If you have the urge to make some improvements to your place, read the fine print of your lease before you jump into repainting the bedroom or tiling the bathroom. Although it may be difficult to get your landlord to make cosmetic changes, there could still be penalties for making the changes yourself.

Many leases have clauses that prohibit you from making any alterations to the property, and disobeying them could cost you your security deposit, at the very least. If it costs your landlord more than that to undo the improvements you put in, you could also end up owing the difference. And, while it's not likely, your landlord could legally evict you for breaking the terms of the lease by altering the property.

Even if there's no explicit clause in your lease, it's probably a good idea to get your landlord's permission anyway-- ideally in writing --before you start making changes. This way you'll have proof of permission if anything happens after the fact. And who knows? If your landlord thinks the work you're proposing to do is a good idea -- one that might increase the rental's future value -- you might even be able to deduct the costs from your rent.