Wanting to paint rental property

FamilyRenter

I've recently started to rent a property and requested permission from the landlord to paint some walls. The property was lived in by the landlord but has been a rental property for a few years now. The rooms are each painted a different bright colour and I would like to paint them white - the landlord has said no. I'm unsure where I stand because the tenancy agreement says that I need the landlord's permission in order to redecorate. It also leaves me unable to put up any shelves or pictures because I won't be able to polyfiller and repaint the wall before I leave because I don't have the paint colours of those rooms.
I can completely understand a landlord wanting to keep a property in a letable condition and that having white/magnolia walls is the best way to do this, but I've never come across a landlord demanding that walls be left brightly coloured. It reduces the rental value (which is detrimental to them) and we have to live with ugly walls (which is detrimental to us).
Does anyone know why the landlord would be reluctant to let us paint? The current paint job was not professionally done (bits of paint cross over onto the ceiling and the fireplaces etc) and so we would almost certainly do a neater job. The floors are hard and paint could be cleaned off, regardless, we would obviously put down sheets/tarp to protect the floors. Either way, if we did cause damage then the landlord could deduct it from our deposit.
Can anyone see a way to resolve this conflict? In hindsight, I should have checked prior to signing the tenancy agreement that he was happy for us to redecorate but I've never come across anyone before who insisted on someone else living in a brightly coloured house.
In every other way, our landlord is great and we don't want to soil the relationship there by doing something against his wishes or behind his back. We also don't want to be confrontational or rude, as he's been a great help with us settling into a new area. I would just let it lie but this rooms are bright blue/purple/yellow and it just ruins what would be a beautiful house otherwise. As ridiculous as it sounds, it makes me sad living in somewhere this ugly.

EmmyLou30

It could be that he's had previous tenants do a bad job of decorating (maybe a previous tenant did the bright colours!?) so is reluctant to allow it again. It's difficult because he can't get proof from you that actually you'd do a great job of decorating! It's also unlikely that he'd get any money from the deposit to rectify a shoddy decorating job so is playing it safe and saying no. I do sympathise with you though as I wouldn't fancy a migraine inducing house of crazy colour either!

Dorian1958

Did he give a reason for the refusal? Could it have been the manner or tone in which you asked? Not accusing you, but certainly worth reflecting on how you approached him and maybe try "we really love your house and living here, and would like to stay a long time, but I wonder if we might be allowed to tone down some of the rooms, we would be willing to change them back to the original colours on departure, if you don't like the new look? ". Possibly worth a try?

FamilyRenter

Thanks, he painted the house that way when he lived here. He doesn't want us to redecorate because he likes the colours. It's tough because I don't want to insult his interior design but it looks awful.

FamilyRenter

Thanks Dorian. He said that he "wants to keep hold of those colours for a bit longer". I genuinely don't think we could've been much more polite. We just sent an email asking about a few things and said that we were looking for permission to paint the property white. We didn't go out of our way to compliment him but I don't think it's necessary and I think it would seem insincere and ingenuine to be honest.

StumpyPumpy

FamilyRenter wrote: »

Thanks, he painted the house that way when he lived here. He doesn't want us to redecorate because he likes the colours. It's tough because I don't want to insult his interior design but it looks awful.

I think this is a conversation you should have been having before you agreed to rent it. To be honest, if I were your landlord I'd be wondering what sort of tenant I've let myself in for. From his perspective you were happy enough with the colour scheme when you "recently" agreed to rent it, now you want to make wholesale changes, I'd be nervous about what else you'd want to change in the property.

SP

fishpond

"It also leaves me unable to put up any shelves or pictures because I won't be able to polyfiller and repaint the wall before I leave because I don't have the paint colours of those rooms. "

That is worrying.
Have you read your contact?
Does it say anything about puncturing the walls.

diggingdude

Just live with it until you can end your contract and move. Maybe prove yourself to be great tenants and then inform the landlord you will be looking to leave due to the walls, landlord may change their mind

G_M

Do you have any idea if/when he might visit for an 'inspection', or to see if you've settled in? This is a conversation best done face to face over tea and cake!

Are you proposing to decorate yourself, or pay a professional? As Emmylou says, some tenants' standards of painting can leave a lot to be desired.......
Of course, It's only worth investing cash (eg cost of professional decorator) in a rental if you know you'll be there a while. eg you have a 2 year fixed term with no Break Clause.......

Another option is to ask for the make and colour type of the paint he used, and promise to re-paint the originalcolours before you leave. This could be addedd as an addendum to your tenancy agreement.

babyblade41

I did have one tenant who wanted to paint just one room where a child's bedroom was . I agreed and wish I hadn't as it included the ceiling as well.

It does depend how long the contract is. If you were looking long term then possibly a conversation best had at the start..colour can really affect some people

Again as someone above stated, if you want to stay long term suggest nearer the time of nearing end of contract. He might allow it if it means he will keep you .

Norman_Castle

Ask if you can paint one room. If it looks good he might allow you to do the rest.