Professionals Real Estate 
Can I do that at my rental property?
You’ve just moved into a new rental property and no doubt you want to make it feel like home, but before making any changes keep in mind that you may need to reverse them once your lease is up.
When you leave your rental it needs to be returned to the same condition it was when you first moved in.
Even if you think a change is small, or an improvement, the owner may not agree. This might mean that you need to take the time returning a property to its original state when you leave, or you might end up forfeiting a portion of your bond.
Below are some common changes that you might be wondering about:
Hang up art and pictures
Art and photos on the wall can add a personal touch to a home, but they can leave unsightly marks behind on the walls too.
You can ask the property’s owner if it’s okay to hang up things on the walls using nails, however in most cases you would be better off making the most of temporary adhesive hooks that are less likely to damage the walls.
Mount a television to the wall
If you have a toddler or a pet then maybe you want to keep your television up high, but before you do you should definitely ask your landlord.
In some cases they may agree, however they may still stipulate that you need to bring in a professional to mount it for you, and that you need to return the wall to its original condition when you vacate, which could be costly.
Garden
Your lease will probably say you need to leave your garden in the same condition that you found it, so be mindful of this if you have grand plans for outside.
Not only can you get in trouble for pulling out any plants you don’t like, you might also be asked to pull out any ones you add in if the owner wants to keep the garden fuss-free.
The best way around this is to maintain the garden in its current state, and grow any new plants in pots and planting boxes that can be taken with you if you move.
Change light fixtures
As long as no rewiring is required, switching a light fixture over should be okay… however remember to keep the original fixture somewhere safe.
It’s not uncommon for things that are swapped out in rental properties, such as light fixtures, to be lost or damaged.
If this happens the property owner may be happy for it to be replaced by the fixture you have replaced it with, or you may need to hunt down or pay for what was originally there.
Install air-conditioning
Summer is brutal in many parts of Australia and so it’s understandable that a lot of renters make requests for air-conditioning to be installed.
In many cases the property owner will agree, but you may have to negotiate who pays for it.
In some instances the property owner will bear the cost, however in other situations the tenants will be asked to share the cost or perhaps agree to a higher rent.
If your landlord isn’t willing to have an air-conditioning unit installed at the property, then it’s worth looking into purchasing a portable option or using other methods to keep the property cool.
Overall however, no matter what you want to do at your rental it’s always worth talking to your property manager first and asking them for their advice.
The property owner may be happy for you to make various changes to your rental property, however be prepared for the answer to not always be what you were hoping to hear either.
