Call for ACT tenants to put up pictures and paint homes without landlord permission

Happy for picture hooks, but please don’t paint/decorate my walls – unless it’s repainted at the end of the lease

Yes with hooks provided property is returned with no damage due to these hooks. Absolutely no to paintings.

Maybe for long term tenants, but this opens up massive hassles for Landlords when they get a bad tenant. While most are great and bonds are intended to protect Landlords for the bad ones, the extent of what is being proposed would mean that bonds would have to increase to cover the risk of greater damage like walls needing to be replastered from structural damage of badly installed shelving or paying a painter to cover up the thin coat of paint over the turquoise wall. There’s only so much a bond will cover. Alternatively, open up longer term rental agreements where this is permissible and it’s reasonable to ask the landlord to wear a higher maintenance cost.

Hooks yes! Painting…. not unless they want to return it to the way it was before they moved in. I’ve rented for 30 years of my life, I don’t have rental properties.

Landlords, why not do yourselves a favour and put picture rails [as in earlier houses], saves nail and screw holes, painting etc. just a thought

If you put pictures up I am fairly sure the next people will do. Leave the hooks there.

At the end of the day, the landlord owns the property. Tenants shouldn’t have a blanket right to make adjustments to the property, there has to be negotiation between both parties.

Sure, triple the bond and compulsory repaint at end of lease at renter expense.

I can live without the paint but would dearly love a pet.

You can’t always assume a landlord has purchased the property purely as a rental property – sometimes you are renting someone’s home while they are absent for any number of reasons. Making changes comes down to mutual consent and respect, not a blanket law to be followed.

No ,no ,no !!!! tenants have too many rights over the landlords rights as it is !!

Overall yes. Though I’m interested to know who is responsible if the walls have asbestos etc will tenants have to be informed before? (Would be good to know)

I always say: “This is your home. I want you to feel at home. Put as many pictures up as you need”.

I am ok with this IF the tenants return the wall to how it was prior to moving that. That includes filling in holes from nails they put into the walls. But unfortunately in my experience as a landlord tenants do not like to take responsibility for maintenance of a property end I have never once had a tenant leave the place like they found it. I am always going in afterwards to repair damage, such as picture hooks and other items prior to being able to rent it again. This both costs me a week of rent and labour I am unable to charge for because the tax man are trying to make it harder and harder every year for mum and dad investors who are trying to secure their future to not be on a governemnt pension at retirement.

My investment properties right now cost me over $5000 a year each out of personal pocket which hurts our house holds bottom dollar, yet we are labelled “rich” which we are far from. Our house hold after our deductions brings in just over the average wage.

The government needs to put far more focus on making housing affordable for people to buy rather than putting more pressure on investment property owners.

Things that would work for this are investment exclusion suburbs for a long period, make the only people that live there owner occupiers. This would keep investors out which would long term make the housing in these areas cheaper.

As long as tenants can change everything back to normal, I will say yes! Even you painted the wall bright red, I don’t care.

Yes to picture hooks! I’ve been renting for over 6 years and have not been allowed to put up my paintings or picture frames. Please change this rule!!!

Hate the term ‘landlord’!

On balance no, unless the renter restores the property to its original condition upon leaving. That might mean that they pay a much larger bond up front in case they do a runner without repainting or repairing the holes they’ve made.

Some of it sure. Painting? why would you. If the place needs new paint them the LL should pay for it.

No. Absolutely no.

Who pays for repairs when the lease runs out.

Yes its a good idea

Not sure it should be without the consent of the landlord. Its common courtesy to ask first I think. As I Tennant I’d definitely ask first.

As long as they’re happy to put it back to how it was at their own cost

Yes! Its crazy what we pay and are not allowed to make it a home. It increases pride to so you feel you can live there. Australia is si backward in this

What’s next?

As a landlord I’d be open to the idea, but only with my prior knowledge and consent, and the right to say no, how many hooks and what colour paint.

This is a great idea as so many can’t afford to buy their own home. Having pets is another positive for renters and should be encouraged. Renters know they have to hand the property over in reasonable condition. If not, they lose their bond and a good reference. Most pet owners look after properties better than non pet owners. I’m a pet owner and I used to rent my property before moving in myself. I rented my property to tenants with dogs and cats. In fact I specifically rented my property to pet owners because of the difficulties they have in finding somewhere to live with their furkids. I was open to this being the owner of two dogs and cat knowing how difficult it was do me. I think if you want to be a landlord, you have to be open minded and realise that people just like them need somewhere to live otherwise don’t be a landlord!

My landlord showed me what kind of hooks were OK for pictures; minimal impact on the wall. But painting? A whole other thing.

Ask for heating and cooling, insulation instead.

It could be more like a commercial lease, where you can change certain parts of the interior, but only to a similar or higher standard than what was existing. ie if you paint the walls it actually needs to look good. If you put up pics, you are going to have to patch and repaint, properly.

Who owns the property?

Pictures OK if done properly. I think permission for painting should be sought though. A lot of landlords paint before renting so might feel attached to their chosen colour scheme.

Why don’t owners put a hook or two in each room. Problem solved.

As a tenant, i love this idea. But do feel that consulting owner prior to painting is important

I’m a Canberran who rented for almost 2 decades back home and interstate, first solo and eventually with family – had my share of terrible landlords and agencies, with the occasional good ones standing out.

I live in Europe presently, still renting. The differences between Aus rental market and Europe are dramatic.

A standard lease here is measured in years, not months – 5 years, with an option of 5 more at the same rate are the norm. Consequently modifications to the property are quite the norm – painting, picture hooks, even changing room configurations are all perfectly OK and no permission needed…

Provided that you can put it back to the condition as supplied when you first rented, come the end of the lease.

We’re currently investing in improving the garden and lawns of our new rental property, and expect our landlord to come to an arrangement where he pays for material improvements and we will supply the labor costs ourselves.

Oz landlords could learn a lot from how Europe does things.

Assuming there is a “make good” clause where tenants are responsible for repainting at the end of the tenancy then i see no reason why not

I don’t have a rental property but know a lot of tradespeople. So being the devils advocate here…
Having a house repainted can be up to $20,000 for a professional painter. So that’s a bit of an expense to fix a dodgy amateur paint job – especially if someone decides to paint inside walls black.
I’m assuming the greens have no idea of the actual costs involved because none of them knows an actual tradie or has worked a manual labour job.
Plasterers also cost a bomb – and then every wall damaged needs to be repainted. It’s not something an amateur can do very well.
Permission is important.

Perhaps the greens could move for more affordable housing/cheaper land sales in Canberra so actually owning a place (instead of renting for life) becomes easier?

What’s stopping those landlords that support this from allowing it in their current rental agreements?
I think picture hooks etc should be acceptable, but I think painting is a bit much without agreement. I’ve not rented a particular place because the colour was too much, whereas picture hooks would probably add value to me as a renter.

More importantly, should be allowed to make homes safe for young children – baby gates, anchoring furniture to walls etc.

Discussion and mutual agreement would be good.

I think within reason would be nice 😊

As a longterm tenant agree that long term tenants should have more freedoms. I am lucky to have a landlord who is already receptive to such things but i am aware i am in the minority. It also depends on how the tenant treats the rental.