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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not put the house back to what it was?

728 replies

QuantumDog2 · 13/09/2021 21:55

I've rented the house I live in currently for nearly 9 years. When I moved in it was a new build and we were the first to live here, so obviously a buy to let. The walls were all trade paint magnolia and the carpets were cheap, exactly the way new builds are presented as standard.
Over the years I've decorated it and made some improvements like extending the patio and I spend £1400 on new flooring for the lounge because the carpet was worn out by that stage and looked grotty.
Now I'm leaving as I've bought somewhere with my partner, but contractually apparently I have to return the property the way I found it. I'm 6 months pregnant now and don't fancy donning my overalls and climbing ladders to paint. What would you do? I feel like after 9 years here and the time and money I've spent on the place (although my choice totally) I shouldn't really be penalised, but I expect I will lose my deposit?

OP posts:
moynomore · 14/09/2021 12:35

They can take your deposit, and they can charge you on top of that for any work that needs to be done to put it back to how it was.

This is so not true. Tenant asks for deposit back, landlord says no, it goes to a sort of arbitration. Not a done deal. And you do not have to put it back the way it was 9 years ago. Perhaps OP will need to paint, perhaps, but as another poster said, the LL doesn't get a fresh new home again ready to rent to the next person after 9 years.

Ninkanink · 14/09/2021 12:37

So many people talking so much rubbish.

MrsScrubbithatescleaning · 14/09/2021 12:38

@GreyhoundG1rl

After a 9 year tenancy? Painting over a dark colour will be more labour intensive than painting over cream whenever you do it... The 9 years is completely irrelevant.
You’re talking out of your arse as usual! Hmm

The 9 years is hugely relevant as it’s classed as normal wear and tear.

milkyaqua · 14/09/2021 12:53

A white wall becoming a deep blue wall is not normal wear and tear.

LookAtMoiPloise · 14/09/2021 13:00

@milkyaqua

A white wall becoming a deep blue wall is not normal wear and tear.
😂😂
JSL52 · 14/09/2021 13:03

@QuantumDog2

I guess what I'm saying is that I don't mind paying for the place to be repainted where needed out of my deposit. But within reason. I mean...how much will it cost to get it back to trade paint colour magnolia?
Mine cost £1000 two years ago , that was a local handyman, not a painter and decorator. Two bed semi.
NameChangeNameShange · 14/09/2021 13:03

The 9 years isn't irrelevant in that the LL would expect to repaint but he'd expect to put a coat of magnolia over an scuffed but still magnolia wall. Simple job, easily done and not expensive.

Why the 9 years becomes irrelevant is that irrespective of wear and tear, one cost of magnolia will not cover dark blue. So it's now a much much bigger job. Hence the request to put it back to normal

The landlord has not asked for the floor and patio to be put back because the Op very kindly added value to the house. Her choice.

Of course he may say let's just call it evens, but he doesn't have to. He may reduce the repaint costs by the cost of one cost of magnolia which is what he is expecting to pay out, which would be fair.

NameChangeNameShange · 14/09/2021 13:05

Fucking auto correct
A couple of 'costs' in there that should be 'costs' Hmm

chesirecat99 · 14/09/2021 13:06

More wrong. LL's can and do put all kinds of shite into contracts that is not enforceable and sometimes not even legal This one is though, @ManifestDestinee.

The landlord can charge OP for any losses ie the cost of returning the paintwork to the original colours (materials and labour) and lost income while the work is done minus the cost of routine redecoration because the decoration has reached the end of its lifespan. The issue here is that the cost of redecorating after OP has painted in vibrant colours may be higher than the total cost of the routine redecorating that is due so she will will be liable for the difference. That could even be more than her deposit and she would be liable for any extra costs above the deposit amount too.

Blossomtoes · 14/09/2021 13:10

As far as I can see that house is never going to be magnolia. The ll is trying to pull a fast one, keep the deposit and do nothing. It’s completely ridiculous to assume that no redecoration would be needed in nine years, especially given that it was undecorated at the start of the tenancy.

Take it to arbitration by the relevant deposit scheme @QuantumDog2. I’d bet my house you’ll get it all back.

willithappen · 14/09/2021 13:26

In no way is painting a wall blue 'normal wear and tear'

I'm a letting agent - let it go through dispute management but be warned it's highly likely they will favour your landlord considering you were told it had to go back to magnolia.

loveisagirlnameddaisy · 14/09/2021 13:31

@willithappen

In no way is painting a wall blue 'normal wear and tear'

I'm a letting agent - let it go through dispute management but be warned it's highly likely they will favour your landlord considering you were told it had to go back to magnolia.

The tenancy deposit schemes were created on the premise that the tenant is due their deposit back unless the landlord can prove that deductions are reasonable. It's written in the legislation which introduced the concept of the schemes.

Given the landlord has done nothing in nine years, he's have a tough time getting a penny from you.

Blossomtoes · 14/09/2021 13:31

you were told it had to go back to magnolia

It was never magnolia to start with. The ll has already got away with not having to put paint to wall for their entire ownership of the house.

