Lease questions
Can you drill holes in a rental?
No. Your lease almost certainly says so. Here is what it costs you at move-out.
Short answer
No. Almost every rental lease says you cannot make changes. Drilling a hole is a change.
Small nail holes for pictures? Maybe OK. Drilled anchor holes for a coat rack? Landlords notice.
What it costs at move-out
| Fix | Cost |
|---|---|
| Spackle one hole yourself | $20–40 |
| Handyman fixes a few holes | $80–150 |
| Repaint one wall | $150–300 |
| Repaint the whole room | $300–600 |
You drill four holes for a $40 rack. You lose $200 off your deposit. Not worth it.
What to do instead
- Command strips — but they can peel flat paint. Test first.
- Over-door hooks — scratch the frame.
- A twist-lock suction rack — goes on doors, tile, glass. No holes. Comes off clean.
That third one is what we built. It goes on your interior door. Six hooks. No holes. When you move, you take it. No spackle. No repaint. No deposit fight.
Drilling in a rental costs more than the rack. Put the hooks on a door instead.
Is your wall smooth enough? The sheen test.
No holes. No deposit fight.
kept Hook Rack
Twist-lock on your door or tile. Zero wall damage. Take it when you move.
See the hook rack
From $29.99 · Free US shipping · 15-day returns