In the world of renting, property damage is often inevitable, whether it’s a stubborn stain, a broken door handle, or a large hole in the wall. However, some tenants and landlords have come up with ingenious (or questionable) ways to hide these issues.
While these “fixes” might seem clever at first glance, they often raise more eyebrows than they solve problems. Below are the top 10 weirdest, most creative, and sometimes downright bizarre solutions people have tried to cover up damages in rental properties.
Frame the Damage Instead of Repairing It
When a tenant accidentally put a sizable hole in the wall, they decided not to patch it up. Instead, they turned the flaw into a piece of art by framing the hole like a quirky art installation.
The plaque read, “The Missing Piece,” making the damage look like part of a larger artistic statement. While it’s an unusual approach, it certainly adds personality to a space. However, it’s unlikely to pass unnoticed by an eagle-eyed landlord during an inspection!
Reverse an Electrical Theft
In one of the more extreme fixes, tenants discovered that their neighbors were illegally siphoning off electricity from their apartment. Instead of confronting the thief, the tenants got creative. They cleverly reversed the wiring, causing the electricity to flow in the opposite direction.
As a result, the power that was previously stolen ended up getting charged back to the thief’s account. While innovative, it’s a risky move that could easily result in an even bigger mess, not to mention a potential fire hazard.
Turn Crayon Scribbles Into Wall Art
Parents of young children often find themselves dealing with scribbles on the walls. However, one clever parent found a way to turn these colorful drawings into something more intentional. Rather than scrubbing away the crayon marks, they decided to paint over them, using the scribbles as a base to create a more elaborate wall art piece.
By enhancing the designs into flowers, paisley patterns, and other shapes, they transformed the chaos into a stylized mural. It was a creative solution — but a little far from the original intention of “removal.”
Cat Scratches Become Design Elements
Cats are notorious for scratching furniture and leaving behind unsightly marks. However, one tenant found a way to cover up the scratches on their beloved sofa without replacing the fabric. They used a series of doilies and decorative fabrics to patch up the scratches, creating an eclectic, bohemian-style look.
While this might work in some interior designs, it’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all solution. If the landlord doesn’t appreciate an impromptu textile overhaul, this could raise more questions than answers.
Make a Chair Seat From Old Belts
When a wooden chair broke, rather than replacing the seat, a tenant took a creative route. They weaved old leather belts together to create a makeshift seat. This DIY approach not only concealed the damage but gave the chair a completely new and unique look.
It might have been a stylish fix for a rustic or vintage interior, but if the landlord was hoping for a more permanent and professional solution, they might not be too impressed.
Bad Wasp Nest Fix
When faced with a wasp nest in the closet, one landlord opted for an ill-advised solution: they painted directly over it. This didn’t eliminate the problem — it merely hid it. The wasps were still inside, likely to emerge when the weather warmed up.
Not only did this create a hazardous environment, but it also made the damage even harder to address later on. The lesson here: painting over pests may seem like a quick fix, but it’s no way to truly handle the issue.
Repainting the Entire Place Black
In an attempt to cover up various damages throughout an apartment, a tenant decided that the best course of action was to repaint the entire place — in black. While this may seem like an extreme and dramatic fix, it was an attempt to get out of a contract that required them to repaint the place.
The tenant hoped the black walls would obscure any remaining damage, but instead, it likely caused a major headache for the landlord. It’s certainly a bold move, but one that’s almost guaranteed to leave a lasting impression — and not the good kind.
Upside-Down & Half-On Electrical Outlet
When an electrical outlet fell out of the wall, a tenant decided to make a quick fix — but it wasn’t the right kind of quick. Instead of properly replacing the outlet, they simply installed it upside-down and half-hanging out of the wall, using a strip of packing tape to hold it in place.
This “repair” wasn’t just dangerous, it was also a clear violation of safety standards. If the landlord or an inspector had seen it, the tenant would have likely faced serious repercussions.
Pine-Sol Overkill
In another instance of tenants trying to hide damage, one group thought they could cover up bad odors and a dirty kitchen by aggressively scrubbing everything down with Pine-Sol. While this might’ve gotten rid of some grime, the overpowering cleaning-product smell only masked the problem rather than solving it.
The kitchen now smelled like a chemical factory rather than fresh and clean. Not exactly what a landlord wants to walk into when conducting an inspection!
Filling Holes With Toys or Decor
When faced with large holes in the wall, some tenants have decided to simply decorate over the damage. One tenant, for instance, used action figures to create a makeshift “shelf” that covered up a hole. While this might’ve been a creative way to hide the damage, it wasn’t a long-term solution.
If the landlord ever removed the toys or decor, the damage would be exposed again, leaving the tenant to deal with the problem in a much more complicated way.
Final Thoughts
While these weird fixes might seem like clever solutions in the moment, they ultimately fail to address the underlying problem — and in some cases, they make things worse. When dealing with rental property damage, it’s always best to address the issue head-on with professional repairs or, at the very least, a more appropriate DIY approach. Creative fixes may be fun for a while, but they often come back to haunt you.
Landlords will almost certainly notice the “quick fixes” and may not be as impressed with your ingenuity as you hoped. For tenants, being upfront and honest about property damage is the safest bet. In many cases, landlords will appreciate a good-faith effort to fix the problem, and it might even help in avoiding hefty repair fees at the end of the lease.
So while it’s fun to get crafty, remember that some damage can’t just be painted over or decorated away — it needs real solutions.
