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AIBU?

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Original poster

Was I unreasonable to redecorate?

390 replies

wlevrta · 18/10/2018 10:06

We have been in our rental property for almost three years.

However, we will be moving out in January/February.

We have redecorated the rental and I'm just hoping the landlord is going to be okay with it.

For context. The landlord bought the property as it was and made no improvements himself when he purchased it. The dining room wall was bright green! There was gaps between the laminate and the skirting board in the hallway. The bathroom taps were rubbish and water didn't come out very well. The toilet flusher didn't work properly.

It's not his home that he rents. He has numerous properties he rents out and it's his full time job.

Everything we have done to the property, imo, has improved it and everything has been done neutral.

We have put in a brand new bathroom and flooring.

Painting in the rest of the house, etc.

Do you think this will be a problem? He seems like a reasonable guy

OP posts:
ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 18/10/2018 10:08

Why would you pay to put a bathroom in somewhere you don't own? Madness! No one here can say whether he'd be ok with it or not but stop wasting your money!!

littlepeas · 18/10/2018 10:09

What a waste of money! Shock

Layoverlife · 18/10/2018 10:11

Wow!! Shock

Ginmakesitallok · 18/10/2018 10:12

Why on earth did you invest in a new bathroom???

PlateOfBiscuits · 18/10/2018 10:13

Did you talk to him before doing any of these things?

pigsDOfly · 18/10/2018 10:13

I doubt he'll have a problem with someone else spending money on his property in order to improve it. But it might have been wise to have asked him first as it's not your place to go having work done in a house you don't own unless it states you can in your lease.

Why didn't you ask him to make the improvements.

Not sure why you'd spend all that money and effort on a property you know you'd be leaving soon.

boux · 18/10/2018 10:13

I'm sure he will be (secretly) delighted that you have renovated his flat for him for free. To you, he may claim that you've changed things when you weren't supposed to and will keep your deposit.
Why on earth would you put a new bathroom in a rental property is beyond me.

Ginmakesitallok · 18/10/2018 10:13

And did you check with the landlord before doing the bathroom?

Omeletteandbeans · 18/10/2018 10:15

If your deposit is correctly protected the most he could do would be to claim a sum for eg the old bathroom you got rid of, which would be a cost based on the age and condition it was when you moved in and minus 3 years fair wear and tear - he couldn't claim the cost of replacing it (again).

However can I just say that paying for a new bathroom in someone else's house is properly mad! Seriously!

Original poster
wlevrta · 18/10/2018 10:16

I know I know

I shouldn't have spent money on somewhere that isn't mine but at the time of doing so we thought we would be here for a very very long time!

But that doesn't matter to me now

I'm just hoping the landlord is going to be ok with it!

And no I didn't ask him first

I hope we will still get our deposit back but if we don't it's not end of the world

OP posts:
Ginmakesitallok · 18/10/2018 10:17

You put a new bathroom into someone else's property without their consent????? Madness.

BlueBug45 · 18/10/2018 10:17

What a stupid thing to do.

OPTIONS the landlord can chuck you out when your tenancy agreement is up then put up the rent.

Original poster
wlevrta · 18/10/2018 10:19

@BlueBug45 we only had a six month initial contract and from there it has rolled

So we and the landlord has to give each other a months notice

But my point is we are hoping to move out January February anyway

So him kicking us out wouldn't be a problem

And I don't understand why he'd react that way...

We have improved his property

OP posts:
Birdsgottafly · 18/10/2018 10:19

You broke your tenancy agreement by putting the bathroom in, so if you are worried about deposit etc, he can withhold it/give a bad reference.

Does he own the Freehold? He could face charges if there are any clauses in his leasehold.

You can't just make major changes to rental properties like that.

Copperbonnet · 18/10/2018 10:20

You absolutely did not have permission to make changes to his property.

I’m a landlord and I’d be furious.

Ellisandra · 18/10/2018 10:20

If he’s a decent guy - no issue.
If he’s the type to go for any chance of cash, he’ll keep your deposit.

Why on earth wouldn’t you get permission first?!

Original poster
wlevrta · 18/10/2018 10:20

@Ginmakesitallok the old bathroom was horrible and could do with replacing

Surely we done Home a favour?

OP posts:
Omzlas · 18/10/2018 10:21

Do you want to rent my house for a bit? -we need a new kitchen-

I suggest you speak to your landlord but IMO he'd be within his rights to keep your deposit as you've altered the property without prior consent, even if it was an improvement

Wish I had spare cash to throw at a house that isn't mine though, seems odd that you'd spend money on a rented property

Birdsgottafly · 18/10/2018 10:21

"And I don't understand why he'd react that way..."

You may have affected his buildings/landlord insurance.

Original poster
wlevrta · 18/10/2018 10:21

@Copperbonnet I mean this nicely but can you explain why you would be furious?

OP posts:
Peridot1 · 18/10/2018 10:22

I thought you were going say painting and maybe new carpets and curtains. But a new bathroom? Really? Without asking?

dontgobaconmyheart · 18/10/2018 10:23

I get why you'd want to do this OP but don't get at all why you actually did. I've never seen a tenancy agreement that doesn't state that no changes are to be made to the property without the agreement of the landlord.
In light of this you've more than likely breached your tenancy agreement and as has been pointed out, if this backfires and he doesn't approve, he could both retain your deposit for items removed from the property (such as a whole bathroom suite, I assume you've binned it) or take it further at court to try for full recompense
if he wants.

It must have cost you a fortune! Are you hoping to buy your own home in the fiture? If so, what was the rationale for dumping money into a home you don't own?

I hope there aren't serious repercussions but it is a bit baffling. He could remove you from the property and make referencing tricky if this all backfires on you

Peridot1 · 18/10/2018 10:23

If the work wasn’t carried out properly it could have caused damage to the property. And he wouldn’t be insured as you were doing it without permission. It might have invalidated his insurance.

pigsDOfly · 18/10/2018 10:24

How long ago did you have this bathroom put in?

Has your LL not inspected the property since it was installed. Surely he would have noticed.

Ellisandra · 18/10/2018 10:24

You may have taken out a slightly worn but good quality bathroom suite, and replaced it with currently new and shiny but basically shit one.

The kitchen paint may have been green but expensive K&B paint, you might have chosen a colour you prefer, but in watery cheap non K&B.

Of course you may have genuinely improved it! But when I was a landlord (just one property, one year) I’d have been cross at the lack of request, and worried about the standard!

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