Since the start of the Coronavirus, renting has substantially increased in the UK. With the search “houses for rent near me” up by a staggering 377%, it has been found that renting is currently cheaper than purchasing a property, for the first time since 2016.

Another extremely popular search is “renting, what to know?”. Based on this, we’ve decided to create this guide for renting in the UK, which is especially aimed at renters wanting to jazz up their pad.

Renovations

If you have the sudden urge to remove carpets, change up the flooring, or paint your bedroom a lighter shade, you may want to check with the landlord first. Usually this is at the discretion of the landlord or letting company. Making changes without their permission could land you in hot water. Landlords may be more persuaded to make changes if you provide samples of the new flooring, and if you find a reputable tradesman yourself.

Likewise, with painting, if you show your landlord that you’re using a higher quality paint or agree to return it to the original colour once you leave, they may be more accommodating of your request. Or they won’t. Either way, you will have to gain their consent before you begin any possible renovations to your rental home.

Installing blinds or curtains

As this can sometimes cause damage when removed, it is best to check with your landlord, whether installing window covers would be possible. Sometimes blinds need to be attached by drilling through titling on the walls. Landlords will often not agree to this, with the potential damage to the property.

Remember, if you install something not agreed upon by your landlord, the reversal of the damages could come out of your deposit, so it’s always best to check with them.

Furniture

If you rent a property that is furnished, but have no need for the furniture, you generally cannot remove the furniture. The landlord will assume that you will be using the furniture due to the fact that you rented the property furnished. If however you truly have no desire to utilise the furniture provided, it would be the best option to safely store the landlords furniture elsewhere until you vacate the property.

As the furniture remains the property of the landlord, you could ask them whether they have a storage unit locally that you could store the furniture in, until you leave. Again, this is at the discretion of the landlord and the outcome could vary depending on this factor.

Setting up pictures and drilling holes

Again, this is something that you should discuss with your landlord or letting agency. The first issue is making a hole that will cause damage to the wall once removed. Even though this could be “patched up”, you cannot always guarantee the colour of the wall paint and thus covering up the hole could mean repainting the entire room, to cover the whole efficiently.

Secondly, drilling holes, without knowing the plans of the building, could mean hitting electric cables or water pipes when not careful. This will only cause further damage to the property (or yourself) and the repairs will again, be yours to cover. The other alternative is to use small hooks, that make the smallest impact to the structure of the property.

Pets

This can be an extremely sensitive topic between landlords and renters. Very often it is hard to find accommodation in which accepts pets. If you move into a property without a pet, it is imperative that you talk with your landlord or letting agency before you decide to add a new furry member to the family. Likewise, if you have a friend or partner that will be moving in with you, and they have a pet, you will need to speak to your landlord as well. If this is approved by the landlord, you may wish to request a change to the paperwork or contract to reflect these changes. It’s always a great idea to confirm these types of changes to a contract in writing, in order to prevent disagreements in the future.

If you are new to renting, you may wish to research all the ins and outs relative. If every there is anything that ever catches your attention during viewing or in the application phase, be sure to speak up before you sign a contact. Once you’ve signed on that dotted line, you are bound to the conditions of that contract, and it may be difficult to get the landlord to approve any changes once signed. Doing so could save you plenty of time and money in the long run.