4 Surprising Things a Landlord Wishes You’d Get Rid of Right Now

Whether you make your apartment into a lush indoor garden or prefer a minimalist setup, you’ll want to fill the space with the things that mean the most to you.

However, there are some items that you should be wary of keeping in your home — namely, those that your landlord would hate to see in your unit. Knowing what kinds of things to steer clear of can help you avoid headaches (like unintentional damage or a reduced security deposit return) down the line.

Here, Rose Caiola, principal at Bettina Equities and a residential landlord who owns and operates more than 40 rental buildings in Manhattan, describes the top items to leave out of your apartment. 

“I encourage residents not to use adhesives to hang shower hooks on the bathroom tiles or sheet rock,” Caiola says, since they’re especially tough to remove when residents move out.

Luckily, you don’t have to give up your dream of being able to store all your shower necessities inside your shower. There are tons of shower storage ideas that don’t require adhesives and won’t leave residue when removed. Suction cup hooks, for example, are strong, cheap, and reusable. They’re your best bet when it comes to finding a decent shower storage option.

Yes, burning your favorite scented candle after a long day can be a relaxing and pleasant way to help you unwind. But having an abundance of lit candles is also a fire hazard. It’s all too easy to forget a candle is burning, or accidentally knock one off a tabletop. 

“Candles are another huge hazard, so I’d encourage residents to use flameless or electric candles,” Caiola adds. “Using hot items on counters in general is an issue, as they cause burns on surfaces.”

If you don’t want to kick your candle habit (who does?), make sure to burn them in a place where they’re not easily bumped by you or a pet. And if you’d like to explore alternatives to making your home smell great, plants are a good way to naturally purify the air in an apartment. 

Caiola warns of the potential water damage caused by houseplants without drainage trays. These saucer-like trays catch any water that may drip out and pool underneath the plant. 

“Tenants often overwater plants and the drippage causes damage to wood floors,” she says. “Similarly, not drying countertops causes expansion and damage to Formica.”

Simply use a drainage tray to prevent water from seeping out from underneath the plant. Some are pretty stylish, so you can make a statement while protecting your floors and furniture.

Your couch might look phenomenal with the deep mahogany tones of your wood floors, but it could also be the very item that’s ruining those same floors. The same goes for other kinds of furniture with legs.

“You definitely want to make sure you use felt pads for your furniture, because scratches on the floor are a very common problem,” Caiola advises.

Deep scratches can be impossible to remove, and may require professional filling. In short, you’ll be kissing your security deposit goodbye if you make any big marks while dragging large pieces.

Giving up a portion — or all — of your security deposit is like leaving hundreds of dollars on the table. Taking extra precautions to keep your apartment in good shape isn’t a bad idea if you’d like to recoup the money — and stay on good terms with your landlord.