RENTERS wanting to spruce up their home must be cautious about using viral trends as they could risk losing their deposit.
It can be exciting moving into a new home and making it your own.
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However, if you’re renting, then you’ll need to approach with caution.
There are various cleaning and decorating trends on social media that can actually cause damage to your home.
If you’re not careful you could risk losing a large chunk of your deposit or not get it back at all.
A deposit is usually five weeks’ rent and landlords can use it to cover the cost of any damage caused by the tenant – excluding general wear and tear.
Each landlord is different and some might allow tenants to have a pet, paint the walls or remove furniture, but others won’t.
If you want to make sure you get your full deposit back at the end of your tenancy, then make sure you’re aware of these trends and hacks people are doing that could end up costing you.
The Sun spoke to Josh Barber, head of buying and merchandising at Flooring Superstore, and Marlena Kaminska, designer at ValueLights, for tips on what to avoid and what you can safely do instead.
Superglue on surfaces – £100s
One social media trend renters are making use of is using superglue to fix damaged surfaces with cracks or holes in.
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Josh said: “It’s natural for wooden floors to have small gaps to accommodate for the expansion and contraction of floorboards that ocurrs with changes in temperature and humidity levels.
“However, occasionally flooring can have excessive gaps, which can be down to poor installation, and we’re seeing an increasing number of people using superglue to try and eradicate these gaps.”
He said the glue will damage your flooring in the long run, causing cracking, lifting and even warping.
Once you come to move out, your landlord could then charge you for these damages which could cost you hundreds of pounds.
If you are wanting to cover up anything, Josh said to use specialist wood glue.
“For any larger gaps in your flooring that won’t close up, it’s best to call in the professionals who can recommend the best way to repair your floors without causing any long-term damage.”
Iron hack to fix carpet dents – £100s
Another trend Josh has seen, and would not recommend, is ironing your carpet to flatten it out.
He said: “Some social media users are taking to their household iron to tackle these carpet dents – a trend we’d strongly advise against.
“Even if you use a towel between the iron and the carpet, you’re at risk of burning the fibres and needing to replace your entire carpet.
As an alternative, and if you really want to straighten it out, use a steamer and only at a safe distance.
Josh said this will eradicate any dents without the risk of permanently damaging your flooring.
“Or alternatively, placing ice cubes on the indent, allowing it to melt a little – will revive your carpet and have it looking as good as new.”
Fabric softener for carpets – £100s
Another way people are trying to spruce up their home is by using fabric softener on carpets.
Josh said he’s seen this made popular by various cleaning influencers, but it can have the opposite effect and make your carpets and rugs even dirtier.
“Some online cleaning stars advocate mixing fabric softener with washing gel and warm water and dabbing this onto your rug with a clean cloth,” he said.
“But this can negatively impact the flame retardancy of flooring and also leave behind a greasy residue, which can make more dirt cling to the fibres.”
If your landlord sees this, they may charge for it to be professionally cleaned.
The cost will vary depending on the size of the space and where you live, but you could have another £100 knocked from your deposit.
Throwing furniture away – £500
Not necessarily a trend, but many people are inspired by social media like TikTok to buy new bits of furniture.
If you want to replace furniture or other items that came with the property, Marlena said it’s important you do not throw anything away.
For example, if you want to buy your own bed but the property already came with one, either ask your landlord to collect it or dismantle it and store it.
The landlord would have purchased this themselves and if you chuck it, then you’ll most likely have to pay to replace it.
She said: “Micro-improvements such as swapping your showerhead, replacing crusty outlet covers and putting up new lampshades are subtle changes which can make all the difference to your living experience.
“While your landlord will appreciate like-for-like replacements for products of a newer finish, if you’re swapping out any fixtures for aesthetic purposes alone, be sure to store the originals in a cupboard so you can reinstall them upon moving out.”
A new double bed could cost anywhere between £100 and £500 so it isn’t something you’re going to want to buy when you move out.
Deep cleaning carpets – £100s
There’s one cleaning hack that’s hard to miss – home improvers cleaning their carpets and rugs by scraping them.
“In recent weeks we’ve seen a surge in searches for ‘carpet scraper tool’ and the hashtag #carpetscraper now has over 45m views on TikTok,” said Marlena.
“A typical video will see a carpet scraper pulled across a carpet or rug to reveal the dirt, fibres and dust that have collected over time.
“While it’s no doubt satisfying to watch, people don’t realise that they are in fact damaging their carpet by removing the fibres, which over time will cause balding.”
Carpet scraping, even just once or twice a week, will cause lasting damage.
Marlena said: “Instead, investing in a good quality vacuum cleaner and having a routine clean each week should be enough to keep your floors fresh and avoid a build-up of dust and dirt.
“Stubborn stains may need professional treatment or a once-over with household carpet cleaner every now and again, but scraping tools should be avoided at all costs.”
Just going for it without asking your landlord
Marlena said that one of the most important things tenants should do before making any home improvements is to speak to the landlord.
Lots of people see something on social media they think is removable or reversible, but it isn’t.
Ask your landlord if they’re happy for you to make any changes first – even if they’re small.
Marlena explained that the landlord would have most likely bought some bits of furniture and paid for it to be decorated themselves, and so it’s important you check in with them to see what they’re happy for you to do.
She said it’s important to remember that every landlord is different and some may be more lenient on certain decorating rules.
“If you’re desperate to repaint a wall or hang a shelf, it’s always first worth asking if this would be permitted,” she said.
“If you’re in a long-term tenancy agreement, consider requesting decorating agreements to be added to your tenancy.
“Similarly, assuring your landlord that you will refill holes and touch-up paint may help sway them to allow you greater furnishing freedoms.”
Don’t rip out anything – £1,000
If you aren’t a fan of the kitchen tiles or the carpet in the bedroom it doesn’t mean you should rip them out.
This, Marlena said, could cost you thousands of pounds – even more than your deposit.
For example, many people on social media are using surface stickers to cover their kitchen counters in a new design, but this might cause damage underneath.
She added: “Ripping out and replacing any unsavoury features in your rental property such as garish tiles or kitchen units would not only be a costly fix but also one likely prohibited by your landlord.”
If you’re desperate to cover something, then invest in items to disguise these features or to emphasise others in the house.
For example, rugs, cushions, blankets are all great ways to spruce up your home without ruining anything.
Avoid nailing things to the walls – £100s
Another thing to avoid if you’re renting and want your deposit back is nailing items to walls like shelving units or artwork.
There are a lot of hacks on TikTok about installing art and while it can be useful, you’ll want to consider what your landlord could end up charging you.
Your landlord might then charge you to fill in the holes or even repaint over it.
Marlena said that while your landlord may prohibit you from installing shelves or hanging artwork, there are ways to keep your home nice without damaging walls.
She said: “Outside of its practicality, freestanding furniture also adds visual interest to your rooms through the scale and texture it can bring.
“For example, incorporating a large arching floor lamp to a living room creates shape and dimension without requiring any structural adjustments.”
Paying to fix a hole in the wall could cost anywhere around £100, so if you’ve got a few then you’re looking at a very large of your deposit to not see again.
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