To not put the house back to what it was?

[QuantumDog2]

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?

For them to deduct from deposit they have to show costs and invoices eg of paying decorator to repaint and that they actually did it. They can't charge for refresh or pain as it was due repainting anyway

If as you said new tenants who rent like the decor and don't want it painted back to neutral then
The guy that looked around this afternoon commented that he 'likes the decor'. Maybe he was just being nice. Either way, properties round here are in short supply. It will be gone in days if it hasn't already.

Then they will have no painting invoices with your property on, so you can dispute it that it wasn't an actual cost. So I'd ask to see invoices etc that they did the work as new tenants may ask that paint colours aren't changed. I'd be asking to keep the denim walls of I was renting as that looks lovely!

Well usually you are not allowed to decorate a rental .If you were told that yes you could redecorate ,with the clear understanding that it would be returned to a magnolia .Then YABU .The fact is magnolia is a cheap popular option that many people are not mad about ,but can live with .

So they just want you to paint it?

Paint it then or depending how much your deposit will be worth hire an odd job man to do it?