Dispute with landlord over painted rooms

Pixie5740

Sorry I was confusing you with another poster. The point still remains that the landlord is not entitled to betterment. Painted walls only last for so long in a reasonable condition, say 10 years. When you moved in it sounds as though the decoration was already past its best so would have little value.

Icecannon

You have 2 choices, either repaint it, or risk the deposit scheme result...I would hope they would deduct next to nothing for something like this.

G_M

As pixie says.

In your position I'd do nothing. If/when a deposit deduction is proposed, you write back politely point out

a) the agent told you you could repaint in a neutral colour, which you did
b) the colour is all-but magnolia
c) the paintwork at the start had an ongoing lifespan of, perhaps, 3 more of its likely 10 years, so only 3/10ths of any costs can be claimed if a) & b) are ignored.

But for next time (and other readers), learn the lesson - don't spend your own time/money on improving a LL's property unless

1) you have clear written consent and
2) you will be there long-term (and have long-term security)

lush_walrus

chili_pea wrote: »

Many thanks, I understand what you're saying this is why I'm very concerned if I don't paint it Magnolia they will deduct what it costs to do this.
Yes apparently they saw photos upon a 3 monthly inspection.

It is very frustrating seeing as a deposit scheme is there for any damage or mistreated properties but we have only improved and treated the house with upmost respect.

Your colour choice 90 percent of people may agree is neutral and may agree is nice however if the landlord has not permitted you to paint that colour or the walls you have left yourself with an arguement.

Our properties are all painted white, all have the same flooring, same tiles, the same time kitchen units, the same everything. They are that way for a reason - and if we discover one of these have been changed by the tennant and not changed back when they leave we will look for recompense from their deposit.

You as the tennant may not like that, but when you leave the property reverts to the landlord. We as the landlord want our properties to be easy to keep clean and quick to turn around when you leave. This may not be the case with your landlord if it isn't well maintained.

Your options are repaint to magnolia or leave as is and try to fight loosing your deposit. I don't know which is easier for you, however in my experience whenever something has been changed without our permission and not changed back prior to check out we have made charges against the deposit and have always been successful.

smallholdingsister

Can't you just say you have painted it Magnolia?

There are lots of shades of Magnolia, how will they know you didn't just use a grey ish version?

Davesnave

smallholdingsister wrote: »

Can't you just say you have painted it Magnolia?

There are lots of shades of Magnolia, how will they know you didn't just use a grey ish version?

Good answer!

Looking at the time of your post, I guess maybe your electric went off and came on again at the same time as mine! I have a phone that 'helpfully' wakes me up whenever that happens, and round here it happens a lot!:rotfl:

BrassicWoman

all personal choice - to me it looks bleak, grey and military - while magnolia looks warm and inviting

what would it cost you to repaint it vs cost of getting a decorator in?

moneyistooshorttomention

True that the landlord should accept the decor is better than it was - it's not quite so awful a colour. Goosedown is better than a more pronounced colour.

However, if I were a tenant checking out places to stay then I would find the colour a bit offputting (not as offputting as in "in your face" bolder colour - but still offputting) and, if I saw another place that was in white (provided it wasnt brilliant white) or in magnolia and equal in all other respects = that would be the one I would get. Reason - I don't like grey (even one of the "milder" versions of it).

Grey is a currently fashionable colour - but if you are one of the people that doesnt like grey then you don't like grey and it is offputting.

So - I think you'd better allow for it being redone in the colour that was specified I'm afraid.

FBaby

You have 2 choices, either repaint it, or risk the deposit scheme result...I would hope they would deduct next to nothing for something like this.

Or contact the Landlord directly and ask them if they have an issue with the colour. It wouldn't be the first time that the agent supposedly speaks on behalf of the LL and points out a problem when it is not an issue at all for the LL.

If the LL does come back and say magnolia only, you need to decide what to do. The email will go in their favour, but the initial condition of the place will go in yours. I would expect the arbitration to give them something, but not much at all, so a lot of bother for little gain.

If they are experienced LL, they will know that so if they really hate the colour (and somehow believe it will put off future prospective tenants), you might be able to come up with a compromise. They will also know that the alternative is you do paint it Magnolia, use the cheapest pain, do a terrible job but that doesn't show so much on the picture and again, comparing to initial condition, they would get nothing from arbitration.

ani*fan

This sitation is an utter nonsense and has made me quite angry to read.

lush walrus, this is not a landlady who wants to keep the flats easy to clean and turn around. This is a petty !!!! hole who couldn't care less if her tenants live with dreadful tatty old brown wall paper and a hole in the wall, and is out to make a fast few quid for nothing.

There are a million like her out there and she should take some responsibility. I would fight it all the way out of principle.

I would add up the total cost of improvements you have made to the flat, the gloss, the emulsion, your time and fixing the hole in the wall. Let her know what you have spent and that you have made her property easier to rent, you won't be doing any more decorating now you're moving out and that you want your deposit back.

If she doesn't agree I would paint the place brown with her nasty paint and then kick a hole in the wall.

The things you have to put up with as a tenant are shocking. Good luck.