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AIBU?

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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:
Duchess379 · 13/09/2021 22:15

Why would you do an extension & new carpets on a house you don't own? I also live in a new build, that I own, since 2013 & yes, it was all magnolia and I've repainted. But patio & new carpets is a little excessive...

2catsandhappy · 13/09/2021 22:16

I had to paint a huge sitting room back to to 80's lower half wall in orange AND paste on the patterned paper trim! Madness. Also exhausting after the house move.
So the house ended up going back in time about 20 years.

OnTheBoardwalk · 13/09/2021 22:16

I’m sorry but being pregnant is not an excuse. Could you get someone to do the work?

The people moving into your rented accommodation might not like your design choices. I know I didn’t appreciate the blue walls and yellow skirting when I bought my house

I’m really not saying your choice will be as dramatic as this but it is your choice and not the one of the person who wants to rent the house now you’ve chosen to leave

FedUpAtHomeTroels · 13/09/2021 22:16

In 9 years, carpets and paint should have to be replace in a rental due to wear and tear surely.
I'd make sure it's clean and take loads of pictures to show the good condition.
They'll probably rent it back out quickly as it is. Look for it online up for rent, if not repainted or recarpeted, keep the online pics and if they say they are keeping the deposit to do the work you can prove they've done nothing an just rented it out as you left it.

Original poster
QuantumDog2 · 13/09/2021 22:16

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?

OP posts:
daytriptovulcan · 13/09/2021 22:17

Just talk to the landlord. If you ve literally improved the house he/she will likely be happy about that...though i ll never understand why tenants do this.

Original poster
QuantumDog2 · 13/09/2021 22:18

@Duchess379

Why would you do an extension & new carpets on a house you don't own? I also live in a new build, that I own, since 2013 & yes, it was all magnolia and I've repainted. But patio & new carpets is a little excessive...
Because the patio was tiny and unusable. I did the work myself with my husband so it cost very little. It's still a good sound patio today before anyone asks.

And the carpets were crap. I knew I was staying for a good few years so it seemed much cheaper to just put some nice flooring down rather than move house.

OP posts:
OnTheBoardwalk · 13/09/2021 22:19

Vibrantly and denim drift sound quite extreme

Rummikubfan · 13/09/2021 22:19

I think you’re going to have to get it back to neutral. The Egyptian cotton sounds fine but the bright colours really aren’t especially when you are told this before you did it. I could understand your reluctance if the LL asked to to leave but you should have factored this into your planning when you decided to move on

rawhidebone · 13/09/2021 22:21

My tenant has lived in my house for several years. I haven't had any walls repainted during that time. If she moved out now and had repainted I would just suck it up.

Original poster
QuantumDog2 · 13/09/2021 22:21

@OnTheBoardwalk

Vibrantly and denim drift sound quite extreme
Yeah...I think you're right. Sad The girl's room is a pale pink and my son has a green bedroom. The hall, stairs and landing being Denim Drift is pretty far from what it was when I moved in.
OP posts:
Lan2020 · 13/09/2021 22:21

I think after 5 years they expect a certain amount of wear and rear and generally repaint anyway. I was renting a new build magnolia style house. I didn't paint it but had quite a few pictures etc up. I was 9 months pregnant when I moved, ill and exhausted and did everything on my own. Luckily my landlord said not to worry about the walls as they were repainting them anyway, so I didn't have to touch up. I suppose it depends on what you have done to them. If they are another neutral version of off white, the landlord may be ok but if they are bright red, you'll probably need to paint them.
I understand you've done work to the property but to be honest, that's the risk you take. I'd never do any work to a rental because you could be handed notice to leave at any time.

whatsmyusername · 13/09/2021 22:22

It sounds lovely and if being sold I'm sure t would add value. Your landlord however may want clean neutral for the next tenants as its easier to shift. However, if you ask them shall I repaint they will of course say yes as it saves them a job and money. Depending how big your deposit was it sounds like the work they are asking is extensive and unreasonable IMO based on what you have said.

