Tenant Alteration Request and Landlord Consent Template

What is a tenant alteration consent?

Most leases say a tenant can't make alterations without the landlord's written consent. Painting a bedroom, putting up shelves, fitting a dishwasher or swapping light fittings all count. A written request and consent protects both sides: the tenant knows the work is approved and on what terms, and the landlord knows exactly what's being done and what happens when the tenant leaves.

In this template the tenant describes the changes — rooms, materials, colours and fixings — who will do the work and when. By signing, the landlord consents to those alterations only, subject to conditions: good workmanship, permits and qualified trades where the law requires them, no structural or services changes that aren't described, minimal disturbance, and prompt reporting of damage. You can add the landlord's own conditions and a contribution to the cost. It covers the tenant's responsibility for the work, inspection, and — the key decision — what happens at the end of the tenancy: the tenant restores the property, the alterations stay, or they stay unless the landlord asks for removal before the tenancy ends. An optional restoration deposit is available where the law allows.

When to Use a tenant alteration consent

• Painting a room a different colour
• Putting up shelves, picture rails, curtain poles or a TV bracket
• Installing a dishwasher, washing machine or new light fittings
• Adding a garden shed, planters or outdoor lighting
• Accessibility adaptations such as grab rails (check local law — some must be allowed)

What You Fill In

15 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: tenant, landlord.

What the tenant alteration consent Covers

1. The request
2. Consent
3. Standards
4. Costs and responsibility
5. Inspection
6. When the tenancy ends
7. General

Using the tenant alteration consent, step by step

1 Describe the work precisely

Say which rooms, what materials and colours, sizes and how things are fixed — for example "two floating shelves above the desk, fixed with wall plugs into plasterboard". Consent covers only what's written, so detail helps you both.

2 Say who does it and when

Choose whether you'll do it yourself, use a qualified contractor, or use one the landlord approves, and add start and finish dates if you have them.

3 Agree costs and the end of the tenancy

The tenant pays unless you enter a landlord contribution. Choose whether the tenant must restore the property when they leave, whether the alterations can stay, or whether they stay unless the landlord asks in good time for them to be removed. Add a restoration deposit only if the law allows it.

4 Send it to the landlord

Tick "This is me" for the tenant and add the landlord. Add any conditions the landlord has asked for before you send it — the landlord signs the document as written. Once both sign, the consent is filed with your tenancy documents in Files.

Tips Before You Send It

• Get consent before you buy materials or book a contractor.
• Take dated photos before and after the work — they help if restoration is discussed later.
• Electrical, gas and structural work usually needs a licensed or qualified person and sometimes a permit. Check what applies.
• If you're in a flat or condo, the building owner or association may need to approve the work too.

Tenant alteration consent: frequently asked questions

More Agreement Templates

All Property & rentals templates · Every eSignature template

This template is a general starting point, not legal advice. Laws differ between countries and states — have a lawyer review the agreement for your situation before you rely on it. Page last reviewed 2026-09-29.