Table of Contents
Rented flat-hanging pictures ?
We give you an overview of the legal basics of wall design in your rented flat and show you how to hang up your pictures in your rented flat without drilling or nailing.
Our picture hangers for your rental flat
Am I allowed to hang pictures in a rented flat ?
Hello,
I recently moved into our first flat together with my partner. We live there as tenants, so my question is: Am I actually allowed to hammer nails into the wall in a rented flat or drill holes in the wall with a drill without the tenant’s permission? I want to redecorate a bit and therefore hang the pictures a bit differently.
Many thanks & best regards
Peter
What am I allowed to do in a rented flat without the landlord's permission?
This question has been on our minds for quite some time and today we want to find a common answer If you live within your own four walls, own your own flat or have your own residential property, you can of course hang your pictures wherever you like. However, almost half of all residents in Germany live in rented flats or rented houses. Many landlords do not like to see their rented flats left with numerous holes in the walls when they move out. Therefore, all tenants have to sign a rental contract before moving in, and rent deposits in not inconsiderable sums are the order of the day.
As a tenant, you have to comply with the stipulations of the signed tenancy agreement and the currently applicable tenancy law, which of course also applies to hanging up pictures or redecorating and renovating the rented rooms. The contractual framework of the tenancy agreement and German tenancy law is mostly uniform and also regulates which changes can be made without the owner’s permission. For example, you can make the following changes without the landlord’s permission:
- Hanging pictures also by means of nails or screws. For this purpose, holes may also be drilled with a drill and dowels sunk into the wall. Attention: Drilling into tiles is not permitted.
- Painting the walls. Here too, the landlord has no say if the walls in the flat are decorated in fashionable colours or with special wiping techniques.
- The application of new wallpaper. Accordingly, the landlord must also accept it if the old wallpaper is removed and the wall is decorated using glazing techniques.
- The application of decorative strips or wall tattoos. These often replace painted walls and can simply be peeled off the wall when you move out.
What am I not allowed to do in a rented flat without the landlord's express permission?
For major changes, such as replacing the old floor or knocking down the wall in the bedroom, you must obtain the landlord’s consent. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it is best to do this in writing. However, the landlord can only agree to the alteration of the living space if the original condition of the flat is restored at the end of the tenancy. You should therefore clarify the following points with your landlord and obtain express permission before carrying out the work:
- Drill into tiles to hang picture frames (Tip: Drill into joints, these can be filled or use picture hangers for gluing).
- Ripping out an old floor or installing new tiles
- The tearing down or raising of a wall
- Repainting tiles or installing a fireplace
Therefore, our tip: As soon as the tenancy agreement is signed, it is legally binding. If you only skim through your tenancy agreement and do not read it carefully, you may be in for a nasty surprise. Therefore, take enough time to read your tenancy agreement carefully and ask your landlord about any changes. Be sure to get your landlord’s permission before making any major structural changes to your flat.
May a landlord prohibit the hanging of pictures in his own flat?
“Recently I moved into a new rented flat. When I handed over the flat, the landlord expressly forbade me to hang pictures in the flat. He said he didn’t want to have to fill the walls and paint them white every time there was a change of tenant. Is the landlord allowed to impose such a ban at all?”
No, as already mentioned above, hanging pictures is part of the normal use and decoration of a rented flat. The landlord can therefore not forbid a tenant to make changes to the flat, such as hanging pictures on walls. This includes, for example, drilling holes in your wall with a drill and using wall plugs and screws. When you move out, the landlord is not allowed to paint the walls at your expense. Normal signs of use and wear and tear are included in the rent and do not require express permission.
Designing a picture wall without a frame - The right arrangement of your pictures
The picture hanger for aluminium composite, acryl glass, forex & cardboard
GalleryGAEKKO
With the innovative 3-in-1 hanging system by GAEKKO, you can hang up any kind of frameless picture on any wall as easy as winking. It is your choice: Gluing, nailing or screwing.
