Skip to content

Small Upgrades Melbourne Tenants Love (That Don’t Break the Bank)

Small Upgrades Melbourne Tenants Love
3 MIN READ | By Tessa Stirling | Updated October 21, 2025

If your rental property has been sitting on the market a little too long or you’re bracing for a vacancy, these simple, low-cost upgrades can make a real difference. We see it across Melbourne: tidy, comfortable, and practical homes lease faster and attract longer-staying tenants. Here’s simple to follow guide: 

1. Stop the draughts, brighten the rooms, add simple storage 

Draught-proofing doors & windows 

  • Why tenants care: Comfort. Fewer cold spots in winter and less heat sneaking in during summer. 

Quick wins: 

  • Self-adhesive foam/rubber seals for door and window frames. 
  • Door sweeps for external doors. 
  • Seal unused fireplaces (with a removable balloon or cover).

Ballpark: $50–$200 per doorway/window if DIY; a few hundred for a handy-person to do the lot. 

Bright, consistent lighting 

  • Why tenants care: Well-lit spaces feel larger, safer, and better for WFH. Quick wins: 
  • Swap mismatched globes for warm-white LEDs (keep colour consistent). 
  • Add a ceiling oyster light to dark hallways; update yellowed shades. 
  • Replace dead transformers in old downlights. 

Ballpark: $5–$15 per globe; $60–$150 for a basic oyster light (plus electrician if needed). 

Simple, renter-friendly storage 

  • Why tenants care: Melbourne homes (especially period stock) can lack built-ins. Storage = less clutter = happier tenants. 

Quick wins: 

  • Install IKEA-style wall shelves (in studs) in studies or living rooms. 
  • Add robe rails plus shelves to spare rooms. 
  • Put hooks behind doors (bags, coats) and a shoe rack near entries. 

Ballpark: $150–$500 to meaningfully increase storage in a one-bed or small two-bed. 

2. Refresh Fixtures and Finishes 

Update the Little Things 

Why tenants care: Small details show a property is cared for and tenants notice it. 

Quick wins: 

  • Replace old tapware or showerheads with modern, water-efficient models. 
  • Refresh cabinet handles and light switches for an instant lift. 
  • Re-grout or re-silicone around sinks and showers to make wet areas look cleaner. 
  • Add a fresh coat of neutral paint on high-traffic areas or marked walls. 

Ballpark: $100–$400 for simple hardware swaps; $500–$1,000 for touch-up painting. 

3. First-impression garden 

  • Why tenants care: The first five seconds at an inspection are visual. A neat entry says, “This home is cared for.” 

Quick wins:

  • Pressure-wash paths and steps; mulch bare beds; edge the lawn. 
  • Replace broken pavers; add solar path lights. 
  • Pot two hardy natives (e.g., Westringia/Lomandra) or herbs near the kitchen door. 
  • Swap rusty letterbox/house numbers; fix a sagging gate latch. 

Ballpark: $150–$600 for a weekend facelift; $800–$1,500 if you get a gardener. 

The payoff 

These upgrades aren’t fancy but that’s the point. They make your place feel better, run cheaper, and look cared for, which means more enquiries, better applications, and tenants who stay. If you’d like, we can walk your property (or photos) and map a rent-ready mini-plan tailored to your suburb and budget. 

RELATED ARTICLES