Can tenant demand redecoration?

Beckyy

Does the house NEED redecorating?
How much does tennant owe you in arrears?

pinkteapot

If I was a landlord I wouldn't want tenants redecorating the place themselves; who knows what sort of finish you'd end up with! It can cost more to have professionals in to sort out a bodged DIY job than to do it in the first place.

poppysarah

Painting one room will mean ceilings, walls, woodwork, doors. It's quite a lot of work.

If the tenant is fit and capable of painting then you could give them permission to decorate - offering the paint is a nice thing to do - but you could as easily just let them get it.

If they spill it on carpet then who'll sort that out?

Doing one room invariably means the rest of the place looks more shabby.

Having someone in to decorate the whole house would cost at least £1200 and be disruptive to the tenant.

If you think this tenant is worth keeping them it's up to you to decide how much investment you want to make. Bearing in mind in another 5 years the walls will look tired and scruffy again.

You should perhaps inspect the property and make a note of any wear and tear on carpets and fixtures. If there is work to be done then this would be a priority for you not the colour of the walls.

thebeeches

Thanks for all your opinions. In response to some of the points made:

The property was completely redecorated when the tenant moved in. The tenant has also done the odd bit of personalisation since.

Yes I am receiving a market rent (less 10%) for the place, but the tenant isn't spending a penny on rent, we the taxpayers are funding it.

If I magnolia'd the whole place now it would need redoing if the tenant left, so this would always be a cost to me for no real gain. Except for keeping a tenant happy - but this is a tenant with rent arrears - whose financial situation means she is unlikely to want to move. I'm also wary that she could ask for something else if this is done.

poppysarah

thebeeches wrote: »

Thanks for all your opinions. In response to some of the points made:

The property was completely redecorated when the tenant moved in. The tenant has also done the odd bit of personalisation since.

Yes I am receiving a market rent (less 10%) for the place, but the tenant isn't spending a penny on rent, we the taxpayers are funding it.

If I magnolia'd the whole place now it would need redoing if the tenant left, so this would always be a cost to me for no real gain. Except for keeping a tenant happy - but this is a tenant with rent arrears - whose financial situation means she is unlikely to want to move. I'm also wary that she could ask for something else if this is done.

You don't have to decorate.
Write to the tenant giving her permission to redecorate if she wishes. You could add the option of agreeing colours with them if you wanted too.

aliasojo

thebeeches wrote: »

.. but the tenant isn't spending a penny on rent, we the taxpayers are funding it.

That's irrelevent and unfair to bring that particular aspect into the equation.

dodger1

I've been renting my flat for over four years now and it wasn't newly decorated when I moved in. However even after this period it still doesn't need redecoration, I just keep it clean and unscuffed and it really looks the same as when I moved in.

As far as OP is concerned, rent arrears, not paying the HB shortfall each month and paying 10% under the going rate = no redecoration. You are being plenty good enough already.

missrlr

I would not pay for redecoration of a house with a tenant in arrears and with no hope of getting this back. I would agree to them redecorating, subject to the colors being approved and more so in the event I had seen the capability of the tenant in redecorating. I would also point out that damage from redecoration are their responsibility, including if the redecoration was not to a satisfactory standard e.g. comparable to current standard.
I would also pay for the paint if it was a color I agreed with. Other than that I would be handing her notice, redecorating on her moving out and renting to another person at a higher rent.
As others have said there is no right to redecoration, but if you want the tenant to stay then you will need to consider what happens if the refusal to negotiate with redecoration and the impact on you and your rental income.

nat21luv

Your T has a nerve! Im a private T and if I had arrears then I would be keeping a very low profile. I've been here for 3 years but I know full well my LL could get £900-£1000pcm for my house and Im paying £800pcm. I think you should say you cant afford to decorate until she clears her arrears, and even then it will just be a freshen up where needed.

Personally, I would never ask my LL to decorate, I would ask his permission and seek his approval for chosen colour/s. I would then leave the house how I found it when I vacate. If I did a botch job then I would expect my LL to take sufficent amount from my deposit to rectify the problems.

custardy

jjj1980 wrote: »

Can I just ask, which councils redecorate every few years?? I'm in a council rental and it took 5 months of decorating to get the place looking decent. I'm not talking palace quality, just clean. It took 3 coats of undercoat and 5 of white emulsion just to get the ceilings white! Then every room had 5 layers of paper to be stripped off before they rooms could be decorated. I was told they don't give decorating grants anymore and do not do any cosmetic work, only genuine repairs. That's why only two walls in the bathroom were replastered and half of the hallway ceiling, the rest just being patched up.

I did mine whilst on Income Support and looking after my Daughter who was under 1yr old. So I agree its difficult on benefits buts it is doable. You just have to look round for offers and compromise on colours occasionally. I bought tins of gloss at Tesco for 30p each, reduced from £8 as the lid was slightly dented.

Could just be the local council here being unhelpful though. Like today, got a Letter saying the garden needed the rubbish that they saw being thrown in by passerby clearing. Totally forgetting I have complained about this and they have refused to let me put high fencing up to stop it happening!

Do you think your council rent equates to the same level as private lets?