- All image formats and wall surfaces
- Levitating gallery look
- If glued, it can secure up to two kilos and if it is screwed or nailed, it can secure up to four kilos
How can pictures be hung in rented flats without damaging power lines?
“I want to hang pictures in my new rented flat, but I don’t know where the power lines are and I’m afraid I’ll accidentally hit an electric line. It would be even worse if I hit a water pipe, causing water damage. How do I avoid the nail or the drill damaging a pipe?”
To be on the safe side, you can buy a testing device at the DIY store that detects electrical cables in walls and displays them immediately. A much cheaper alternative is to choose the location of the nail or dowel hole well before installing your favourite picture. Electrical cables always run horizontally and vertically in walls. Therefore, you should never hang a picture directly above or below the centre of a socket. If you follow this advice, the light should still be on everywhere in your flat even after you have hung up your pictures
Hanging pictures in the stairwell - What is really allowed?
Even if you want to decorate the staircase, as a tenant you have to consider a few things. It is best to talk to your landlord before hanging pictures and get his permission. Because changes to the furnishings outside the actual flat are not allowed according to the tenancy agreement, even if your pictures would beautify the cold staircase.
Putting up your artwork is just as forbidden as painting the walls in the stairwell. For both, you need explicit permission from your landlord. Since this is not your flat but a room that is accessible to all tenants, you must expect that other tenants or your landlord will be disturbed by your decoration. The situation is different with your flat door. The landlord has no rights here and you can decorate your flat door as you wish.
What tenants must additionally observe in the house rules
In some apartment buildings, house rules are also posted which impose additional obligations on the tenant. Basically, the house rules are intended to simplify living together between the tenants and to ensure that rules are observed. For example, some house rules regulate quiet times or the use of common rooms.
Information on legal rest periods is often an integral part of every house rule. For example, the observance of night-time rest and midday rest do not have to be specifically stated in the tenancy agreement, but can be posted in the house rules in the stairwell. However, if the landlord wants to impose certain tasks on his tenants, such as shovelling snow or cleaning the staircase, the house rules must be mentioned in the tenancy agreement.
Hang pictures without holes and without damaging the wall
The landlord cannot forbid a tenant to hang picture frames or canvas pictures on the wall. However, many leases stipulate in writing that all holes caused by hanging pictures or other changes must be repaired and filled by the tenant upon moving out. Depending on the wall surface, damage to the wall can be a costly affair. It is particularly bad if you have holes in wallpaper or textured walls, as it is often not possible to adequately retouch the unsightly holes here. Often it is also difficult to match the identical colour again or to get the same wallpaper. And who wants to spend a lot of time and energy on the old flat when they move out?
Many people believe that it is almost impossible to avoid drilling holes when hanging pictures. The dowel holes are necessary to hang your pictures on the wall. We at GAEKKO say: That doesn’t have to be the case. Our self-adhesive picture hangers come without holes in your wall No more hassle with the landlord about damaged walls or when you move out and turn your back on your old rented flat. With our hangers, you’ll not only save your walls but also your landlord’s nerves. No more hassle because of loud drilling or unsightly nails in your wall.
Our conclusion: With our all-in-one hanging system, you can easily attach your picture frames to the wall on any surface. Our range includes products for hanging small photos & postcards, canvas pictures and pictures on panels such as aluminium dibond or acrylic glass. When it comes to hanging pictures, we offer you user-friendly solutions for seemingly unsolvable problems. No matter whether you are a tenant or a landlord: With our self-adhesive hangers you minimise damage to your walls!
Discover our self adhsive picture hooks for all kind of pictures
GalleryGAEKKO
The adhesive picture hanger for aluminum prints, plexiglass & acrlic prints
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PictureframeGAEKKO
for any kind of framed pictures
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CanvasGAEKKO
stretcher frames and wooden frames
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PhotoGAEKKO
photos & postcards
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PosterGAEKKO
posters & art prints
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