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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:
fucketyfuckwit · 13/09/2021 22:40

Go through the tenancy deposit scheme, after 9 years redecoration is down to the landlord.

Carpets also would be written off.

If the house is in good state of redecoration and the flooring in good order then the landlord has no leg to stand on.

You don't have to just hand it back as you found it, you have to hand it back as you found it taking into account fair wear and tear.

The tenancy deposit scheme is so weighted in favour of the tenant.

It may not be right that it's not the right colour but you have lived there for 9 years!

I'm an inventory clerk btw!

Ninkanink · 13/09/2021 22:40

If you’re willing to take the hit on your deposit I’d just leave it as is.

jackstini · 13/09/2021 22:41

Just seen the pic & if you sent me that, as a landlord I'd be fine!

Looks lovely and won't show marks as easily, I would refund your full deposit happily

Original poster
QuantumDog2 · 13/09/2021 22:44

@fucketyfuckwit

Go through the tenancy deposit scheme, after 9 years redecoration is down to the landlord.

Carpets also would be written off.

If the house is in good state of redecoration and the flooring in good order then the landlord has no leg to stand on.

You don't have to just hand it back as you found it, you have to hand it back as you found it taking into account fair wear and tear.

The tenancy deposit scheme is so weighted in favour of the tenant.

It may not be right that it's not the right colour but you have lived there for 9 years!

I'm an inventory clerk btw!

Excellent, thank you! I don't want to leave my landlords in a difficult position but I really don't want to redecorate and put it back to magnolia. I know magnolia would be ideal for the rental market...but I can't help feeling a bit resentful at having to put my hand in my pocket again and repaint. I'll take this advice. Is there any chance they will charge me to reverse the improvements I've made? Like take the patio up, even though they said it was okay at the time? Or remove the flooring?
OP posts:
Original poster
QuantumDog2 · 13/09/2021 22:45

@jackstini

Just seen the pic & if you sent me that, as a landlord I'd be fine!

Looks lovely and won't show marks as easily, I would refund your full deposit happily

Thank you! I've done all of the walls in heavy duty wipe clean paint to keep them spotless. Apparently this makes it harder to paint over though! Confused
OP posts:
User478 · 13/09/2021 22:46

Leave it, they might keep your deposit over something else anyway and you'd be out of pocket for the decorators. You're not leaving it inhabitable.

Hapoydayz · 13/09/2021 22:48

If the landlord hasn't bothered to repaint in over 9 years you may well get your deposit back regardless

Original poster
QuantumDog2 · 13/09/2021 22:48

@GreyhoundG1rl

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.
The guy that looked around this afternoon commented that he 'likes the decor'. Maybe he was just being nice. Grin Either way, properties round here are in short supply. It will be gone in days if it hasn't already.
OP posts:
saraclara · 13/09/2021 22:48

Send the photos and ask if he really wants it repainting, as it's 'professionally' done.

DailyMailHater · 13/09/2021 22:49

It is will take a few heavy coats of magnolia to cover that blue and you said one room was green I think..depending on the shade that will take some covering as well so can see it costing more than of you had pointed neutral colours that are easy to paint over.
At the end of the day it would have been in your rental contract to put it back to magnolia and you were also told again when you asked to paint, if you aren’t prepared to do then you have to be prepared to lose your deposit so the landlord isn’t out of pocket.

Meloncurse · 13/09/2021 22:50

It's quite a lot more work to cover up a colour such as the blue than to do a refresh of a magnolia wall so saying they'd have to redecorate anyway isn't a get out. By not returning to neutral the landlord would have to do a lot more work to redecorate than if it was just 9 year old grubby magnolia walls.

TatianaBis · 13/09/2021 22:50

After 9 years I’d be expecting to repaint myself.

It’s not something I’d try to withhold your deposit over but other LLs might give it a shot. Some are nice some are arseholes. I don’t think it would work, it’s more the hassle of arguing about it.

Original poster
QuantumDog2 · 13/09/2021 22:51

@Meloncurse

It's quite a lot more work to cover up a colour such as the blue than to do a refresh of a magnolia wall so saying they'd have to redecorate anyway isn't a get out. By not returning to neutral the landlord would have to do a lot more work to redecorate than if it was just 9 year old grubby magnolia walls.
Yes, this is true. I don't mind paying what is reasonable to put it back to magnolia, but I'd be very upset to lose my entire deposit when as others are suggesting, after 9 years they would have to repaint anyway.
OP posts:
GreyhoundG1rl · 13/09/2021 22:51

The guy that looked around this afternoon commented that he 'likes the decor'. Maybe he was just being nice. grin Either way, properties round here are in short supply. It will be gone in days if it hasn't already.
It does look nice, op, don't get me wrong. It's just that he has a good case for enforcing the agreement.
Maybe if he lets it soon he won't bother to try. Good luck.

thenewduchessofhastings · 13/09/2021 22:52

@QuantumDog2

I've just googled denim drift;what a lovely colour it is.

fucketyfuckwit · 13/09/2021 22:53

They can put what they want in a contract. It doesn't mean it's enforceable!

Leave them to it, it's incredibly unlikely they will retain any of your deposit after 9 years if you have left it in a good state.

Just makes sure the decoration is in very good order and the property is spotlessly clean.

catwithflowers · 13/09/2021 22:53

Love the colour you used in the hall. So much nicer than magnolia. And looks like a professional paint job! Good luck with everything 🙂

Original poster
QuantumDog2 · 13/09/2021 22:53

[quote thenewduchessofhastings]@QuantumDog2

I've just googled denim drift;what a lovely colour it is.[/quote]
Thank you. Smile It looks lovely in natural light against the white woodwork. I love it, but I know it's not to everyone's taste. It'll be a shame to see it put back to nondescript magnolia, but it's none of my business I guess.

OP posts:
RedHelenB · 13/09/2021 22:54

@Iamthewombat

My tenants have just moved out after five years. They papered two walls in ‘feature’ wallpaper. You bet that I’ll be deducting the cost of making good from their deposit. It’s not to my taste and may not be to future tenants’ taste either.

They also had bloody cats without my permission and have ruined the carpets, so they will most likely end up paying me for replacements. I wouldn’t charge them if they had left the floors in a better state than when they moved in though, which it sounds like you have. But I wouldn’t reduce the cost of the other repairs as a quid pro quo.

I don't think you'll get very far with the deposit scheme. After 5 years wear and tear you would expect to have to redecorate rooms, the same with the carpets you won't be awarded the cost of brand new ones as they're 5 years old. You may get something if the cats have scratched them badly though.
ZealAndArdour · 13/09/2021 22:54

Why not just ask them? I’ve been in my rental nearly 6 years, have replaced the bargain basement bathroom lino with a water resistant specialist bathroom laminate and painted my bedroom, one wall in Bancha by farrow and ball, and the rest just freshened up in white. As well as tiling a mint green splashback in the kitchen as it just had upstands (think they’re called that) before.

Landlady brought new tenant round to view, I offered to make it all good, but landlady and new tenant both happy and liked it all, so she doesn’t want me to put anything right.

WhoIsPepeSilva · 13/09/2021 22:55

You're going to have to paint whether you want to or not unfortunately. I imagine the LL may want to leave the flooring but you're going to have to talk to them.

HouseOfRunners · 13/09/2021 22:55

All your landlord will be able to claim is the cost of the paint - speaking from experience. (If you’d left my house like that I would have been overjoyed!!)

Original poster
QuantumDog2 · 13/09/2021 22:55

@ZealAndArdour

Why not just ask them? I’ve been in my rental nearly 6 years, have replaced the bargain basement bathroom lino with a water resistant specialist bathroom laminate and painted my bedroom, one wall in Bancha by farrow and ball, and the rest just freshened up in white. As well as tiling a mint green splashback in the kitchen as it just had upstands (think they’re called that) before.

Landlady brought new tenant round to view, I offered to make it all good, but landlady and new tenant both happy and liked it all, so she doesn’t want me to put anything right.

I have. The landlord said 'back as you found it'.
OP posts:
elbea · 13/09/2021 22:55

@fucketyfuckwit I’ve retained many deposits for redecoration. There is a huge monetary difference between touching up magnolia and painting over dark blues (surveyor)

Maddison12 · 13/09/2021 22:56

@fucketyfuckwit

Go through the tenancy deposit scheme, after 9 years redecoration is down to the landlord.

Carpets also would be written off.

If the house is in good state of redecoration and the flooring in good order then the landlord has no leg to stand on.

You don't have to just hand it back as you found it, you have to hand it back as you found it taking into account fair wear and tear.

The tenancy deposit scheme is so weighted in favour of the tenant.

It may not be right that it's not the right colour but you have lived there for 9 years!

I'm an inventory clerk btw!

This is great advice. I've had my deposit back with no problems in the past, agree that the deposit protection scheme is normally in favour of the tenant.

I'd just leave it if I were you! You haven't damaged the property. The picture you posted is lovely, I'd rather look at that than magnolia any day.