Asking the LL to paint white instead of Magnolia

MoonJelly

We are due to start rental on a house. Because of subsidence there are cracks on several of the walls. The agency has told us the LL will therefore redecorate the whole place before we move in (plastering over cracks and painting). LL has also indicated that it will take him a few weeks after we have moved in before he can empty the garage, which is full of his stuff.

My question is this: Is it reasonable to ask LL to paint the walls white instead of the dreaded Magnolia? As I said he has to decorate the place anyway. Magnolia always looks dreadful with our furniture (which I cannot afford to replace) and lets face it -it's horrid and looks tired after a few years.

I should add we are excellent tenants and look after property. Last flat we rented we left in better shape than we found it!

Do you think LL may say yes?

[Deleted User]

White looks even more horrible (yellowed) and tired after a few years I'm afraid.

booksurr

MoonJelly wrote: »

Do you think LL may say yes?

let me cast my runes and see what they say

hmm....

they say: ask him

Lord_Baltimore

booksurr wrote: »

let me cast my runes and see what they say

hmm....

they say: ask him

Could you cast the runes again please and let us know if he says 'yes'. Saves us the suspense

lessonlearned

Why do you specifically want to rent this house.

Have the subsidence issues been properly addressed. Why hasn't the plasterwork been repaired and redecorating work been carried out prior to marketing the property and why can't the landlord clear the garage.

Either he is an incompetent novice landlord or he is a bit of a chancer.

Your Choice of course but I would be a bit wary.

FBaby

You have nothing to lose asking. They might not care at all about the colour and actually be pleased to do one that you are happy with rather than ask if you can repaint (to potentially lower standard) at a later date.

Or they might say ok, but that you would have to repaint magnolia when you move out.

HouseBuyer77

If the subsidence hasn't been addressed the cracks will soon reappear. Though that's the least of your worries as you'll be living in a structurally unsound house!

robatwork

I prefer white, and it doesn't have to yellow after a few years if you buy the right paint and don't smoke. Gloss paint on the doors though - that's a different story.

Please come back in a few weeks and tell us if the landlord has emptied the garage. The magic 8-ball says: Doubtful.

MoonJelly

Thank you all for the replies. Even the one about the runes. BTW when I casted my runes they said "Go ask the folk at the Money saving forum" !

The structural engineer has been and he said no underpinning was required and that the house wasn't going to move any further. May the force be with us..

Why that house? Because:

1) We can afford it.
2)it is in the same area so we don't have to change schools.
3) We don't need the car to get to school and work thus saving petrol and mileage _not to mention our car is super old and we are trying to make it last u til we can afford to buy another.
4) Landlord is open to the idea of letting us have a dog.
5) It's a bungalow and because of past injuries stairs are my enemy.

I cannot see how white if looked after is going to look worse than cream.

The garage thing I don't get though.

I will ask the OP and get back to you with the yeah or nay..

G_M

1) re the paint. Ask. He'll say yes, or no.

2) garage. Get some written agreement regarding when you will get full access.

Marvel1

From what read on here, saying they will they do this and do that before/after you move in, means nothing. Once they got you and signed for 6/12 months, they don't care.

To put it another way, if was the landlord, I would do the place up even before advertising for tenants.

Summary: I would look elsewhere.