So, you want to get that big screen TV, but don’t want to just plop it down on a TV stand. After all, it will look so much better hanging in the perfect place on your wall. But you don’t want to get in hot water with your landlord, so what’s a responsible tenant to do?
Well, we got you covered. In this article, we are going to answer whether you can mount your TV in an apartment, including what you need to look for in your lease, and we’ll also provide a super simple tutorial on how to mount your TV in an apartment.
Let’s get into it!
The information contained in this post is for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. You should seek the advice of a qualified legal professional before making any decisions relating to the topics covered by this article.
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What Are Renter’s Rights?
Renters have rights. That goes without saying.
Those rights basically stem from two sources. Your lease and the applicable laws for your jurisdiction.
For example, under law you have the right to a habitable home (that is not infested with vermin or falling down), and the right to not be discriminated against (for any personal attributes), and the right to not be charged more than necessary for a security deposit.
There are other rights, of course, but these are some of the big ones.
But the laws are not designed to give you rights for something like mounting a TV in your apartment.
In that case, you need to look at your lease. In fact, that’s true for most things decor or entertainment related. So, when can you mount a tv in your apartment? Let’s tackle that question next.
Can You Mount A TV In An Apartment?
You may mount a TV in an apartment if your lease permits it or if you have permission from your landlord to do so. In some cases, the lease will be unclear on this point, so you should confirm with your landlord if the provisions are ambiguous. In almost all cases, you will be responsible for costs associated with repairing holes caused by mounting your TV.
If your landlord does not agree to any fixtures or fittings in the lease, then it is unlikely that you will be allowed to mount your TV to the wall.
Of course, if you own your home, you won’t need anyone’s permission.
Whether you own the home or not, always check that the wall is suitable for a TV mount.
Are Your Walls Suitable For Mounting a TV
As mentioned, another thing that may affect you mounting a TV is your walls. When renting an apartment, you may notice that certain parts of the house may feel less solid than others.
This is usually because there is a partition wall there. These partition walls are especially common with apartments, because they help separate the entire apartment.
However, they can be pretty weak, and it is recommended that you do not mount your TV on a partition wall. This is because it may not be able to handle the weight.
You also want to be careful when drilling to make sure you drill into wood beams or something sturdy enough to handle the weight of the TV and mounting. Just drilling into drywall will usually not be enough.
Neighbors
If you live in an area with thin walls, it may not be wise to mount a TV, especially if this is a partition wall.
This may cause issues for your neighbors’ walls, and they may be able to hear your TV loudly if it is mounted on a thin wall.
How To Mount A TV In An Apartment
The way that you mount the TV will depend on the type of TV you have, as well as the mount.
The mount is the part that will be fixed to the wall, and your TV will usually slide onto this mount.
Your TV may have come with the mount, but often, you will have to buy one yourself.
Before you mount your TV, test it out with the mount, so you can see how it goes into place. Do this on the floor or table, so you can understand the dynamics.
Measure up the wall, and make sure that the mount is straight. Check it is not a partition wall, and be mindful of any electric wires going through the wall.
Also, make sure that where you are mounting your TV is close to a plug socket, because that would be really annoying to find out afterwards.
Pencil the place where you want to mount your TV, and secure the mount to the wall. Once you have done this, your TV can slide onto the mount.
When it comes to moving out of your apartment and taking the TV down, you will notice the holes in the wall from the mount.
Get some suitable wall filler to fill these in, as you want to make it as easy for the landlord as possible.
Final Thoughts
In short, mounting a TV to a wall is pretty simple, but some rented apartments do not allow it in the lease.
To find out if you are allowed, speak to your landlord or look at your tenancy agreement. This will then tell you if you can go ahead and follow these tips.
Thanks for reading!
