Whether you own or rent your Central home, we all desire to feel cozy in our living space. For a lot of people, this means adding decorative elements that help to personalize a home. But as a renter, your decorating can have a huge effect on your security deposit. Most leases list down the kind of changes you, the tenant, can do as well as the things you would need permission from your landlord to do.
But if some things aren’t completely clear, you may wonder exactly where the line is between what’s allowed and what isn’t. And if you’re not sure, you may be doing something unknowingly that could get less of your security deposit back than you want. Let’s see some common décor items that may cost you – and how to avoid being charged for repairs.
Interior Paint
Here is the number one question renters ask: Can I paint the interior of my rental house? This is a typical question that actually makes sense to ask! One easy way to personalize a room or the entire home is by changing the paint color. To exercise caution, make sure to check with your landlord first if your lease specifically states that you can paint your rental house,
Most leases state that you should return the home to its original condition. Even though it does not state paint in any section of the lease, it’s significant to understand that this includes the paint color on the walls. Your landlord is able to legally withhold funds from your security deposit to repaint the house if you have modified the wall colors and return it to its original state before you leave.
Wall Damage
Another significant reason renters don’t get their entire security deposit back is due to holes (or other damage) in the walls. When you change up your home, you may not be considering how your landlord would feel about the damage left after installing framed artwork, mounted televisions, or other wall-mounted décor items. Even having some nail holes in a wall can cause a security deposit deduction, and the cost of repairs increases depending on the size of the holes that are left behind.
To steer clear of losing your deposit, try planning your décor while taking into consideration what’s going to happen after you’re done renting. Select nail-free hangers, or just simply refrain from hanging anything on the walls. Large artwork or televisions can just as well look good on top of an accent table or cabinet and will not leave wall damage behind.
Floor Damage
Finally, be sure to safeguard your floors as you decorate. Heavy furniture and other things can gouge, scrape, and otherwise damage floorings like wood or laminate, and crack or break the tile. If you have big things you need to keep in your home, have a person help you move them and place protective material, like a blanket or moving pad, underneath to have less floor damage. If you think you would need to move your furniture around often, consider owning some felt padding for the bottom of your furniture to make rearranging your décor easier and less likely to cause damage.
Regardless if you decorate your rental home, it’s vital to remember that, at some point, you will be moving out. And when that happens, the less you need to do to restore the home to its original condition, the more likely you will get your full security deposit back.
Is moving to a new rental home on your to-do list this year? Real Property Management Baton Rouge has the perfect one for you! We have quality rental homes for every taste and budget, so check out our listings today.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
