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What you can and can’t do as a renter

Legislation gives renters freedoms to stamp their personality on rental properties. Here’s what you can and can't do as a renter.
While it takes a certain flair to turn a house into a home that reflects your individual style, renters face an additional challenge when trying to stamp their personality on to a rental property. Renters can’t simply rip up a tired old carpet and polish the floorboards to give a room an instant update, nor can they knock out walls to create an airier living space.
But the good news is Victoria’s rental laws make it easier to make a rental property feel more like home. Knocking out walls is still out of the question, but renters can now install picture hooks, fit water-efficient shower heads and replace the curtains without asking for the landlord’s permission – as long as the property can be returned to its original state when they leave.
And, while you’ll need the landlord’s permission to paint the bedroom, create a vegetable garden or install a home security system, the owner cannot unreasonably refuse the request.
Amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act in March 2021 outlined that rental properties are now required to have items including fitted heaters, locks and functioning stoves and sinks, and the property must be free of mould and have adequate ventilation. These are important requirements relating to amenity, safety and privacy, and providers have a duty to ensure their property meets them. Renters also benefit from rules relating to the handling of urgent repairs, bonds, payment of rent and rent increases.
But while many of the amendments are designed to benefit renters, those renting are still required to report damage as soon as it occurs, not cause a disturbance, and meet other obligations spelt out in the rental agreement. And crucially, they must leave the property in the same condition, minus wear and tear, as when they signed the lease.
That means that unless there’s a mutual agreement with the landlord to keep that aubergine feature wall, any home decor updates must either be reversed before the renter vacates the property or the renter must pay the landlord the cost of doing so.
So, by all means get creative with personalising your rental, but just be aware that you may have to undo your home-decorating before you vacate. And no matter what you have in mind, it’s important to read your rental agreement carefully, keep an open and cordial relationship with your landlord and consider covering your belongings with renters insurance.
Nine changes renters can make without the landlord’s permission
Renters can make the following modifications without permission from the rental provider, but these changes cannot be permanent.
Eight changes renters can make with the landlord’s permission
A renter must get the rental provider’s consent to make the following modifications, but the request cannot be unreasonably refused.
Terms, conditions, exclusions and limits apply - see your PDS for details. The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. RACV Renters Insurance is issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Limited ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678. As a distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed.