Those of us who rent generally feel that we have fewer options for making our homes eco-friendly. We make do with our buildings and landlords as they are and instead focus on smaller ways to go green. So, when we read Rent.com's tips for negotiating your way into an eco-friendly apartment, we wondered whether we should be more assertive next time we're apartment-hunting. We also became curious whether any of you have tried these things…
Rent.com suggests three areas in which you might be able to get a greener apartment:
• Upgrade the Appliances: "If you notice older appliances in an apartment you're interested in, ask the landlord to consider replacing them with newer energy efficient models before you sign the lease. The latest dishwashers on the market use significantly less water per load than washing dishes by hand, and replacing an older refrigerator with an Energy Star model could reduce your energy usage by up to 50 percent!" [See our list of Energy Star Dishwashers for ideas.]
• Paint Your Home Green: "Landlords will usually repaint the interior of the apartment before you sign the lease. If this is the case, ask your landlord if they're willing to let you choose the paint. This will allow you to choose both the color of the paint as well as a brand that is safe for the environment. If your landlord refuses to pay for the paint, ask if it’s possible for you to supply it if they pay for the painters."
• Batten Down the Hatches: "When viewing apartments, make sure to ask whether it is insulated. Many older buildings were not built with insulation, allowing heat to escape in the winter and cool air to escape in the summer. Find out if your landlord is willing to have it installed in the walls, which can help you save on electricity and on your heating and air conditioning costs."
Have any of you successfully (or unsuccessfully) tried to negotiate for green appliances, paint, or other features? Tell us what happened!
• Rent.com Finds Most Americans Would Prefer Eco-Friendly Living (PDF)
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How about:
1) asking permission to have a roof garden?
2) asking for a bike shed/other dedicated area suitable for locking up bikes?
3) making sure the stairs are safe/accessible (eg. adequate hand rails etc)-don't know if that's under health and safety anyway.
Regarding the appliances, if you're a good tenant, and you have old appliances, it can't hurt to ask for an upgrade during your tenancy. The landlords often have extra or second-hand appliances that are newer than yours that are coming out of apartments under rehab.
Roof gardens are great. I'd been living in an apartment for a few years and got bitten by the gardening bug. I asked the onsite manager if I could put containers on the beautiful, big roof and she said Yes. For three years I had a container roof garden, then the city cited the building for not having appropriate fencing around the roof edge, and the owner chose to close the roof instead of adding the fencing. I had to take the pots down to the patio and stored some in my apartment - what a mess. And had to get rid of the purchased potting soil (over $100 worth). This was a big enterprise to dismantle.
So if you do have an extensive container garden, consider its end as well. Can you reuse the containers inside your apartment? And make sure the roof is up to code before you invest a lot in it.
I would add that having a working elevator is really important to living green above the third floor. Toting a bicycle, groceries, packages, laundry, etc. regularly up more than a couple flights of stairs is not fun.
My husband and I run a website called Green Renters www.greenrenters.org here in Australia. Rental accomodation is at an all time low in most urban parts of Australia and competition is fierce to secure rental accomodation.
It is extremely rare to get a furnished rental here with whitegoods but we encourage here is to check out what cashbacks and government subsidies you (or your landlord) may be eligible for if you/they purchase energy efficient light bulbs, toilets, washing machines etc. I'm not sure if such benefits exist in the States in regard to buying green.
Renting denotes a lack of permanence. It can be hard to summon the impetus to make environmental changes if you are a short term renter. One thing we strongly believe in is the need for optional 3-5 year leases). Being a tenant means you are unable to make any structural changes such as solar panels or water tanks to your property without the permission of your landlord. Many landlords are reluctant to conduct the most basic repairs to their rental properties let alone innovations for environmental reasons!
Most of the tenants we speak to are genuinely fearful if they request or undertake any improvements to their property, their landlord will see it as a reason to increase their monthly rent. Further renters may be of a low income or living in share housing with people who do not share their passions for the environment.
Love your work and we'd certainly be keen to network with you at some stage :)
thanks
Cate
around here the landlords don't do anything- they know they don't have to. There are always people who need to rent who won't ask for things that will cost the landlord money.
I'm sure in some places where renters are harder to find this type of thing would work, just not where I live for sure.....
I'm going to attempt getting different flooring put in. Right now it's very smelly carpet (due to nothing being sealed properly). We've lived here a little more than a year. I'm certainly nervous about asking.
Lizzykewl, your apartment has to be habitable. If the carpet is possibly hazardous because of fumes, your landlord might be in violation of the local code. I would call the landlord/manager and ask if they know the carpet situation, and if they can help remediate it. (Maybe they'll offer professional cleaning) It's possible the landlord isn't aware of the problem. In other words, assume they have good motives. Not all landlords are slumlords. Some do want to keep up the property and keep tenants reasonably happy.
They offer cleaning but it's only a temporary fix.