Real Estate
Home›Real Estate›Residential›Rental upgrades focus on low-cost changes as home buyi…
Rental upgrades focus on low-cost changes as home buying stays tough
The guidance comes as higher average mortgage rates and large deposits keep many would-be buyers renting longer, shifting demand toward renter-friendly improvements.
Experts say making a rental feel more like home does not have to involve costly renovations or changes that could risk a deposit, particularly as mortgage rates and deposits remain high and force many people to rent for longer. BBC Business asked B&Q chief executive Graham Bell and interior designers Lara Clarke and Lydia Lloyd for renter-friendly approaches.
Bell said landlords may be open to “sensible improvements” when tenants upgrade rather than fundamentally change the property, but he emphasized planning, including deciding goals, measuring space, and buying all needed items before starting. He also recommended temporary options that can move with tenants, such as stick-on kitchen tiles, suction storage in bathrooms, and expandable blinds that can be fitted without drilling.
Clarke highlighted artwork as a low-cost way to make a space feel finished, suggesting affordable vintage oil paintings, exhibition posters, or framed sketches from antique markets, secured with command strips to avoid leaving holes. On lighting, Bell said swapping bright, harsh fixtures for warmer tones can shift a room’s atmosphere, including experimenting with different lightbulbs or strip lighting.
The advice also included using softer glow options, including strip lighting in kitchens, to refresh the look and feel of a rental without major renovation work.