Question about apartment rentals

Hello.

I am a landlord in UK as well as a long term renter in Portugal.

As you say, it is up to landlord and type of property, HOWEVER, I would be very reluctant to allow a tenant to change colours or permanently change the decor.

If anyone was desparate to do so then I MAY agree on condition that I retain the right to expect the property is returned to its original colour/decor at renters expense when the rental period is complete.

I think that would be a reasonable position as what one person's taste is may be another's nightmare!

Slugsurmamates is right. Landlord may write a clause in the lease contract that prevents tenant from making bigger changes. Painting walls with a little common sense ( ...*) there should be no problem at all.

Other more significant changes, such as changing the furniture in the kitchen or bathroom, re-flooring, etc.... normally, tenant will have to discuss this with landlord. If landlord agrees, that's fine... the best thing is that permission should always be written and signed by both parties, so that tenant doesn't force landlord to pay for changes one day later, and landlord authorises that change, without forcing tenant to put everything back as it was before.

Relationship between landlord and tenant is like a marriage, today everything is fine, but tomorrow, who knows?...

* It's just that the meaning of "common sense" is so different from person to person....