Can I Fix a House That's Not Mine?

We have been renting the same place for five years. Will likely be several more before we are at a place that we can buy. Anyhoo...just ask her. And if she says ok, my advice is to take pics before and after. Also, EMAIL only. About everything, for documentation. So when you move out and she insists she LOVED her old paint and never gave you permission to make changes, you have proof that she did. Good luck!

My favorite tenant "spruced up" the place. She left it better than she found it, i.e. ceiling fans, alarm system, shelving system. I was soooo sad when she moved out of state. We repaint after every tenant so as long as you don't use colors that would be difficult to cover, I think it would be fine. Let me know if you need to rent a house in Memphis! ha ha!

we are renters and in the past, when I have wanted to paint inside, I would ask, then get it in writing. Once my landlord wrote it in that I would have to paint the house back to all white when I moved out. Where I live now, my landlord told me that I could do anything I wanted. I really like the colors that are used so I just left it the way it was. Our last house, I completly redid the back patio. I even took out a small tree. I planted butterfly bushes, and roses and other flowering plants. He gave me permission through e mail, so that counts as "in writing". He was totally fine with it and even really liked what I did with it.
Just make sure to get everything in writing, either in person or through e mail.

Read the lease carefully-make sure you don't have to restore to the original colors before you leave-get everything in writing, take before and after pictures-save all the receipts for paint, rollers, supplies, etc. Again, I cannot stress this enough-get it in writing! If yu have any doubts, contact landlord/tenant court in your area.

As a landlord I would say ask!

Paint is expensive and they might want to improve its current color. Just show them paint samples and let them agree.

Ask her via email so you will have proof that the conversation occurred.

We just became landlords and we gave our tenant the equivalent of one week's rent as a discount if they painted the interior - to whatever colors their hearts desire.

We did end up putting it the lease, but it was at the tenant's request. Otherwise, I agree with Abbie, do it via email at the least so that there's a paper trail.

Places I've rented have always looked much nicer when I moved out.
Run it by her first. She'll probably be thrilled. Free materials AND labor! LOL

I can't think of any landlord that would not allow this!!

Show her the colors you would like to use as well as the plan for the yard. You are helping her retain, if not improve, the value of her investment.

If **I** were your landlord? I would get it in writing that you are allowed to paint and specify the colors being used as well as what you plan to do with the lights and landscaping. I would ask that you get cost estimates and give me the receipts so I can either reimburse you the cost of the items or deduct it from your rent.

Good luck!!

Ask your landlord before doing anything. I would also show the landlord your paint color choices and let him/her approve them. One of my tenants painted the kitchen in one of our rental properties orange and it looked terrible. They didn't ask or tell me and then I had to spend extra time and money priming and repainting.

I am a landlord and I keep the paint colors (the number and brand of paint) in a file with other info about my properties. This way I will always get the same color as before and it is less time for me to repaint.

You can change the lamp and put the old one in a closet and just switch them before you move out. I would also ask about putting in plants, this becomes a lot to maintain for the landlord after you leave.

I understand you wanting the home to look nice but please check with your landlord first.

Our lease says "Do not make changes or repairs without written consent from Management"... so go tell your LL what you want to do... and check your lease, if you need it in writing that she/he ok'd you to make the changes, get them in writing to protect yourself.

Our leases have always allowed us to do any kind of painting we wanted as long as the house was returned to the ORIGINAL colors that were there when we moved in.

Check your lease ... then check with your landlord and GET IT IN WRITING.

As a landlord, I am always very happy when my tenant wants to make improvements to my property at their own cost. I would DEFINITELY ask your landlord if you can make these changes and get it in writing.

Often the landlord just doesn't have the funds or ability to do updating on a rental. I would say if you are volunteering the costs and not taking it out of your rent in any way they might be very receptive. If they aren't you might show them the color swatches you are considering.

If I were a landlord and expected $XXX.xx per month from a rental to meet the bills on it then I would not be able to give a tenant any kind of break on their payment.

Call and ask!

I know that when my husband and I were renting while our house was being built, our landlord was more than happy to have my husband do small repairs around the apartment. We kept our receipts and he either reiumbursed us or took it off of our rent. Think about it... the things got fixed and all he had to pay for were materials! For example, we had a screen door with torn mesh.

We didn't paint, but my BIL just painted his rental house with the permission and input of the landlord. The owner preferred a certain brand, so they went with that. They also installed shelving in the bathroom closet to increase the storage. All of the above increased the value of the rental and they were reimburse...

As for the landscaping, I wouldn't suggest that you do that. The upkeep for the landlord should you move out is pretty substantial. What you consider to be low-maintenance may not be the same as the person who owns the home. Remember that while you are living there and want it to look nice, it's not "your house". Get some large planters and use potted plants. That way, if you move the changes are not permanent!

I am sure that you won't have any issues with the painting, but like everyone else said, "get it in writing" to protect yourself later.

As for the yard work, THAT might be a different story. I say that not because it wouldn't be nice and an improvement to the property, but because if/when you leave, someone will have to maintain it. And that can increase upkeep time/costs for the owner/LL. And if they DON'T maintain it, it might look worse than whatever is there currently. So you may get a "no thanks" on the landscaping offer.
If you do, it might still be possible for you to make some more "temporary" changes---by maybe sinking some planters in the ground and putting whatever in them, so that you could just pull them out/up when you leave, and refill with dirt/cover with mulch or sod.

I've always been allowed to paint in my rental and plant plants. Just ask, its no big deal.

I was a tenant and I am a landlord. Ask permission with the understanding the landlord may require you to repaint the place to neutral colors when you move out. My former landlord gave us permission to paint and when we moved out complained about our color choices. I asked her is she wanted to see the colors before I painted and she said she didn't. NOthing was in writing so it wasn't a problem but she did keep our security deposit which we knew she would when we moved in. Also not a problem for us.

In the lease for my tenants, I have final say on color choices and the place must be painted back to neutrals upon the exit of the tenant again with my final say. I have a wide list of what I consider neutral which is why I put my approval on the color choices.

If you get verbal permission, follow-up with a letter or e-mail confirming that she authorized you to do these things (spell them out) AT YOUR EXPENSE.