How to choose blinds for a rented property

If you’re living in a rented property, you’re probably quite limited in terms of the sort of changes or upgrades you can make to your home; both because your tenancy agreement will usually forbid major alterations, and also because you might quite reasonably not want to spend a lot of your own money on improving upon somebody else’s investment.

However, there are a number of things you can or might wish to do to improve or personalise your rented home, and one of these things is to get your own window blinds; but how do you choose blinds for a rented property as the tenant, and are you even allowed to make changes of this type?

This blog will tell you everything you need to know about how to choose blinds for a rented property, and where you stand in terms of your tenancy agreement if you do.

Will my landlord pay for window blinds?

First up, if you just want to buy blinds to change the look of your windows and your current window coverings are perfectly serviceable even if you don’t like them, this next part won’t be relevant to you.

But if your current blinds or curtains are unsuitable, falling apart, or or otherwise not fit for purpose, your landlord might be liable to replace them or fund the cost of their replacement. However, this may well mean that the landlord will also choose the blinds too, with a view to not just your own tenancy but the appeal and suitability for future tenants too.

If curtains or blinds are present when you move in and/or are listed as among the fixtures and fittings of your home within the inventory that forms part of your tenancy agreement, plus the blinds don’t work properly or are cosmetically very shabby (even if this occurred due to normal wear and tear during your tenure), your landlord might be liable for their replacement.

What if there are no window coverings at all? This is pretty unusual, as whilst it’s not a legal requirement for landlords to provide blinds or curtains, this is certainly the norm, whether you’re renting a furnished or an unfurnished property. If you do rent your property on the understanding that you will provide your own window coverings, it is reasonable to expect that the fittings required for these won’t be held against you when it comes to your responsibility to restore the property to its original state when you leave.

Can you buy your own blinds for a rented property when you’re the tenant?

Your tenancy agreement will usually mention the exact terms of what you can and cannot do to the property and the condition it must be left in when you leave; this latter generally being that the property and any changes you make to it must be restored to its original condition, as I mentioned above.

This will tend to mean filling in and painting over any screw/bracket holes (which may be impossible if the walls are papered rather than painted, so think about this) and putting back up any prior poles/brackets and curtains/blinds.

Generally, as long as you do ensure that you’re conscientious about this, changing the existing blinds or curtains or putting up your own won’t be a problem, but do ask first. You might be able to get the landlord to take the old items away for you too, which saves you needing to store them to put back up when you leave, assuming that your landlord does require this.

Some landlords might be quite happy for you to replace all of the blinds on their behalf if you plan to leave them behind when you go, albeit they may not be ok with this if your blinds are very bold or otherwise might not be considered to suit every taste or what a future tenant may like.

Whichever route you go down, get in writing any agreement made with the landlord for whatever you agree on, and also, document everything you do with before and after shots and when you do eventually leave/restore the property, how this looks too, in order to protect your deposit.

Lower cost blinds for tenants

Cost might be one of the main factors when it comes to buying blinds for a rental property, as few of us would want to spend a lot of money on home improvements for a rental home; albeit if you have lived there long term and/or intend to stay for the long term, this point might be far less relevant.

However, if you are looking at lower cost window blinds for tenants of rental properties, roller blinds, vertical blinds, and Venetian blinds tend to be the most economical options.

How to choose blinds for a rented property you might only stay in for a couple of years

If you are keen to replace your blinds but know you might only stay in the property for a couple of years, you’ll probably want to keep your costs as low as possible. However, don’t gloss over the suitability of the blinds for the room; use waterproof blinds for kitchens and bathrooms, and look for good quality blinds of the more economical types rather than cheap versions of elaborate blinds!

Readymade blinds might be an option if you’re not in it for the long haul, as these tend to be very cheap and also, only have a workable lifespan of a couple of years as a rule. This is a problem for most people, who don’t tend to redecorate or be looking to replace blinds that often, but if you simply need cheap blinds knowing that they might only last for a couple of years, it might not be an issue. That said, they will probably look a bit cheap and flimsy too!

How to choose blinds for a rented property you are going to be in longer term

If you’re looking to buy blinds for your rented property that you plan to stay in for the long term, you will probably be able to justify spending a little more. One additional point worth making here is that you might wish to look at buying thermally insulating blinds, which can help you to cut your heating spend as well as upgrading your windows.

Also, if you have been in your property a while already and your current blinds are a bit tired, you might again be able to ask your landlord about replacement at their cost; even if they were new or perfect when you moved in and they’re looking a little tired because of wear and tear caused by you! Normal wear and tear of consumables and so on is deemed as normal and appropriate usage of a rental property, and falls to the landlord to restore plus vitally, isn’t something they can penalise you for.

A few suggestions of good blinds for a rental property

If you want to make your rented home more personal and more in line with your own tastes but without spending a huge amount on the blinds, here are a few ideas:

• This Carmen Daybreak Scandi-style roller blind starts from under £25 and will really cheer up your lounge or kitchen.
• Our Sweet Dreams Lipstick blackout blind in hot pink is also thermally efficient, to help to insulate your window.
• For kids, this Dinosaurs Roller Blind is also a blackout blind, and will be a big hit in any child’s bedroom!