What changes are allowed in a rental property?

Are you arriving in France as an expat? Sometimes all it takes is a few thoughtful adjustments to feel at home. Let’s see together what you can and cannot do in a rental property.

Small jobs in a rental property: the general rule

Small works in a rented accommodation can be carried out without having asked the landlord’s permission. These are simple development and refreshment actions. This is good news for rental expatriates who want to personalize their apartment without delay.

On the other hand, as soon as the project involves the transformation of the premises, the owner’s agreement is essential. The term “transformation” may seem a bit vague. This concerns all actions that radically change the style and initial state of the property.

Here are two examples to better understand. Repainting a wall yellowed by time white is a refreshing action. Installing brick or wood wall cladding is a transformation.

5 ideas for small jobs allowed

Want to fill the void above your rental sofa ? Or to add color to your interior? Here are some ideas for work for which French regulations do not require the owner’s agreement.

Hanging pictures and photos on the walls

You can personalize your interior with as many posters, paintings or photos as you want. The only condition is that the holes drilled in the walls for fixing them must be filled in before the exit inventory.

Sometimes you need a drill to get through the hardest walls. A tool that you don’t always have at hand when you move… In this case, look at magnetic adhesive fasteners, which are very practical for decorating a rental property.

Attach a shelf

Did you take knick-knacks or books from home? Display them on a custom-made shelf. The ideal height for contemplating and handling these small familiar objects is at shoulder level. This gives you the perfect balance between access and visibility.

Add wall sconces and pendant lights

Lighting is another area of intervention that is relatively free to rent. Of course, it is not a question of redoing the entire electrical installation, only adding decorative wall lights or suspensions.

The advantage of the new lights is that you can play with warm and cool tones to change the atmosphere of the home, without having to repaint everything. Dreamed of a blue, orange or purple wall? No need for the landlord’s approval if you just buy a color-changing LED lamp.

Putting up new curtains

Curtains are yet another way to add color and patterns according to your desires, without going through the painting box. You can combine sheers and opaque textiles to enjoy your new décor during the day or in the evening.

Customizing the bathroom

As a tenant, you can change the shower head and the toilet seat, add cupped storage… If you have the time and the desire, you can also replace cracked or damaged tiles, or add gratings, since it will be easy to remove them before leaving.

5 actions that require permission

Among the actions that are not allowed without prior agreement, some are obvious. Others, on the other hand, are much less so. For example, you should know that you cannot repaint the rooms as you wish… Let’s take a look at this in more detail.

Knocking down a non-load-bearing wall

Knocking down a wall is obviously a radical action for which the landlord’s agreement is mandatory and it is not certain that you will get it…

Removing a coating

The removal of an old coating is more likely to be convincing, especially if the replacement project remains sober or similar to the old one. In any case, it is best to contact the owner to make sure.

Radically changing paint

The court has already ruled in favor of the owner for painting work with colors that are too intense, too garish, and a colorful result.

Modify built-in furniture

Sometimes, furnished rental furniture is limited to kitchen and bathroom equipment. This is referred to as semi-furnished, often with built-in furniture that the tenant must restore to its original condition when he leaves.

Have blinds installed

Installing external roller blinds requires a permit as it involves major work that changes the appearance of the façade.

Easily create a familiar environment with Homat

Homat, a specialist in furniture rental for more than 30 years, offers to furnish the accommodation before your arrival. If you choose furniture for furnished rental from the Homat catalogue, it will be delivered and installed by our teams. Before departure, the rented furniture is removed with equal simplicity and speed.

This formula allows you to immediately feel at home when you are an expatriate for a few months or a few years. The furniture for furnished rental is the one you have chosen and with which you have projected yourself into your home abroad. All you have to do is have fun with the small authorized jobs, or get closer to the owner to go further in the personalization of the home.