Check your money is in a propper scheme first. Good luck with both the move and baby

Original poster
QuantumDog2 · 13/09/2021 22:26

@whatsmyusername

It sounds lovely and if being sold I'm sure t would add value. Your landlord however may want clean neutral for the next tenants as its easier to shift. However, if you ask them shall I repaint they will of course say yes as it saves them a job and money. Depending how big your deposit was it sounds like the work they are asking is extensive and unreasonable IMO based on what you have said.

Check your money is in a propper scheme first. Good luck with both the move and baby

Thank you. Yes my deposit is definitely in a scheme thank goodness. The landlord was very polite in telling me to repaint everything back to cream, and I've told them I probably won't be doing so. I think I just felt it was important to be honest about my intentions so they can make arrangements as they see fit.

For others:
I've been in touch with my landlord throughout the tenancy although we've never met and they live the other side of the country. I knew before I started any work that they weren't intending for us to leave any time soon otherwise I would probably just have moved out to somewhere more presentable.

OP posts:
Original poster
QuantumDog2 · 13/09/2021 22:27

It's been back on the rental market for a week now and the agent has averaged a couple of viewings at least every day. There's no way it'll hang about for long.

OP posts:
Planty13 · 13/09/2021 22:29

Honestly the deposit scheme is pretty good and if they want to try to claim it I’d bounce back with the fact they have done no maintenance including painting over the years. I’d honestly reply to the email and say you feel after your time living their surely it’s is well due a paint to maintain the property considering they haven’t done any paint work so you’ll assume they will arrange it once you leave

hibbledibble · 13/09/2021 22:30

It sounds like your landlord is justified in expecting neutral walls back. You can't be bothered to return walls to this state, despite agreeing to, so it will likely be taken out of the deposit.

It sounds like you have painted to a specific taste, which won't appeal to the general rental market.

Bywayofanupdate · 13/09/2021 22:31

I would leave it as it is and if they say anything weigh up the time it will take to redecorate v. the deposit

OnTheBoardwalk · 13/09/2021 22:32

Losing your deposit against the stress of having to sort it yourself would you take that? Hopefully he won’t ask for more

Appreciate not your property but you and your children have enjoyed your paint work for the past 9 years. Surely that’s worth something rather than looking at magnolia every day

Original poster
QuantumDog2 · 13/09/2021 22:34

@OnTheBoardwalk

Losing your deposit against the stress of having to sort it yourself would you take that? Hopefully he won’t ask for more

Appreciate not your property but you and your children have enjoyed your paint work for the past 9 years. Surely that’s worth something rather than looking at magnolia every day

Exactly! Thank you. I know people say you should never spend money on a rental, but to me it was worth it to have a nice home I could relax in and enjoy until the time came to buy my own.
OP posts:
Original poster
QuantumDog2 · 13/09/2021 22:36

This is the wall colour I know they're going to take issue with. 🙈 And you can see the flooring a bit too, which is nice and neutral.

To not put the house back to what it was?
OP posts:
mynamechangemyrules · 13/09/2021 22:37

What you've done looks 100% nicer than the magnolia shithole I've just moved into 😂

MatildaTheCat · 13/09/2021 22:38

Given that it’s been 9 years there’s no way the LL. can charge the full cost of redecorating. You can offer to negotiate if they start to say you have to pay the full cost.

LLs can no longer just deduct money from your deposit, you have to agree to deductions and if you can’t agree then the deposit scheme will arbitrate which requires a fair amount of effort on both sides to produce evidence to support your argument.

I’m a LL and whilst I’d not be delighted with some of your choices I wouldn’t claim on your deposit. If someone is willing to rent the house without it even being decorated they couldn’t charge you as they’d have no invoices to support their claim.

GreyhoundG1rl · 13/09/2021 22:38

If you're contracted to leave it neutrally decorated you can't imagine you'll get away with leaving a dark blue hall, stairs and landing?
It's clear breach, whether you consider it nicer or not.
Other prospective tenants might not.

jackstini · 13/09/2021 22:39

It's tricky. I'm a landlord and do give permission for my tenants to decorate but it is stipulated 'back to neutral on leaving'

Wear and tear as in some marks on a cream wall is pretty easy to paint over, and we always freshen up between tenants. Denim blue though might take ages to cover up!

I would weigh up whether the flooring & patio improvements were worth it and get to an agreement with my tenant, but technically you could have to change those back too

Have you sent them pictures to see what's acceptable?

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