Asking landlords to make home improvements: a renter's guide

Are you a renter looking for home improvements to be made? Explore your options in our simple guide.



These adaptations will need to be "reasonable adjustments". This means the landlord must agree that the adaptations are practical and affordable. Landlords can't charge you for any such improvements.

You can find more information and guidance about disability adaptations on the Scope website.

Painting and decorating

If your walls are looking shabby, you may want to ask for them to be painted and decorated. However, private landlords are under no obligation to do this for you – and you'll need permission to do it yourself.

It's different for council and housing association tenants, who are usually allowed to paint and decorate. Make sure to check beforehand.

New carpets or furniture

As with painting and decorating, there are no rules about replacement carpets and furniture for private landlords. You will need to ask.

If you need an appliance replaced, you may be covered by your tenancy agreement. If not, you can ask your landlord anyway.

New kitchens, bathrooms, heating or insulation

A private landlord might install a new kitchen, bathroom, heating or insulation to increase the value of the property. This could, however, lead to an increase in rent.

What if an improvement is needed for your health?

Private landlords need to make improvements if there's a risk to your health. If your landlord or letting agent ignores you or delays the improvement, you can ask the council to inspect the property. 

Housing charity Shelter has a guide to the process.

If you live in a council or housing association property, you can ask the landlord for permission to carry out the improvement yourself.

How to ask a private landlord to carry out improvements

Private landlords want their properties to be profitable. This usually means any improvement will have to benefit them as well as you. It's what Roger Fisher and William Ury describe as "inventing options for mutual gain". In other words, you need to negotiate, not make a demand.

Typically, this mutual gain will be that the improvement will increase the property's value or make it easier to sell. However, this could come back to haunt you in the form of a rent increase or the sale of the property.

If you do decide to make the request, send a polite, friendly email or letter explaining why you're asking for the improvement.

You may stand a better chance of success if you've lived in the landlord's property for some time and have a good relationship.

As part of the negotiation, you could offer to pay towards the cost of the improvement. However, this can be a risky move if you have an assured shorthold tenancy. You may end up paying for an improvement you don't enjoy for long – and you may have to pay more rent.

If you manage to reach an agreement, make sure to get it in writing. This should include what you agreed, who is paying for what, a schedule of works and any agreement about changes to rent.

Support for renters

Renters may face consequences if they request home improvements. For instance, they can be forced to pay more rent or be evicted. (No-fault eviction, however, is likely to be abolished under Labour's Renters' Rights Bill.)

If you're worried about either of these things, you may find this list of housing charities and renters' unions helpful.

Conclusion

It can be difficult to get private landlords to make improvements to your rental home. Typically, they'll only be made if it's a "reasonable adjustment" for a disability or if it improves the value of the property. However, you may be successful if you've lived in the property for a long time and have a good relationship with the landlord. Good luck!

Calder Windows is a trusted team of door and window experts based in West Yorkshire. For more guides and tips, follow our blog.