Can You Install a Safe in a Rental Property or Apartment?

Yes, you can keep a safe in a rental property or apartment, but bolting it to the floor or wall generally needs your landlord’s written consent first. Australian tenancy laws usually allow only a short list of minor changes without permission, and drilling a safe into the structure is not normally one of them. If you live in an apartment, the owners corporation’s rules may also apply. If you want a safe for rental property you live in, the key steps are getting consent in writing, using a professional installer and planning how you will make good when you leave.

This article covers what the tenancy rules say, how to ask your landlord, extra things to check in apartments, and ways to fit a safe with as little damage as possible. For the bigger picture on choosing the safe itself, see our home safe buying guide for Australian households.

Installing a safe for rental property: what tenancy laws say

Each state and territory has its own residential tenancy laws, and they change from time to time. The general pattern is the same: renters can make some minor changes, but fixtures and alterations that penetrate walls or floors normally need the landlord’s (rental provider’s) consent. Here is what the official guidance says in Victoria and New South Wales. Always confirm the current rules with your state or territory tenancy authority before you drill.

Victoria

According to Consumer Affairs Victoria’s guidance on renters making changes, renters will often need permission from the rental provider. There is a list of changes renters can make without asking, which includes wall anchors to secure furniture on all surfaces except exposed brick or concrete, provided the property is not on the Victorian Heritage Register. Consumer Affairs Victoria also warns renters not to screw, hammer or drill into asbestos-containing materials.

Bolting a safe into a floor or wall for security is not on that list, so treat it as a change that needs written consent. Consumer Affairs Victoria also says renters who make changes must restore the property to the condition it was in before the changes, allowing for fair wear, or pay the reasonable cost of restoring it, unless the rental provider agrees otherwise or the agreement says so.

New South Wales

The NSW Government’s page on making changes to a rental property says tenants can make changes if the lease allows it or the landlord gives written permission. Landlords cannot unreasonably refuse consent for minor changes. The listed examples include securing furniture to a wall (other than a tiled wall) if needed for the safe use of the furniture, and making a modification that does not penetrate or permanently modify a surface, fixture or the structure. Tenants generally pay for changes unless the landlord agrees to pay, and some restrictions apply to strata, heritage and certain other properties.

A safe bolted down for security is not the same as anchoring a bookcase so it cannot tip over, so do not assume it falls within the minor changes list. Ask first.

Other states and territories

Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory each have their own tenancy authority with guidance on alterations. The safest approach anywhere in Australia is the same: get written consent before fixing anything to the property, and agree up front on what happens at the end of the lease.

How to ask your landlord for consent

Landlords and property managers are far more likely to say yes to a clear, specific request. Put it in writing and include:

• The make and size of the safe, and roughly how heavy it is
• Exactly where it will go, for example the floor of the main bedroom’s built-in robe
• How it will be fixed: the number of bolts, the type of anchor and whether the floor is concrete or timber
• Who will install it, ideally a professional safe installer
• How you will make good at the end of the lease, such as removing the bolts and filling the holes

Keep the written approval with your lease and condition report. Take dated photos of the area before installation so there is no dispute later about what was there.

Extra checks for apartments and strata buildings

Owners corporation and by-laws

In a strata building, parts of the structure you live in may be common property rather than part of the unit. The NSW strata renovation rules say owners need permission to change walls, floors or ceilings, and that the scheme’s by-laws set out what approvals are needed. In many buildings the floor slab and boundary walls are common property rather than part of the unit. Other states have similar owners corporation or body corporate rules. Your landlord, who owns the unit, may need to check the by-laws or seek approval before agreeing.

Floor loading

Most compact home safes are no problem for a typical residential floor. Large, heavy safes are a different matter because they concentrate a lot of weight in a small area. If you are considering a big safe in an upper-floor apartment, ask the building manager first, and get structural advice if there is any doubt.

Access and lifts

Check the lift’s rated capacity, whether it needs to be booked, and whether the corridors and doorways are wide enough. Building managers often require lift protection pads and set hours for deliveries. Telling us about access ahead of time helps us bring the right equipment.

Ways to install a safe with minimal damage

• Choose a hidden spot. The floor of a built-in robe or cupboard keeps the safe out of sight and the bolt holes where no one will notice them. Our existing article on whether you need to bolt down your safe explains why anchoring matters so much.
• Use the minimum fixings needed. A professional installer will use the right anchors for the floor type, which limits the size and number of holes.
• Avoid tiles, wet areas and waterproofed floors. Drilling through tiles or waterproof membranes in bathrooms and laundries can cause costly damage.
• Size it sensibly. In a smaller rental, a compact safe is easier to fit, move and anchor discreetly. Our guide to sizing a safe for the things you store walks through the measurements.
• Skip in-wall and in-floor safes. These need cutting into walls or concrete, which is a structural change most landlords will refuse and which is hard to reverse.

If consent is refused, a heavier free-standing safe placed out of sight still offers some protection, but be realistic: an unbolted safe can be removed and opened elsewhere. Keep your most valuable items to a minimum and check what your contents insurance requires. Our checklist of what to keep in a home safe can help you decide what really needs to be in there.

Our compact home safes suit most rental situations. When you have consent, our professional safe installation service can bolt the safe down using fixings suited to your floor.

Moving out: making good and taking the safe with you

At the end of the lease, the safe needs to be unbolted, the anchors removed and the holes repaired to the standard you agreed with your landlord. Book this before your final inspection so there is time to patch and clean up.

Safes are heavy and awkward, and stairs, lifts and tight corridors make them more so. Rather than asking removalists who do not specialise in safes, use our safe relocation team to unbolt, move and re-install it at your new place. For a step-by-step plan, see our timeline for moving house with a safe.

Tenancy rules change, and this article is general information rather than legal advice. Confirm the current position with your state or territory tenancy authority and your lease before you make any changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need my landlord’s permission to bolt down a safe?

In most cases, yes. Bolting a safe into a floor or wall drills into the property, and Australian tenancy laws generally require the landlord’s consent for fixtures and alterations beyond a short list of minor changes. Ask in writing, describe the fixing method and location, and keep the written approval with your lease. Rules differ by state, so check your tenancy authority.

Can I put a safe in a rental without drilling?

You can keep a free-standing safe without drilling, but an unbolted safe is much easier for a thief to carry away, so its protection is limited. A heavier safe placed inside a robe or cupboard helps. If you want real security, ask your landlord for consent to bolt it down in a discreet spot and offer to make good when you leave.

Who pays to repair the bolt holes when I move out?

Usually the renter, unless the landlord agrees otherwise. In Victoria, Consumer Affairs Victoria says renters who make changes must restore the property to its earlier condition, allowing for fair wear, or pay the reasonable cost of doing so, unless an agreement says otherwise. Other states have their own rules, so confirm with your tenancy authority.

Is my apartment floor strong enough for a safe?

Most compact home safes are well within what a typical residential floor carries, but very heavy safes concentrate a lot of weight on a small footprint. For a large safe in an apartment, ask your building manager or owners corporation, and if there is any doubt get advice from a structural engineer before delivery. Also check lift capacity and access.

Talk to us about a safe for your rental

Bring your landlord’s requirements to our showroom at 38 Barrie Rd, Tullamarine, where you can see over 350 new and used safes and find one that fits your space and budget. Call 0409 860 011, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, or contact Precision Safes for advice on installation and making good.