Was I unreasonable to redecorate?

[wlevrta]

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

@Flooffloof there's photos of everything in the inventory

Flooffloof Quotes were not enough in our case. If we did not have receipts to show the money had actually been spent by us, the TDS scratched it from the disputed sum. The position is that the deposit belongs to the tenant in its entirety unless the LL can show actual out of pocket.

@SassitudeandSparkle someone would...me

Well as a LL I'd be thrilled. I'd be a bit put out that you didn't ask first, but seeing as you'd improved my property at no expense to me I'd quickly get over it. I'm surprised you were willing to spend that money on a house that isn't yours though.

It reminds me of a friend of mine who spent three grand or more getting patio doors put in the living room of a rented ground floor flat so that his dog could go straight out into the garden without having to walk all the way round. He only stayed there 18 months. He did ask first though.

Ok, so I wouldn't be hugely impressed if my tenants if they replaced a bathroom (manky or not), but for the sake of reasonableness provided they replaced on a like-for-like basis (ie, same fittings and fixtures - bath for a bath, etc), I would just retain some of the deposit to have a full plumbing inspection carried out to ensure it had been done in a professional manner and wasn't leaking anywhere. I really couldn't get worked up about it otherwise as long as it wasn't going to actually devalue or damage my property.

Is it like the original - could you get away with saying nothing?

@Flooffloofthere's photos of everything in the inventory

Ah ok, no getting away with saying it's the original then. Was a faint hope sorry.

@KeiTeNgeNge probably not

The original bath, toilet and sink was an old peach colour

New ones are white

IME, tenants who redecorate have done a crap job tbh. Even just with paint. If they had done anything with the pipework/fabric of the house I would be incandescent and having it checked very carefully.

Don’t worry op.
I doubt he’s the kind of landlord that’s going to kick off that you’ve made his property look more appealing to the next tenant.
He hasn’t inspected in years, he trusts you. You have more than likely improved the place and I’m sure hel probably be chuffed at the little bonus of a free bathroom.
I can see why you did it. It’s easy to feel at home in a rental and want to make it your own.
People on here are always very dramatic and good at frightening you.
Do keep us updated!

Op l am a LL and l would also be very unhappy that my tenant had done major works without my approval....
Your version of quality may be very different to your LL, also surely your tenancy agreement states no changes to be made without permission.

Most LL are happy to allow a redecorate if the 1) approve the paint and the professional contractor to do a good job.

Over the years, l have had a tenant who redecorated at a cost of 5K to herself (!) without telling me, when l inspected, the rooms were mostly pastel shades of pink ....although professionally done, when she left, l had to fork out to have them redecorated in neutral shades again..resulting in having the flat empty for an extra 2 weeks.
.Had she asked me, l would have happily come to an agreement on colour, and even split the cost with her.

Most tenants ask, if they are planning on being there long term and we agree...ie one set of tenants were going to stay 3 years, and wanted to put up lots of large artworks, as the property is victorian and has lathe and plaster walls this is very difficult and not a diy job, it is stated in the tenancy that there are to be no fixings without my consent for this reason.

But l recognise it is a home for my tenants, and therefore we agreed l would pay for a professional to put in the relevant fixings for their art, ( so that l could control any potential damage) and they would pay for a professional to make good when they left....that is how it should be done.
I put in bathrooms that are supremely practical as well as look nice, ie very expensive shower fixings, as the cartridges last 10 years as opposed to 2 or 3, and it is a difficult and disruptive job to replace them...i doubt you would have even known this....I use porcelain tiles so that they will not chip and can withstand the often harsh chemicals some people use on them, whereas, ceramic will chip after a couple of years and stain badly. Would you have the experience to know if the plumber was good or bad? an unseen leak can cost thousands...

My bathrooms probably cost triple the average, but are incredibly robust and practical, avoiding void periods and cross tenants when things break....hopefully now you understand why your ll may not be delighted and feel you have done him/her a favour.

I hope it all works out fine, but, why oh why, do tenants not just read and follow their tenancy agreement, it is there to protect BOTH parties...

FlooffloofQuotes were not enough in our case. If we did not have receipts to show the money had actually been spent by us, the TDS scratched it from the disputed sum. The position is that the deposit belongs to the tenant in its entirety unless the LL can show actual
out of pocket.

From the tds code of conduct
include copies of invoices or
quotes relevant to the deposit
deduction(s) claimed.

New bathroom, for someone else? Are you a charity or crazy?
Rentals = Living with crappy decor

Maybe it has changed then. Or whoever arbitrated in our case got it wrong. Either way, we lost a lot of money while things were put right as the place couldn't be rented. And there was no right of reply to go back to the TDS for review.

