Apartment Dwellers

This post is in response to my cousin, Sommer, who is following the blog through Facebook. You can also follow the blog through Facebook, read comments and ask any questions.

Upon occasion, I get asked questions from people living in apartments. Apartments—and their inhabitants—have special needs and constraints. Because renters don’t own the space, landlords usually place restrictions in their leases on what the renter can do while they live there. The truth is that you do have options. I am going to tell you what you really can do as a renter!

The most common restriction that I hear is, “My lease says I can’t paint.” A well-known secret is that most landlords don’t actually write the leases themselves, nor do their lawyers do it. Most cities have websites where landlords can download a pre-written version of a lease which may contain some standard clauses that the landlord doesn’t really care about—e,g,, restricting the renter from painting. As a renter, you can still ask your landlord if you can paint. As long as you are not painting your walls black, most landlords will usually say “yes”. You may have to re-paint when you move out to the standard white, but if you are planning to be there for a few years, it may be worth it to you.

When you rent, there are usually things that you do not like about the apartment or house. Now, here is where you as the renter have some bargaining room. Most landlords would welcome a tenant that wishes to make some lasting improvements to their property. Simply speak to your landlord and ask if you can replace that outdated bathroom sink, toilet, or tub. Or maybe you want to change the kitchen counter top? Often times, landlords will agree to deducting the cost of improvements you make from your rent, or they will reimburse you when the project is done. At the end of the day, it doesn’t hurt to ask. Of course, all of this talk only makes sense if you are planning on staying in the apartment for a few years, or just really feel it is important to make the space your own.

Now, if your landlord is dead-set against any of this talk, there are still a few things you can do to spruce up the place. You can replace light fixtures. You simply keep the old fixtures and re-hang them when you move out. You can also hang window treatments – new blinds, curtains etc. Again, you store and re-hang the old when you leave.

Perhaps the most important thing to do as a renter is to invest in something–original art or framed posters/prints–for the walls. If you’re a renter who can’t paint, you want to cover as much of the white walls as possible to inject some color and personality into your space. Many larger cities have art walks or open studios a few times a year that showcase up-and-coming local artists. These are great places to acquire original art at a fraction of the cost of some more established artists’ work. Remember, this is something that you are going to take with you when you move out, so that this is money spent for your future dwelling as well. Original art often has more personality than a framed poster, as well as more staying power down the road. You can possibly find the perfect piece for your dining room for a couple hundred dollars, only a little more than buying a poster and having it professionally framed! Another solution for the walls is some kind of candle holder or sconce. There are many places that you can purchase candle holders and sconces for the walls: Pier One, Bed Bath & Beyond, Crate & Barrel, West Elm, etc. This is a great way to bring in an additional lighting source when you entertain, but also to warm up a room with a warm light.

I hope this information helps my dear cousin, as well as my other readers who have not yet jumped into home ownership. If I can be of any more help, please let me know.