Decorative Items Query

clarebear

Hi

We are due to move into a property on 1 December. One of the rooms is deep dark blue, and we have asked to have it returned to white - with two girls it was proving contentious about whose room it was going to be! Anyway - the landlord (via Agent) has said she will pay for paint, we have to pay for labour. The daily rate is £128, and they can't say how long it will take. Is that a reasonable rate?

Also, the majority of the rooms do not have curtain poles in. We are going to request putting up curtain poles, but should the provision and hanging of the curtain poles all be at our expense?

Many thanks

Fire_Fox

Is there no method of affixing window coverings at present, no track or blinds?

Out,_Vile_Jelly

Get everything agreed in writing with the LL when it comes to decorating a rented property.

clarebear

Hi Firefox - no nothing - there are no poles in the bedrooms. There was a blind in the dining room, which is no longer there (I know from the original photos!) and all holes are covered and repainted, by the look of things.

I am doing it all via email rather than over the phone to ensure nothing is missed. I just wanted feedback on the price they were quoting!

arbrighton

clarebear wrote: »

Hi Firefox - no nothing - there are no poles in the bedrooms. There was a blind in the dining room, which is no longer there (I know from the original photos!) and all holes are covered and repainted, by the look of things.

I am doing it all via email rather than over the phone to ensure nothing is missed. I just wanted feedback on the price they were quoting!

No, writing means PEN AND PAPER not email.

Painting- white? COuple of hours, maybe half a day to do it yourself

We had to get poles or tracks for our last rented house- got permission to make the holes to fix. no idea what Landlord thought tenants would do by not providing but hey

Wobblydeb

I cannot comment on the daily rate for a painter and decorator. You might want to have a look at this site though...
http://www.buildingsheriff.com/interior-painting-costs.html

The LL can supply what they wish. My last rental didn't have curtain rails so we bought and fitted some ourselves (and removed them when we left).

G_M

arbrighton wrote: »

No, writing means PEN AND PAPER not email.

Painting- white? COuple of hours, maybe half a day to do it yourself

We had to get poles or tracks for our last rented house- got permission to make the holes to fix. no idea what Landlord thought tenants would do by not providing but hey

Yes, use pen and paper - there's an address on your tenancy agreement for "the serving of notices". Write there.

I agree half a day for professional decorators. The rate is on the high side though depends if this is central London or ... well, not!

Why not call a couple of local decorators (local paper?) and ask them round to give you a quote each. If they are cheaper, show the LL the quotes and get his agreement in writing to use your decorators.

As for DIY - again, get the LL's agreement in writing. Many LLs will refuse as amateur tenants might easily do a messy job. And if you DO DIY (esp without permission) you'll be liable for damage (drips on the carpet) AND re-painting if you leave gaps round the edges (ddors/windows) or smudge paint on the glass/frames etc.

Fire_Fox

You really should to get confirmation of everything in writing from the landlord not by e-mail from the agent. IMO it is perfectly reasonable to ask the landlord to supply blinds or a method of affixing curtains in the bedrooms, but you can't specify poles unless you pay, they might want to use cheap plastic tracks. Anything you install you will have to leave OR make good at the end of the tenancy which is a PITA due to trying to match paint. If they won't give you blinds or a curtain track/ pole at their expense I wouldn't want to rent from that landlord.

TBH you have not done yourself any favours asking for the blue room to be painted white first, because that is personal taste not a basic need like curtains/ blinds in bedrooms. Can you paint the blue room yourselves, with the consent of the landlord?

clarebear

We offered to do it ourselves originally, but obviously they wanted it doing to a certain standard.

We are based in Kent so not exactly London prices! I thought £128 was somewhat excessive, but will look at the quotes.

Wobblydeb

I actually didn't think £128 seemed unreasonable. Say the painter manages to work Monday to Friday every week for 46 weeks of the year (which, lets face it, is unlikely) he wouldn't quite hit £30k gross income. And they've got to supply all their own equipment, insurance etc.

You may also be lucky to get away with just a day. 1 room with lots of cutting in (3 doorways, 2 windows) took me the best part of a day when we left our last place - and that was a single coat as I was just putting magnolia on magnolia.

Admittedly I don't paint at the speed of a professional, but at least I wasn't trying to cover a dark colour. I would guess it will need at least 2 coats.