Can tenants hang pictures?

It is no surprise that you would want to avoid as much damage caused to your property as possible and you may feel the need to ban tenants from hanging pictures while renting your property. Tenants can hang pictures without causing significant damage to your walls, however. 

Here, we’ll give you guidance on how to ensure that your walls are kept in good condition, while still allowing tenants to decorate their living space. 

Allowing tenants to hang pictures 

Generally speaking, tenants should be allowed to decorate their living space, however, there also needs to be a limit as to how many pictures tenants can hang, including guidance around tools to use to hang these pictures. Finding a middle ground here is key and will keep your tenants happy, whilst reassuring you that your walls are being taken care of. 

Here are some alternatives your tenants can use to hang their pictures: 

• Adhesive strips: These strips, such as 3M Command strips or Velcro strips, are a secure and removable option for your tenants to use. 
• Picture-hanging hooks: These hooks can clip onto the back of the frame or use wire to hang the picture. 
• Bullet hanger: This hanger has a swivel mechanism that will allow your tenants to hang art from ceilings and on sloped walls. 
• Picture ledges: These tiny shelves can be used to hang pictures, plants, candles, and more. This way, your tenants ensure that they don’t make any holes in the wall. 
• Furniture: Your tenants can use a grid-like piece of furniture with clips to hang prints on. 
• Mantle: If you have a fireplace in your property, your tenants can use the mantle to display art. 

Tenants also need to take into account the weight of the art they want to hang on the walls. If the picture is too heavy, it may rip the hooks out of the wall, causing more damage than what it’s worth. 

Equally, you should consider adding a clause in the tenancy agreement that specifies whether or not you’re willing to allow any picture hanging. Be sure to state that tenants need to leave the property in the same condition as when they moved in so that tenants know to repair any damage caused to the walls by hanging up pictures. 

Tenants should also be made aware that they need to ask your permission should they decide to decorate the property. This includes painting, too. This can all be included in the tenancy agreement and ultimately, it is your decision as the landlord to decide whether tenants can hang pictures on your walls. 

Landlord and tenant perspectives

From your perspective as a landlord, you may have concerns about hanging pictures that stem from the potential cost of repairs and your desire to maintain your property’s condition. 

For tenants, however, hanging up pictures is about creating a comfortable and personalised space to live in. Setting clear expectations in the tenancy agreement helps avoid confusion and will ensure the property remains in good condition. 

How much can a landlord charge for nail holes? 

So, you may be wondering how much you, as a landlord, can charge for nail holes, and there is no specific answer to this question. But, differentiating between fair wear and tear and outright damage to your property is a good place to start. 

For example, a small amount of nail holes in the wall can be considered normal wear and tear, which means that you will not be able to charge your tenants for the slight damage caused by them. 

However, if there is an excessive amount of nail holes in the walls of your property, you are within your rights to charge your tenants for the damage. The amount of money you charge will depend on the amount of damage caused. 

Key takeaways

• You need to decide whether your tenants can hang pictures in your property, and if so, providing them with alternatives to nails will help keep your walls in good condition
• Tenants can use alternatives such as adhesive strips, picture-hanging hooks, bullet hangers, picture ledges, mantles or furniture
• Remember to add a clause in the tenancy agreement that specifies whether tenants can hand pictures, ensuring that you state that tenants should return the property in the same condition once the tenancy agreement has ended. 
• You can charge tenants for nail holes if there is an excessive amount of holes in the walls, otherwise, you cannot charge for fair wear and tear.  

So, to summarise, tenants can hang pictures, but it is up to you,  as the landlord, to ensure that they are aware of your expectations when it comes to decorating the property. 

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