LL not allowing us to repaint - advice required

N79

Slinky wrote: »

I visited a colleague in a house they were renting where they had painted (with permission) the hall some weeks earlier. They hadn't bothered painting behind the radiator, so the old colour could be seen from the sides. Whether it was their intention to get the paint out again and finish it I don't know. But I can't imagine the landlord would have been happy getting it back in that state.

When I rented my house out for a while I wouldn't have been happy for somebody to redecorate simply because I've no idea what their standards of decorating would be.

Failing to paint behind radiators and even wardrobes is fairly common - especially as Ts have the "its not mine" normal human nature disincentive to do a good job. It really is impossible to tell what someones DIY standards will be until after you have let them loose with the paint brush.

gazfocus

I was allowed to paint a house I was renting and due to some of the coving falling down, I decided not to complete the decorating until it had been put right. Unfortunately, the coving was never fixed (the LA didn't inform the LL about it) and when I moved out last week, the LL wasn't impressed at the fact the skirtings had paint on them and the coving hadn't been painted.

Even though the house was in a worse state when I moved in (in my opinion), with wallpaper hanging off walls, etc, I am probably going to lose some deposit due to this but as I did inform them of the issue, they'll have to fight for every penny.

However, I have come to the conclusion that I'd never want to DIY in a rented house again. Offer to pay professionals to decorate and you may get a different response.

lovebugfamilly

Thanks for the replies .

I do not mind paying someone to do it If I have to but I don't see why just because Im a tenant that Im not allowed to live in a neat , tidy and nice looking house.

I will add yes I have caught My DD who has just turned 2 scribbling on the walls and I cleaned them up of course Im not sure why a LL would be bothered that I was trying to put this right by repainting after all it is to be expected with lo's. It may be the LL who owns this house but I do pay to live here.

We have had issues of damp around the upstairs windows and I now have to keep my bedroom window open slightly on the lock at all times but has still left marks as you would expect and the LA is aware of this , as well as when the shower leaked through cealing and left a stain across a part of the downstairs cealing again LA aware as someone came out to repair.Also the standard of painting tbh is pretty shoddy there are cracks along top parts of the wall in almost every room.

poppysarah

LA is aware of this... you mean you have put it all in writing to them - just so it doesn't come back and bite you later.

Running_Horse

lovebugfamilly wrote: »

I do not mind paying someone to do it If I have to but I don't see why just because Im a tenant that Im not allowed to live in a neat , tidy and nice looking house.

I sympathise, but that's the bottom line; someone else owns your home. His and your idea of neat, tidy and nice may differ. He may just not want it decorated. It's his property. But good luck.

lovebugfamilly

poppysarah wrote: »

LA is aware of this... you mean you have put it all in writing to them - just so it doesn't come back and bite you later.

Yep I have all the e-mails sent back and forth between me and LA. It is a managed let.

I just wish we had the funds to move. Im now nervous as to LL reaction to me asking for it in writing that he refused to let us decorate whether he will think we are not worth the hassle and want us to leave I don't think my nerves can take it again as the last property we lived in for 2.5 yrs and the LL evicted as as he wanted to live in house due to his marital breakdown and council were rubbish and would'nt help us as we both work despite us having a young child and me being pg , I did'nt know we were moving into this property until 7 days before we were due to move out of the old one.

poppysarah

Explain it nicely... so he sees you want to keep his property in good order...

test out your letter on us if you like..

Mum_of_3_3

If there was a leak in the shower which the LL has now fixed, surely it's up to him to repaint the ceiling? Maybe you could put this in your letter (but in a nice non-confrontational way ).

As for all those LLs saying "It's my house", yes it is, but where would you be without the tenant that is letting it? If I was a LL renting out an unfurnished property and someone wanted to repaint using exactly the same ccolour then I really wouldn't have a problem. If they get some on the carpet or whatever, well that's what the deposit is for isn't it?

This is why I hated renting and OP I have every sympathy with you, it seems like some LLs are happy for you to pay their mortgage, but not happy to upkeep their 'investment/your home. Also, I wonder what your LL would do it it was his home?

M_o_3

scott567

Mum_of_3 wrote: »

If there was a leak in the shower which the LL has now fixed, surely it's up to him to repaint the ceiling? Maybe you could put this in your letter (but in a nice non-confrontational way ).

As for all those LLs saying "It's my house", yes it is, but where would you be without the tenant that is letting it? If I was a LL renting out an unfurnished property and someone wanted to repaint using exactly the same ccolour then I really wouldn't have a problem. If they get some on the carpet or whatever, well that's what the deposit is for isn't it?

This is why I hated renting and OP I have every sympathy with you, it seems like some LLs are happy for you to pay their mortgage, but not happy to upkeep their 'investment/your home. Also, I wonder what your LL would do it it was his home?

M_o_3

I agree, as long as things are done within reason and co-operation with the tenant I dont see what the issue is.

seems like having your cake and eating it!