Replace doors as a tenant
Some landlords forbid the nail in the wall, others are rather relaxed about even major changes. As a tenant, am I allowed to simply replace my doors? You can find out here.
You have found a beautiful apartment that has only one catch: The wooden doors don't let the light from one room into the other, making the apartment look much smaller and narrower than it actually is. So what to do? Glass doors would be ideal for letting in light and visually expanding the apartment. This would also immediately bring in a better sense of space and a much higher quality of living. Or: You need a home office and want to add a door to an existing alcove so you can work there in peace. Here, too, a glass door would be the ideal combination of privacy and light. But: Is that allowed?
On the other hand, unhinge an old door and hang one that you like better in the existing frame is no problem at all. You can store the old doors in the basement, for example, and hang them again when you move out. A new frame including the door is also no problem. In any case, talk to the landlord. If he demands that everything looks exactly the same when you move out, you must respect this and restore the original condition.
In general, the following applies: For so-called cosmetic repairs and also for built-in kitchens, lamps, built-in cabinets, loft beds and interior doors, you do not need permission from the landlord. However, the following restriction applies to interior doors: "...as long as no structural changes are made". Wall openings or door openings and/or moving the door to a different location is therefore not permitted without the express consent of the landlord.
If the landlord not only agrees to the replacement of the doors, but even expressly approves and wants it, you can not only replace the doors, but also share the costs with the landlord (e.g. in the form of temporarily lower rent or a redemption payment when you move out). Finally, the landlord also benefits from a nice, bright and visually large apartment when subletting or in case of own use. In the case of shared costs, a renovation contract can be very useful.
