If you make any modifications to the property, even with the rental provider’s written consent, when you move out you will:
- Be responsible for restoring your rental property to the condition it was in before the modification was made, save for fair wear and tear, or
- If you do not undertake this work yourself, need to pay the rental provider an amount equal to the reasonable cost of having the property restored to that condition
There are exceptions to these requirements:
- The rental provider says restoration is not required, or
- There is an agreement in place between you and the rental provider that restoration does not need to be done [section 64]
Before making any modifications, we recommend you try to get a clear, written agreement with the rental provider that on moving out you do not have to remove any modifications, or pay to have them removed.
Note that on this page sections in brackets, such as [section 64], refer to sections in Victoria’s Residential Tenancies Act 1997 or regulations in the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021. There are links to these sections in the Resources section below.