Can You Put A Fence On A Rental Property? (Find Out Now!)

Ossiana Tepfenhart
by Ossiana Tepfenhart

People often say that tall fences make good neighbors, but when you’re a renter, things get dicey. Renters are often restricted from changing the exterior of their apartments and condos. Fences are considered a major change, though they also have a lot of benefits for the right person. Is putting up a fence okay when you’re renting?

Legally, you cannot put up a fence on a rental property without the permission of the landlord. You can, however, ask your landlord to put up a fence for you. If renters insist on a fence, they also have the option to offer to pay for a portion of the cost to sweeten the deal.

Fences are one of those things that people often feel like they need. If you recently got a renter with a dog or are a renter with a food garden, you might need to install one. Here’s what you need to know?

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Before We Begin: Read Your Rental Agreement

We are an awesome site with awesome writers, but we are not legal experts. Sadly, we also aren’t psychic. When it comes to matters of legality and rental agreements, we can only give general advice. Your situation may be entirely different from the norm. Besides, laws can change from place to place.

Most of the issues you might have can be solved through a quick read of your rental agreement or a call to a qualified real estate law professional. If you are ever in a position where you’re having a hard time for rentals, please call a real estate lawyer to find out what your rights are.

Is It Legal To Install A Fence In A Rental?

Temporary fence installations are generally considered to be non-permanent alterations, which means they’re allowed as long as they’re taken down. Permanent fences, on the other hand, are a different story. Most states in the union consider this to be a serious alteration of real estate—even if it’s a major improvement to the home.

Legally, you cannot alter a person’s property without their consent. This means that renters who just decide to put up a white picket fence can be found in breach of lease.

How Do You Get A Fence Installed In A Rental Property?

The answer is, very carefully and with a lot of tactful discussion. If you want to install a fence on a rental property as a renter, here’s what you may need to do:

  • First, ask your landlord for permission. If he says no, then you might be out of luck. In some cases, you might be able to negotiate something if you are willing to invest in the materials. Some landlords may give you permission as long as you hire professional installers. It’s in their right to ask for it.
  • Set a time to install the fence and follow local building codes. You may need to give the neighbors a heads up.
  • Install the fence. I mean, this is going to be the last step if you are successful. We do not suggest badgering your landlord if they say no from the get-go.

If You’re A Landlord, Do You Need To Ask For Renter Permission To Install A Fence?

Technically, the answer is no. A fence is considered to be an upgrade or add-on to your property, which means that your tenants usually don’t have any say in it. Landlords only need to give their tenants a heads up with a reasonable time, plus information regarding anything that they should know during that time.

What Should You Do If Your Landlord Refuses To Put Up A Fence?

There is nothing in the law that will require a landlord to do a home modification requested by a tenant. It is their personal choice, and while there may be laws that require landlords to have fences up in certain circumstances, it’s on the landlord to follow those laws.

You do not have the right to force a landlord to put up a fence—just like you can’t force them to paint the outside of your house purple. If you need a fence and your landlord won’t allow for it, it may be time to look into moving elsewhere. It’s just that simple.

Can Your Landlord Require You To Pay For The Fence?

If the landlord wants to avoid putting up a fence, they may ask you to pay for it. However, it’s going to be a matter of legality. Laws in your area may bar this behavior. It’s best to look into local rental laws to find out what your rights are.

Do You Need Fence Installation or Repair Services?

Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.


Related Questions

Should you raise rent if your tenants asked you to build a new fence?

It is entirely up to you to decide whether you want to raise your rent. However, it’s worth pointing out that putting up a fence is considered to be a home improvement. If your renters made you put it up, it would only make sense that you charge them for the fees associated with erecting said fence.


What happens if you put up a fence without your landlord’s permission?

Fencing is a major alteration to a rental home. Most rental agreements have a clause barring renters from doing any major alterations to both the interior and exterior of their homes. This means that a landlord has a right to call a new fence a breach of contract if it has not been permitted by them.Even if the fence is beautiful, it is still a breach of contract, which means you could be sued or evicted as a result of it. Don’t do it.


Why should landlords insist on professional fence installation?

Professional fence installation is a smart move for landlords because it guarantees a certain level of quality. It also helps reduce liability of the fence itself ends up being a hazard. By keeping things business-like, landlords can ensure that they get quality and also reduce the chances of them being held liable for faulty property features. Neat!

Ossiana Tepfenhart
Ossiana Tepfenhart

Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.

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