housing associations may have to do more than private landlords.  

Your landlord cannot charge you for these improvements.

They do not have to make structural changes or pay for expensive adaptations.

Find out more about disability adaptations from Scope.

Disabled facilities grants

You could get a grant for improvements that:

• cost over £1,000

• are needed for you or someone in your household with a disability

For example, a grant can be used to:

• widen doorways or provide ramps

• put in a ground floor bathroom or stairlift

• provide or improve the heating system

You need your landlord's permission even if you can get a grant to pay for the work.

Find out more about disabled facilities grants from Scope.

Painting and decorating

There are no rules about how often a private landlord should redecorate.

Tenancy deposit protection schemes suggest repainting every 3 to 5 years.

Your landlord might have to decorate more often. For example, if a wall needs plastering or repainting after they fix a leak or a damp problem.

Get permission

You usually need your landlord's permission to paint or redecorate if you're a private tenant.

Council and housing association tenants can usually paint and decorate their homes.

Some social landlords give small redecoration grants to tenants.

Replacement carpets, furniture and appliances

Things might need replacing if they break or get very old.

This is sometimes called 'wear and tear'. It is different to damage caused by a tenant.

If you are a private tenant, check your tenancy agreement.

See what it says about items like:

• cookers

• fridge freezers

• washing machines

• beds or sofas

Good landlords should repair or replace these even if they're not mentioned in your agreement.

There are no rules about how often a private landlord should replace carpets or furniture.

Guidance from mydeposits suggests:

• cheap carpets need replacing every 3 years

• beds need replacing every 5 years

• mattresses and sofas need replacing every 8 years

Good landlords might replace mattresses more often between tenancies.

New kitchens, bathrooms, heating or insulation

Private landlords might make these improvements because:

• you ask for them and they want to help

• they want to improve the property for new tenants or for a sale

• the council has ordered major improvements because there is a risk to your health

Find out how to ask the council to inspect your private rented home.

Housing association and council tenants

Ask your landlord if there are any planned improvement or refurbishment works.

You could ask for permission to do the work yourself if your landlord has no planned works.

Ask a private landlord for improvements

Send an email or a letter. Keep it polite and friendly.

Make sure you explain how the improvement will help if it's related to a disability.

It helps if you have have lived there for some time and get on with your landlord or agent.

Explain why improvements are a good idea

Give reasons if your landlord does not have to carry out the improvement.

You could say the improvement will increase the property's value.

You could consider offering money towards the cost of the improvement if you can afford it.

Make sure you know how your landlord could end your tenancy if you are considering contributing to the costs.

Be aware that your landlord might increase the rent if the property is improved.

Get any agreement in writing

Make sure you get any agreement in writing. You should get details of:

• what is agreed

• who is paying for what

• the schedule of works

• any agreement about rent during and after the work