The pandemic has caused the costs of buying and renting a house to change across the UK. And according to recent figures¹, renting is now cheaper than buying for the first time in six years.

With research² for “homes for rent near me” up 377% and some of the most requested questions³ covering “rental, what to know? “And” what is normal wear and tear? ” GTSE, the one stop shop for home and work solutions, has partnered with various real estate experts to unveil the dos and don’ts of renovating a rented property, for tenants looking to spruce up their land.

Are you allowed to paint the walls, or how do you know if you can? Helen Hollingsworth, Rental Partner at Bramley says, “Not without the permission of the owner.” Some may allow you to paint as long as it is at a good standard, while others may require you to restore the walls to their original color before you go.

Chris Salmon, Director of Operations at Real Estate Law Specialists, Receipt adds, “I would advise tenants to go for lighter colors or oil paints as this will make it easier to repaint the walls if necessary.

• Drilling, installation of tables and mirrors, etc.

“It’s always best to get permission from your landlord to install an agreed number of picture hooks and whether you can leave them when you go,” comments Helen.

Chris also comments, “Sometimes you may have to pay for repairs to holes you drill in the wall, either directly or through your depot. So we recommend that you go for hooks and if you need to make holes in your wall, make them as small as possible to minimize the costs incurred.

• Carpet removal, re-flooring, parquet painting, etc.

“This should be done at the discretion of your landlord or rental agency. Do not make any changes without their permission. Homeowners will be more willing to do this if they can get samples of the carpet you want to install and can check any merchant used, ”says Chris.

Helen also explains, “More often than not, changes to the flooring are not worth the effort due to the length of time many tenants plan to stay in the property.

• Removal of furniture that is already in the property, if it is fully furnished

“Usually you can’t take the furniture out because you took the property knowing it is fully furnished. In this case, the best thing to do would be to safely store the owner’s items until you leave the property, and then return the items to their original places, ”says Helen.

Chris also says, “Remember that furniture is the property of the owners, so you can’t just get rid of it. It’s worth asking your landlord if they have local storage space (which is not uncommon among homeowners, especially those with multiple properties in the area). They might let you use it to store the furniture in question.

• Install blinds or curtains

Helen comments: “Again, you should not install blinds without permission from the owner, as the fasteners could potentially cause damage when removing when you leave. Also, you may need to attach blinds to the tiled surfaces, which the homeowner may not want you to do.

In addition to the above, Chris also comments: “We always recommend using removable shades. If you have blinds installed without your landlord’s permission and they want them removed at the end of your rental, the withdrawal fee may be deducted from your deposit.

While having a pet doesn’t necessarily transform a rented property, it is a touching subject for renters and landlords. Helen explains, “Pets often divide landlords and tenants. Tenants with pets sometimes have difficulty finding accommodation that accepts them.

“If you move into a property with a rental agreement that does not allow pets, never buy a pet without first talking to your landlord. There will most likely be a clause in your contract that says you cannot keep pets. If you decide that you may wish to have a pet or if someone else is going to move in with you, always check in advance as documents may need to be edited to reflect the changes.

If you are new to renting, it can be difficult to understand what is allowed and what is not. It is therefore crucial to get permission for any changes you want to make, such as decoration.

Kirstie Batty, Head of Merchandising at GTSE, says: “If you get permission to make any changes, make sure you have it written down as an agreement with the signatures of the parties involved. However, when you visit a property that you want to rent out, it is always best to point out the parts of the property that you are not happy with before signing a contract, as you may be able to negotiate for new rugs or carpets. painted walls, etc., before moving. It could save you time and money. Also check the inventory report carefully and dispute anything you disagree with or consider adding additional photos to avoid disagreement at the end of the rental.