Question
A tenant wishes to renew his lease for an apartment and has requested the landlord to replace the carpet in the bedrooms with a plush kind. He offered to pay an increased rental. The landlord declined due to the tenant’s lack of care and maintenance of the current carpet.
The tenant, desiring comfort, then offered to pay for the plush carpet and its installation himself. However, he requested for the landlord to select the colour of the carpet. The carpet is to remain in the property after the termination of the lease and no additional rental will be charged due to the new carpet.
Is this permissible?
Answer
This is a voluntary act from the side of the tenant whereby he is prepared to purchase a carpet for the apartment and is prepared to leave it behind after vacating the premises. There is no harm in him doing so on condition that he understands that he has absolutely no claim against the landlord for the carpet.
However, if the lease agreement states that the tenant is not permitted to make any changes to the rented premises without the consent of the landlord, then the tenant will be required to seek consent from the landlord before making any such changes.
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.