Many landlords recommend repainting (or completely redecorating) once every five to six years. If you have long-term tenants, it can be disruptive to redecorate during the tenancy, so you should negotiate times carefully.

www.simplybusiness.co.uk/knowledge/articles/2021/07/how-often-should-a-landlord-redecorate-a-rental-property/

BlueMoons90 · 14/09/2021 13:37

We rent out a property, and my previous tenants did paint the walls in a few rooms but it was very neutral, almost white. We didn't mind as it was neutral, but if I had tenants who had painted their walls pink/green/yellow etc I would expect it to be returned back to what it was previously.

willithappen · 14/09/2021 13:42

@loveisagirlnameddaisy the dispute team are not going to look into anything not related to the dispute. The landlord is under no obligation to paint, particularly if tenant is painting themselves already.

@Blossomtoes not sure if you read the first post? It literally says it was magnolia when they moved in and they have been told they were allowed to decorate but had to be put back to how it was when they leave - therefore... magnolia

moynomore · 14/09/2021 13:44

I'm a letting agent - let it go through dispute management but be warned it's highly likely they will favour your landlord considering you were told it had to go back to magnolia.

I would bet money on the opposite outcome given the landlord has done nothing to the property in 9 years. That's a pretty good deal.

Let us know the outcome OP. Don't give in!

billy1966 · 14/09/2021 13:44

He is picking and choosing. CF.

The EA needs to tell future renters that all the improvements are going with you and that the house will look vastly different when you vacate.

He's not the only one who can be difficult.

Your landlord has done the bare minimum or less in 9 years.

Complete CF, now marketing the bouse with your improvements.Flowers

willithappen · 14/09/2021 13:45

Also @Blossomtoes you have just googled a question and taken the first link given to you 🙈 if you read that link also there is zero legislation to say a landlord is required to paint the property in 'x' amount of time. It's a site that has 'recommended' painting to keep it fresh but it's not a legal requirement or part of the repair standard the landlord needs to meet

willithappen · 14/09/2021 13:46

@moynomore

I'm a letting agent - let it go through dispute management but be warned it's highly likely they will favour your landlord considering you were told it had to go back to magnolia.

I would bet money on the opposite outcome given the landlord has done nothing to the property in 9 years. That's a pretty good deal.

Let us know the outcome OP. Don't give in!

Bet away! As I said they will only look at what's in dispute. As someone who deals with this on an almost daily basis if we prove you were told this at the start and can provide an appropriate cost for the work being done it will be awarded Only thing OP can do is try get costs themselves and see if the cost the LL is charging is a fair cost
GreyhoundG1rl · 14/09/2021 13:49

I would bet money on the opposite outcome given the landlord has done nothing to the property in 9 years. That's a pretty good deal.
Well, technically.

But op asked them if she could and they said yes, but it has to be returned to magnolia when you leave.
They can hardly be blamed for not steaming in and painting it magnolia in the middle of op's tenancy after that? Allowing her to decorate to her taste is not the usual interpretation of hands off / doing nothing.

Blossomtoes · 14/09/2021 13:51

@willithappen

Also *@Blossomtoes* you have just googled a question and taken the first link given to you 🙈 if you read that link also there is zero legislation to say a landlord is required to paint the property in 'x' amount of time. It's a site that has 'recommended' painting to keep it fresh but it's not a legal requirement or part of the repair standard the landlord needs to meet
I know that. I can read too. There isn’t a legal standard - more’s the pity. Even you can’t seriously maintain that not decorating at all in nine years is reasonable. Letting agents like you are part of the reason bad landlords get away with so much.
Horst · 14/09/2021 13:52

Honestly op just take your flooring out, replace with the landlord special £200 jobby, get your larger patio pulled up and tidy it. Hire one fo those odd job Bob men to paint it white.

If the LL wants to be petty be petty.

If my LL want it back to how it was when we move din I’d have to trash the whole garden and leave it covered in rubbish and recarpet and then piss all over the bathroom floors. After 9 years they really anit getting much back anyway.

GreyhoundG1rl · 14/09/2021 13:55

Even you can’t seriously maintain that not decorating at all in nine years is reasonable
If op hadn't got permission to paint it in colours of her choice, they very likely would have repainted it in magnolia at around the 5 year point. She wouldn't have been amused by that, presumably.

Blossomtoes · 14/09/2021 13:58

@GreyhoundG1rl

Even you can’t seriously maintain that not decorating at all in nine years is reasonable If op hadn't got permission to paint it in colours of her choice, they very likely would have repainted it in magnolia at around the 5 year point. She wouldn't have been amused by that, presumably.
Pure supposition. We have absolutely no idea what the landlord would have “likely” done. The only fact we do have is that they haven’t paid a penny for decoration since they bought the house.
GreyhoundG1rl · 14/09/2021 14:02

Well, of course it's supposition 😂
I made the point that op, having painted in the colours of her choice would hardly have appreciated having them forcibly painted over (and the LL were hardly going to source the same colours, rather than trade white), in fact she'd have been outraged had they tried to; so "haven't done anything in nine years" isn't really relevant.