Decorating rented property as a new tenant

bflare

I've recently moved into a bungalow which is very out dated. The hall way is basically painted yellow and it looks like nicotine. I would love to freshen it up with a coat of a neutral colour emulation. I've only been in a week and was going to ask the estate agent to pass it by the land lady. Is it too soon to ask?

SmashedAvacado

Are you planning to pay for the paint?
If so, its polite to ask. I would always say yes to such a request as landlord, but would want to approve the colour and also i'd want to make sure the works were done properly.

bflare

SmashedAvacado wrote: »

Are you planning to pay for the paint?
If so, its polite to ask. I would always say yes to such a request as landlord, but would want to approve the colour and also i'd want to make sure the works were done properly.

Yeah I would provide the paint and anything else required plus I would provide the details of the proposed colour and an inspection after would be fine by me.

lookstraightahead

Sounds like you're doing them a favour, but you do need to ask. Lucky landlord.

lookstraightahead

I wouldn't offer an inspection though - just ask permission and check they don't want it 'back to its original colour' when you leave otherwise they can charge you for theoretically painting it back themselves.

G_M

Assuming the LL agrees, make sure the agreement is in writing and then file it for future reference.


How long is your tenancy period? How would you feel if, say, you were evicted after 6 months if you'd put time effort and money into improving the property?


Just asking.


Generally if you're going to commit in that way I'd suggest a minimum 12 month but ideally 2 or 3 year tenancy.

trailingspouse

We found a place that was perfect in every way, except the paintwork was tired. We negotiated a reduction in price on the basis that we would re-paint in a neutral colour. Landlord was happy. We went out and bought the paint, and benefitted from a €25 reduction in the monthly rent for 3 years...

AdrianC

You say "looks like nicotine" - maybe it is just a bit stained. Get some sugar soap first, and give it a damn good wash-down. It might be enough - but if you still decide you hate the colour, at least you've done the first bit of prep properly.

lookstraightahead

If it actually is nicotine make sure you there are photos etc on your inventory of the state of it. And photograph the walls yourself before and after painting,

saajan_12

The key would be to get them to agree in writing to
1) The painting and choice of colour
2) That you're fine to leave it when you leave, with no charge to reinstate it to the original (nicotine) colour.

Even if you think its an improvement or neutral colour, don't expect the LL will without explicit agreement.

ognum

As a LL I would agree in writing but also say that if required that the tenant will return the property to its origional decoration prior to the end of tenancy if requested to do so or the cost of the return will be taken from the deposit.

This clearly is unlikely to happen in an old fashioned badly decorated room but I take the opinion that the property is the tenants home so I am happy for them to paint rooms blue or pink if they have a baby etc or prefer other colours but would want it returned to white or the nuteral colour I let it with before the next tenant.