Can Tenants Hang Pictures on Walls? UK Rules Explained

Tenants can usually hang pictures if the tenancy agreement allows it or the landlord agrees, but in most of the UK there’s no automatic legal right to put nails or screws in the walls. Check your agreement first, ask in writing for anything that makes holes, and use damage-free fixings where you can. In Scotland, a new right for private tenants to make minor changes such as hanging pictures has been passed into law but, as of September 2026, isn’t yet in force.

Are you allowed to hang pictures in a rental property in the UK?

Nation	Legal right to hang pictures?	What decides it
England	No general right	Your tenancy agreement and the landlord’s consent
Wales	No general right	Your occupation contract’s terms on alterations
Scotland	Passed into law, not yet in force	For now, your tenancy agreement; later, the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 right to personalise
Northern Ireland	No general right	Your tenancy agreement and the landlord’s consent

Is there a legal right to hang pictures in a rented home?

Not in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. The law expects you to return the property in the condition you received it, allowing for fair wear and tear, and your tenancy agreement sets the rules on alterations. Many agreements include a clause such as “not to drive nails or screws into the walls or use adhesives without the landlord’s written consent”.

England

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025, whose main changes began on 1 May 2026, gives tenants a right to request a pet and ends section 21 evictions, but it doesn’t create a general right to decorate or put fixings in walls. What your agreement says still applies. The Tenant Fees Act 2019 means a landlord can only deduct from your deposit for real loss, such as the reasonable cost of repairing damage, not charge a set “wall fee”.

Wales

Under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, your occupation contract sets out whether you need consent to make alterations. Check the terms on alterations and “improvements” and ask your landlord in writing before fixing anything to the walls.

Scotland

The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 creates a right for private tenants to personalise their home. According to the Scottish Government, minor changes such as hanging pictures will not need consent, while larger changes such as painting or putting up shelves will need a written request that the landlord must answer within 30 days. The right will apply after six months in the tenancy. At the time of writing, no start date has been set and further regulations are needed, so for now your tenancy agreement still applies.

Northern Ireland

There’s no specific right to hang pictures. Follow your tenancy agreement and get written consent for anything that makes holes.

Can a landlord prevent you from hanging pictures?

Yes, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, if your agreement says fixings need consent and the landlord refuses. There’s no appeal process for a picture hook the way there now is for a pet request in England. But there are limits:

• Terms must be fair. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, standard terms in a tenancy agreement must be fair and transparent. A term that’s unclear, or that lets the landlord charge a fixed penalty rather than the real cost of repairs, may not be enforceable. Get advice from Shelter or Citizens Advice if you think a term goes too far.
• Charges must reflect real loss. In England, the Tenant Fees Act 2019 bans most fees, so a landlord can’t charge a flat “per hole” fee. They can only deduct the reasonable cost of putting damage right from your deposit.
• Verbal permission counts, but is hard to prove. If the agent said yes on the phone, confirm it by email.
• Scotland will change. Once the new right to personalise commences, landlords won’t be able to stop minor changes such as hanging pictures after six months in the tenancy.

If your landlord says no, it’s usually because of past damage, freshly decorated walls or a fragile wall type. Offering to use a specific small hook, or to pay for a professional to hang heavier items, often changes the answer.

How do you ask your landlord for permission?

Put it in writing, even if the landlord or agent has already said yes on the phone. Email is fine. Include what you’ll hang, roughly where, the fixing you’ll use, and how you’ll leave the wall at the end. For example:

“Hi, I’d like to hang three framed pictures (each under 3kg) in the living room and a mirror in the hall, using small picture hooks. When I move out I’ll fill and touch up the holes neatly, or leave the hooks in place if you’d prefer. Could you confirm this is OK?”

Save the reply with your tenancy documents. If the landlord says no, you still have plenty of damage-free options.

What are the best damage-free ways to hang pictures?

Method	Best for	Watch out for
Removable adhesive strips	Light frames, within the weight limit on the pack	Can pull off paint on fresh, poorly bonded or textured walls; follow the removal instructions exactly
Poster putty	Unframed posters and prints	Can leave greasy marks on some paints
Existing hooks, nails or picture rail	Any frame the fixing can hold	Check the fixing is secure before use
Leaning frames on shelves or mantelpieces	Larger art, mirrors	Secure against tipping if you have children or pets
Freestanding easels or ladder shelves	Large pieces	Floor space
Small picture hooks (with permission)	Medium frames	Leave a small pin hole that’s easy to fill

What about heavy mirrors, shelves and TVs?

Heavy items need the right fixing for the wall type: plasterboard, solid plaster or brick. They also carry more risk, both of damage and of drilling into cables or pipes. Always get written permission for these, and consider a professional. A local handyman can do it for you if you’d rather not drill yourself. If you’re allowed to fix a TV bracket, ask the landlord whether they want it left or removed at the end.

How do you repair holes before you move out?

1. Check what your landlord wants. Some prefer hooks left in place for the next tenant.
2. Remove fixings carefully. Pull strips straight down along the wall, slowly, as the maker instructs.
3. Fill small holes with a ready-mixed filler, slightly overfilling.
4. Sand flush once dry, using fine sandpaper.
5. Touch up only if you can match the paint. Ask the landlord or agent for the colour. A patch in the wrong shade is more noticeable than a filled hole.
6. Clean up the dust on skirting boards and floors.

Avoid shortcuts such as toothpaste or soap in holes. They shrink, crack and are easy to spot at the check-out inspection.

Can a landlord deduct from my deposit for holes in the wall?

They can deduct the reasonable cost of putting right damage beyond fair wear and tear. Whether a few small holes are treated as wear and tear depends on your agreement, the length of the tenancy, and the number and size of the holes. Many landlords accept a few neatly filled pin holes after a long tenancy; lots of holes, rawl plugs left in the wall or torn plaster are more likely to be charged.

A landlord can’t charge for “betterment”, such as redecorating an entire room that was already due for painting. If you disagree with a deduction, use your deposit scheme’s free dispute service. The GOV.UK tenancy deposit protection page explains how this works in England and Wales. Our guides to which damage tenants are responsible for and the things to check in a tenancy agreement cover the wider rules.

Frequently asked questions

Getting ready to move out? Once the walls are sorted, our end of tenancy cleaning team will clear the dust and bring the property back to the check-in standard, with a 72-hour re-clean guarantee. Check the cleaning checklist and our fixed prices, find your local team on our areas page or end of tenancy cleaning in London, read our guide to getting your deposit back, or get a free quote.