What Renovations Can I Make To My Rental Apartment?
Ask permission, not forgiveness.
Ask permission, not forgiveness.
You might not own your apartment, but it’s still home. So what are the rules and best practices if you’d like to renovate your digs?
As with so many things, it really comes down to communication.
Open a dialogue with your landlord or management company and explain what you’d like to do, and why. Quite often, renovations you’d like to make might improve the overall value of the property—making it a win/win for everyone.
Let’s talk through some things to consider, as well as minor and major(-ish) renovations that could work for your rental.
This depends on your landlord, and the terms of your lease—which you should definitely read closely!
It stands to reason that major structural changes to your place are a no-no (unless you get clear permission). In many cases, something that seems as minor as repainting your apartment should be cleared with your landlord first.
Your life as a renter is always going to be smoother if you have a nice relationship with your landlord. If the rapport is good, you might even be able to negotiate your rent—imagine that!
When it comes to making renovations to your rental property, don’t just go ahead and start radically changing the apartment without permission. This could land you in hot water, depending on the terms of your lease, and you could end up forfeiting your security deposit.
Sure, your landlord hopefully cares about you and wants you to live in an apartment that makes you happy. But your relationship is essentially transactional, and owning real estate is a business.
Rather than complaining about how much you hate your ugly cabinets, or why new bathroom tiles will boost your serotonin, put that MBA hat on.
Stress that the return on investment (ROI) for these sorts of renovations will improve the appeal of the apartment itself, making the property more valuable in the future—even after you’ve moved on.
Here are some areas that your landlord will likely agree would boost the desirability, functionality, and rental value of your place.
Your landlord might be more open to renovations if you focus on areas that will most quickly improve the first impression the apartment gives to prospective tenants.
Consider narrowing your renovations down to key rooms, like the kitchen or the bathroom. Or focus on a very visible element of the apartment that could use an upgrade, like those janky floors.
Improvements in all of these areas will likely boost the attractiveness of the apartment for future renters, which will make your landlord happier.
Prepare a detailed proposal that spells out what you want to do, and why it’ll benefit both you and the landlord. Include estimated costs!
This will help your landlord understand the $$ value of the proposed improvements (especially if you’re asking them to kick in on the costs—more on that later).
It’s totally plausible to suggest that your landlord contributes to the costs of certain renovations (or even covers them entirely, in the case of appliance upgrades). You could also propose a temporary rent reduction to cover some of your out-of-pocket costs.
Remember, your landlord is not legally obligated to contribute to or offer rent deductions for renovations in the rental property—unless we’re talking about necessary upgrades to the unit based on whatever local laws may apply.
Okay, so your landlord is your new BFF, and they’re receptive to your renovation dreams. Now what?
If you’re looking to brainstorm more involved upgrades to your place, here are some places to begin. Again, with any of the following renovations, make sure your landlord is fully in the loop and has given approval.
Your kitchen is key, and a nice-looking one is a big selling point for renters. Upgrades here might include:
A clean, modern bathroom can greatly impact a tenant’s perception of an apartment. Plus the bathroom is generally where you start your morning, so why not elevate the ambiance?
Some options here include:
Pressurized walls are a temporary solution that can divide an open space into separate rooms without causing any permanent damage to the existing walls or structure. On average, pressurized walls can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 or more, including installation.
This is obviously a major structural change to the apartment, and would certainly require negotiation (plus a bit of headache on your end, while renovation is happening). But if your space feels unnecessarily cramped and you think removing a wall could reinvent the entire apartment—make the case.
Recessed lighting is installed within a ceiling or a wall, giving a chic and streamlined look.
If you add recessed lighting to your living room, you’ll also save space by avoiding clunky floor lamps. Installing recessed lighting involves cutting holes, running electrical wires, and attaching the fixtures to the ceiling. The average cost of installing recessed lighting ranges from $150 to $300 per light fixture, including labor and materials.
A fresh coat of paint on walls, ceilings, doors, or fixtures like cabinets can give your apartment an entirely different look and feel. Discuss with your landlord, and also figure out whether they’d require you to paint the apartment back to its original state before you move out.
Choosing paint colors that might appeal to a range of future tenants will probably make the process easier. The next renters might not love neon fuschia and “manic avocado” as much as you do.
Renovating your apartment doesn’t have to involve punching out a skylight or building recessed shelving into the wall. Sometimes, simple tweaks can enliven your space.
There’s no equation or calculator to figure this out for you. But keep in mind certain considerations:
The person to ask this question of is—you guessed it!—your landlord. Communicate, get things in writing, and make sure everyone is on the same page.
That way you won’t be scrambling to repaint, or replace cabinet handles, or uninstall custom shelving if you decide to move to a new place.
Oh, what’s that, renters insurance? Glad you brought it up! Obviously you don’t need renters insurance to paint your walls or replace cabinet doors. But it’s a good idea to have a policy anyway, since it’ll protect you and your stuff against a lot of the curveballs that life can throw at you.
You might not be aware, but renters insurance also has a personal liability component. So if your best friend agrees to help you paint the ceiling, and falls off a ladder and breaks their leg—your policy might compensate for medical bills and kick in for any legal liability.
A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of policies issued by Lemonade, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage may not be available in all states.
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