re decorating who is responsible when renting?

kerry13238

hi my friend has rented for over 3 years and the landlord has asked for the house to be re painted. i was wondering does the landlord have responsability to re paint every so many years? x
thank you

tim123456789

It's not clear:

LL has asked to be allowed to

or

LL has asked tenant to ...

kerry13238

sorry is the land lord responsibe for re painting ie wear and tear on a house after3 years

thegirlintheattic

Still not clear.

The LL doesn't have to redecorate after 3 years, but the tenant doesn't have the automatic right for the LL to redecorate.

kerry13238

can the land lord tell the tenant to re decorate

Sparx

No. The property must be returned at the end of a tenancy in the same (or better) condition than when it was originally let.

LL can not deduct from the tenant's deposit either for general wear and tear over 3 years.. Unless physically damaged..

EDIT - Although I recall the LL can insist the walls etc are re-decorated the original colours they began with, usually beige/brown etc..

newsgroup_monkey

3 years? That's not the longest time in the world.

Although if it's been shoddily done, it might need a touch-up.

Our last place wasn't touched for over 6 years. However, we kept it very clean (including walls and so on) which helped a lot.
We repainted a couple of rooms when we moved out, otherwise, the LL sold the property for the asking price exactly as we'd left it.

G_M

If the landlord wants to redecorate, I should take him up on his offer, providing the inconvenience is not too great (how about asking hime to do it while you are on holiday?)

If YOU want the LL to redecorate, ask him - he may agree, ge may not. No obligation on him.

If you want to redecorate YOURSELF, ask for permission and get it in writing. Why nor ask the LL to provide the materials? He may agree, he may not.

Do NOT put lots of your own time/money into redecorating unless you have a long-term contract - you'll be p*ssed off if he gives you notice a month later!

At the end of your tenancy, you must return the property as you found it less fair wear and tear. That means you do NOT have to redecorate and leave it brand new, just because it was brand new when you moved in - you leave it with 3 years (or whatever) natural wear and tear.

tim123456789

newsgroup_monkey wrote: »

3 years? That's not the longest time in the world.

Although if it's been shoddily done, it might need a touch-up.

Our last place wasn't touched for over 6 years. However, we kept it very clean (including walls and so on) which helped a lot.
We repainted a couple of rooms when we moved out, otherwise, the LL sold the property for the asking price exactly as we'd left it.

Even if it is a long time I still wouldn't want my decorating done mid-tenancy.

I am careful with my property but the insistence of the "market" to paint walls in un-washable matt paint means that it inevitably gets marked over a few months.

If LL is going to re-paint at his expense it is best that it is done when I am moving out anyway

tbs624

Sparx wrote: »

No. The property must be returned at the end of a tenancy in the same (or better) condition than when it was originally let.

[my bolding] Requirement is simply to return the property in the same condition as when originally let, save for fair wear and tear

Sparx wrote: »

LL can not deduct from the tenant's deposit either for general wear and tear over 3 years.. Unless physically damaged.

Some confusion here........

tbs624

tim123456789 wrote: »

If LL is going to re-paint at his expense it is best that it is done when I am moving out anyway

In the OP's friend's case it sounds as if the LL is requesting that the T see to the repainting of the property. OP - is your friend coming to the end of their tenancy? If yes, has s/he damaged the walls/woodwork etc? Was their condition noted on a jointly signed inventory at the start of the tenancy?