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Can I adapt my rented property? Advice on tenancy agreements

If you rent, you will need landlord consent to make adaptations and changes. How to avoid potential pitfalls and costly mistakes.

Paintbrushes signifying adapting your rented property and the need for tenancy agreements.

While for some, a rented property may feel like a short stop on the road to property ownership, for many people renting is a long term plan which offers freedom while still allowing them to lay down some roots. Tenants who are seeking to live at a rented property for an extended period of time will understandably often wish to adapt the property to their comfort and taste, either at the start or well into their tenancy, rather than feeling like they are living in someone else’s property.

Landlords today appear to be much more flexible when it comes to accommodating tenants who wish to adapt a property in order to feel more at home; with recent figures suggesting that seven in ten (73%) are open to tenants personalising their living spaces.  In fact, increasingly we see some actively marketing this aspect when seeking to find tenants who will be a good fit for their property. A tenant who wishes to stay for a significant length of time can be seen as a very attractive fit for landlords as it is logical to assume that they will be more likely to  keep the property in good order and keep up with payments. The Renters Reform Bill is likely to bring in significant change to long term lets and will hopefully encourage landlords and tenants to communicate their intentions effectively at the start of discussions, although the current legal framework to do this already exists.

Tailormade tenancy agreements

One way for both parties to identify each other’s needs and to come to an understanding and agreement (including who will cover costs of any refurbishment or changes) is by having a tailormade tenancy agreement rather than a boilerplate document. Most tenancy agreements will state that alterations cannot be made without a landlord’s consent, which is of course a wise approach. Nevertheless, if at the outset both parties are able to agree on what changes they both agree on then this can save time in the future. This approach is also likely to create a strong and durable landlord and tenant relationship when both parties show that they will keep to what has been agreed. A sense of trust can be invaluable should any unforeseen events occur during a tenancy.

Our dedicated landlord and tenant team can help with drafting and negotiating tenancy agreements to ensure that they reflect what has been agreed between the parties. We can also help when things go wrong, and disputes occur. Contact us on 020 8944 5290 for more information, or email [email protected].

This article was written by Daniel Bolster

Please note the contents contained in this article are for general guidance only and reflection the position at time of posting. Legal advice should be sought before taking action in relation to specific matters.

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