Decorating a rented property

Callie22

Personally this would be ringing alarm bells for me. If it's just a case of a few tins of paint then fine, but I wouldn't be spending very much of my money doing up a property that I don't own. I'd also be concerned that if the house is 'dated' decoratively, then it's probably 'dated' in the maintenance sense too. Wanting someone else to decorate suggests to me that the owners might not have the money (or inclination) if anything major goes wrong or if any maintenance needs doing.

Sorry to sound cynical, but in a world of short-term tenancies this just makes me uneasy. A landlord who's asking for tenants who'll move in and decorate sounds to me like a landlord who is either a) very naive or b) is the kind of person who wants to have their cake and eat it. To me, neither seems like a good option.

Annie1960

Callie22 wrote: »

Personally this would be ringing alarm bells for me. If it's just a case of a few tins of paint then fine, but I wouldn't be spending very much of my money doing up a property that I don't own. I'd also be concerned that if the house is 'dated' decoratively, then it's probably 'dated' in the maintenance sense too. Wanting someone else to decorate suggests to me that the owners might not have the money (or inclination) if anything major goes wrong or if any maintenance needs doing.

Sorry to sound cynical, but in a world of short-term tenancies this just makes me uneasy. A landlord who's asking for tenants who'll move in and decorate sounds to me like a landlord who is either a) very naive or b) is the kind of person who wants to have their cake and eat it. To me, neither seems like a good option.

Good points. The OP should check that:

there's not damp (they will be blamed for it, and it will be called 'condensation')

Gas safety certs - does the LL understand they need to provide this, and can they afford it?

Electrical safety - what steps has LL taken to comply with their responsibilities to ensure electrics are safe?

dancingfairy

Whilst you want it to be nice whilst you live there, you obviously can't guarantee anything.
1) don't necessarily trust the agents. Bad agents will lie through their teeth and tell you whatever you want to hear to get a sale/let.
2) get permission from the landlord (ideally the landlord and not the letting agents) to paint. Ask about their intentions but again they could a) either change their mind and find their circumstances have changed or b) again be lying through their teeth just to get the place rented (and done up without any effort).
It *might* be worth doing but I'd definitely be cynical (and hope I'm proved wrong).
df

savingmummy

I wouldn't spend a lot on it as any of what you mention could happen.
I`m assuming they mean it is old fashioned in regards to wallpaper, although it could mean ghasty floor, 1970`s bathrrom and kitchen.


Sounds like it is perfect for you, fingers crossed it is just needing a lick of paint

mrginge

A few alarm bells are ringing.

I do wonder why they aren't they redecorating before renting it out if the difference is £150 a month?
If the answer is that they can't afford it, well how are they going to afford any maintenance or repairs that might come along?