Decorating A Rental Apartment

Decorating A Rental Apartment
06-23-08

Thinking your apartment will look much better after you have a chance to paint it the color you really like? Think again. While painting may certainly make your apartment feel more like "home" to you, tenants are usually quite limited in what they are allowed to do as far as decorating their apartment is concerned - and painting is one of the most common no-nos.

Before you begin decorating your apartment, you will want to consider the following:

Consider The Contract
Always review the rental contract carefully before doing any decorating. Most apartments allow pictures to be hung, for example, but they might place restrictions on the type of nails which may be used. And what might seem like relatively common decorating practices, such as painting and installing shelves, may be totally prohibited. In most cases, harsh penalties can be assessed when these restrictions are violated, resulting in additional fees at the end of the lease - or possibly even eviction.

If you have questions regarding whether or not specific decorating practices are permissible, contact your leasing agent before taking action. If the leasing agent tells you it is acceptable to perform an action prohibited by the rental agreement, ask for a signed, written document stating the exception to the contract. This is important for your protection, because later on the leasing agent may not remember making the exception or they may not even still be working at the property at the time your lease expires and your apartment is being assessed for damages.

Consider Whether or Not Modifications are Reversible
One of the most important factors to consider when decorating an apartment is whether or not a modification is reversible. In most cases, the action is likely to be permissible as long as it is easily reversible. (As mentioned before, painting is a common exception to this rule. While painting is reversible, sometimes returning a room to its original color can be a challenge, so painting is usually not allowed.)

Irreversible modifications such as removing walls or adding permanent fixtures to the apartment are typically not considered acceptable when decorating an apartment. As a general rule, modifications which require the assistance of a general contractor are considered to be permanent in nature and are not allowed. As always, if you are unsure of whether or not an action is permissible, you should check with your leasing agent.

Consider The Security Deposit
Most tenants pay a security deposit before they take possession of the apartment. This security deposit is collected to protect against damages which may be caused by the tenant during the course of the rental agreement. The leasing agent usually expects to need to do some minor cleaning and perhaps a few small repairs after a tenant vacates an apartment. A larger deposit is usually collected, however, to protect the apartment complex in case more repairs are needed or significant damage has occurred.

Even with a few standard restrictions, there's no reason why an apartment can't be made to feel like "home sweet home." Once you know what you can and can't do, use your imagination and creativity to add those special touches that make the place your own. It can be done!

Mark E. Moebius
Miljonair Homes
Custom home builder St. Louis
3451 St. Albans Rd.
St. Albans, MO 63073
636.300.9000