A golden rule is that a tenant should not make improvements or repairs to a landlord s property without the permission of the landlord. Such permission should be in writing. A tenant should not dispose of a landlord s property without receiving written permission.
Permission is given orally only to be denied at the end of the tenancy.
A tenant may have had a furnace problem on a weekend, had it fixed and wants to deduct it from the rent. Then the tenant decides to leave or has a dispute with the landlord who refuses to renew the lease. Many tenants want to know if they make certain improvements to the property can they take the improvements with them when they leave. The general principle is that if the improvement becomes an integral part of the property, then the tenant must leave the improvement. Thus, if a tenant replaces glass in a window, uses his nails to repair loose steps, etc., the improvements should be left.