Jesus Op.
Just apologise and hope the 'LL doesn't sue.
Out of interest , did you expect a different response ?

wlevrta please ignore the people here telling you you've done something terribly wrong.

AIBU is full of people who LOVE to tell others how wrong they are. And technically you probably are in breach of contract, so therefore in AIBU land you're wrong and must be jumped on. Ignore them, honestly, this is like some weird kind of sport to them.

But... back in the real world, you've done your landlord a massive favour. Sure, it's possible they might not see it that way - e.g. if the bathroom you've put in in hideous. But assuming it genuinely is an improvement (and I see no reason to assume it's not) then you've been an excellent tenant as you've improved the value and rentability of the property. I'd love it if you rented from me!

When you give notice, I'd send a note saying something like:

"I really hope you don't mind, we put a new bathroom in as we thought we'd been staying here forever and the old one was desperately in need of an upgrade. It's good quality and was expertly installed by . I'm really sorry it didn't ask you at the time, it now seems obvious to me that I should have done, I'm not quite sure what I was thinking! As it's a decent bathroom it should improve the value and rentability of the property, so I'm really hoping you're not too shocked and are happy with us taking this job off your hands. Please see photos attached. We've loved staying here, thank you for etc "

@Dragongirl10 Thanks for your reply

Maybe you're a different kind of LL to mine?

As I said previously, he purchased the house as it was and rented it out as it was, including:

Large chunks of missing laminate by the skirting boards.

Peeling wallpaper above the radiator in the living room

Bright green wall in the dining room (not very neutral?)

Upstairs toilet stained beyond repair and cleaning. The flush didn't work. Every time you flushed, the water would keep on coming out for ages until it was empty. It didn't work properly.

The bath and sink taps were covered in Lime scale and the water wouldn't come out properly

Small little patches of surface damp on the bathroom ceiling from condensation

The back door wont close properly without slamming it

The kitchen cupboard doors sit wonky

the smallest ring on the gas hob doesn't work unless you ignite one of the other rings first

The landing and stairs carpet is old, worn, hard and frayed.

And when we moved in I spent days cleaning everywhere as it was filthy

I think you just need to tell him asap OP, without telling him you're giving notice soon, and get him to sign a proper legal agreement (perhaps via an agent or solicitor) that he's happy with it.
Then when you give notice, that might help you get your deposit back or prevent any further action.
I rented for four years perfectly happily, through a good agent, when we gave notice the landlord massively took the piss on the deposit, and tried (unsuccessfully) to get us to replace all sorts of stuff in the house.
If he's a negligent incompetent landlord, I wouldn't be surprised if he tries anything to get more money out of you.
She also dug up the fruit trees and emptied the little wildlife pond we had created in the massive garden, but that's her choice!

If he has a lot of rentals as long as it looks nice I suspect he won’t even notice you have done anything tbh.

@EndeavourVoyage that's what I'm hoping for

To the previous poster who said , at least you didn't shit on the floor, or something to that effect, our tenant recently moved out and did in fact leave dog shit on the carpet. That was infinitely more acceptable to us than replacing the bloody bathroom .

Some dramatic responses on here 🙄

Your landlord's either going to be delighted or angry, depending on lots of things.
Why didn't you just ask first?
I rented a tatty, dirty house. I cleaned it and the landlord said I could redecorate which I did. But putting in new bathrooms is a whole different ball game!
My inventory had photographs too so there would have been no hiding from any changes.

Op, yes my properties are kept to a very good standard and l don't use an agent so know my tenants which helps...

As the property was in very poor condition, if you have kept the paint colours neutral and done a professional job, he probably won't mind that at all. Or anthing broken that you have fixed.
Did you have a reputable company redo the bathroom? and did you keep the fixtures in the sames place, ie not move toilets and baths?

I do think you are nuts to spend that amount on a rental,
for future reference, before taking a place, list the issues as you have done here, and ask if the ll will pay for the repairs, before you sign up to the tenancy, get it either done before or at least being done, before signing your tenancy agreement. Always get an independant inventory done. Check it thoroughly, and discuss any shortfalls.

Occasionally l have rented out a new flat that l have not refurbished throughout, and would be open to a discussion on what l would be willing and able to get upgraded before an agreement is signed.

It does sound like he is not a great ll and you may well get away with thie changes.

Just contact him and have a conversation instead of asking a bunch of bored randoms . I’m a LL and would be a bit baffled but wouldn’t be kicking off if the work had been executed to an acceptable standard.

Email him and ask if he would like to inspect the property to discuss some improvements you’ve made. Apologise for failing to seek permission and offer to get a plumbing report or refer him to the plumber who installed the bathroom if he wants reassurance it’s been done to standard.

He may be angry but from what you’ve said he won’t and will be quite pleased.

Learn a lesson and ask in future..