Can I Remove Furniture From a Furnished Apartment?

Furnished rentals in Montreal have many benefits. One is not required to buy and move the furniture; thus, settling on a new apartment is much easier. Nevertheless, not all the provided furnishings are satisfactory for all the tenants. Some want some furniture replacement or decluttered space, others like to have their own stuff in the interior.

Can you remove furniture from a furnished apartment that you rent? Of course. But before doing this, ensure you verify whether you can do this under your lease. Disobeying the regulations can bring about monetary penalties, loss of your security deposit, or even the violation of your rental agreement. This article will walk you through the process by explaining the steps you need to follow, the primary duties, and the best practices for resolving the situation while being rental agreement compliant.

Check Your Lease Agreement Before Got Junk Furniture Removal

Before making any changes to your rented property, the very first is going through your lease contract. Most likely, the rental agreement will detail the furnishing supplied for the property, and removing them could possibly be against your lease.

Here’s what you need to check your lease:

• Furniture clauses – In some leases, all the furnishing is supposed to remain in the apartment for the lease. Others allow for the tenant to make some changes subject to the unit being restored to its original form when vacating.

• Security deposit conditions – If you remove some of the furniture, your security deposit may be used for the replacement cost of missing or destroyed property. Be sure to inspect for this under your rental scenario.

• Responsibility for repairs – If the piece is ruined or destroyed, some leases require the tenant to pay for the repair or replace the piece before leaving. Removal of the furnishing minus the repair can possibly be considered a violation of the lease.

• Subletting and modifications– New tenants can make some changes under some landlords, subject to prior approval. Others will not allow changes at all.

If the lease does not say anything about the removal of the furniture, you need to communicate this beforehand. Having something in writing can protect you from possible disagreements afterward.

Can You Ask Landlord to Remove Furniture?

Once you’ve reviewed your lease, the next is to sit down and talk things over with your landlord or property manager. Communication is the best form of avoiding misunderstandings and keeping the process flowing easily.

How to start the conversation:

• Be clear and professional – Explain the need for the replacement or the removal of the said pieces of furniture. If the piece is not suitable for your room, the table is taking up place unnecessarily, or the closet is not needed, the chances for approval improve when you give the right reason.

• Offer solutions – Instead of taking things away, ask them where you can store them somewhere else. Landlords can have some spare space where the furnishing can be placed for the temporary.

• Discuss alternatives – If you can't remove them entirely, make small changes like the room being rearranged or the furniture being covered using fabric for your desired style.

• Get written approval – If the landlord is agreeable, always obtain the changes in writing. This can either be through the landlord’s email or by adding the changes to your lease agreement.

If your landlord refuses to accept changes, you will need to adapt to the furnishing available. Defying their reaction may impose monetary penalties or even legal repercussions.

Furniture Removal and Storage or Alternative Solutions

If you can't actually remove the furniture for good, you can deal with the situation by keeping your apartment cozy.

Rearranging the Space

• Moving the furniture over onto the opposite side can settle the matter without its being taken out.

• If your room is small, you can also shift the bed for optimizing.

• A large table or closet can also be relocated to less obtrusive places.

Using Storage Services

If your landlord agrees to remove the furniture, but not store it for you, you will need to find some alternate solution. These can be some of the following:

• Self-storage units – Most facilities in Montreal offer short-term storage for their tenants to keep their belongings for temporary purposes.

• Rental storage – These organizations also offer small bins for your home where you can store the furniture safely.

• Private storage contracts – If you know someone who has some spare space, you may possibly store the furniture at their residence for the duration of your lease.

Customizing the Furniture instead of its Removal

• Use covers or slipcovers to transform the look of a couch or bed.

• Add personal elements to detract from the unwanted furnishing.

• Use removable storage when closet space or the space available on the table is insufficient for your needs.

These options enable you to customize the apartment for yourself without violating your lease terms.

Responsibilities and Costs

If you can remove, replace, or store your belongings, you need to know the financial and legal implications.

Who Covers the Costs?

• Storage fees – If the landlord is not offering the space for gratis, you will likely pay for a rental or a third-party one.

• Moving expenses – Mover rentals or renting a truck is added to the overall cost for the moving of heavy furniture.

• Repairs and replacement – If you happen to break something while removing it, you will need to replace the piece or pay for the repair.

How It Affects Your Security Deposit

Your deposit is for the landlord's benefit for loss or damage caused by the furniture. If you remove the apartment minus its equipment when you leave, some of your deposit will definitely be deducted to cover for replacement.

To avoid controversy:

• Take photos of the current furniture before you make any changes.

• Keep receipts when you store your belongings in an external facility.

• Document agreements in writing to avoid misunderstandings.

Following these guidelines will provide you with a good relationship with your landlord and conformable rentals without extra cost.

Conclusion

Renting a rental property that is furnished includes the acceptance of the supplied furnishings, not necessarily the keeping of all the pieces. If some don't fit your style, you can make changes to your space to be lease-compliant. The solution is being thoughtful about the process—first, by reading your lease; next, by consulting your landlord, and third, by attempting some creative workarounds like repurposing the space or storing the piece.

Ignoring rental terms or unauthorized changes can leave you with unnecessary expenses, deductions from your security deposit, or even the potential for being taken to small claims court. But by doing things the right way, all will be fine. As a result, you will not only have a good relationship with your landlord but also have an apartment furnished and conditions good for you.