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Original poster

Question for those of you who privately rent your home.........

31 replies

busybusybee · 03/05/2006 22:32

I am seeking to rent privately as I have been told I basically have no hope of getting a council place

Q - Assuming your home is unfurnished are you allowed to decorate it or has the landlord done that already???

I am very confused atm!

OP posts:
Linnet · 03/05/2006 22:38

I used to rent privately. In my first flat I wasn't allowed to decorate it.
In my second flat the landlord decorated the living room and the hall before we moved in, and we asked if we could decorate one of the bedrooms, for our dd and she said that was ok.

I think it depends on what your tenancy agreement says.

ladymuck · 03/05/2006 22:41

Have either not been able to decorate, or have had to restore original (always magnolia) decor by end of tenancy.

fairyfly · 03/05/2006 22:42

Not allowed, but have.

Original poster
busybusybee · 03/05/2006 22:43

Of course! I hadnt thought of that - the tennacy agreement!

So far the places I have seen on the web are either immaculately decorated and furnished - one with white sofas - not practical :o

another fully refurbished and decorated throughout - not sure Id be too popular if I started painting the kids bedrooms etc

OP posts:
Original poster
busybusybee · 03/05/2006 22:45

Aha - that is something else I hadnt thought of, restoring everywhere to magnolia on leaving!

Not much fun though......

OP posts:
7up · 03/05/2006 22:47

i dont understand half my tenancy agreement!my landlady is a friend of a friend and said as long as its not too outrageous (black walls with purple spots sort of thing) then i can decorate. i have just had to pay out over £100 for an aerial which i wondered if she should have paid as itl stay here . well thats a lie, my father paidSmile

Miaou · 03/05/2006 22:51

We have a standard tenancy agreement, which included things like no pets, but our landlords were happy for us to not only bring our cats but also install a cat-flap - they got the solicitors to take out the no pets clause for us! We have also been told we can do what we like decor-wise and put shelves up etc, but we have very easy-going landlords (as long as the rent is paid Wink)

Original poster
busybusybee · 03/05/2006 22:51

Another thought - 7up you got me thinking!

Maybe it makes a difference on the personality type of the landlord :o

ie if they are ultra keen and organised then the place will be newly refurbished and decorated

But if the place is a bit dodgy and rent cheaper maybe they would be glad of someone spending time decorating it a bit!!!!!!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
busybusybee · 03/05/2006 22:52

Miaou - I need a landlord like yours :)

OP posts:
Miaou · 03/05/2006 22:59

She's lovely busybee - we're very lucky. (She is also the postie though so she makes daily visits to the house so we have to be on our best behaviour (probably no bad thing Wink)

MrsSchadenfreude · 04/05/2006 07:41

Mmmm, I rent out a flat and wouldn't be too keen on the tenants redecorating. Wouldn't expect them to touch up the paint before they left either (unless it's been seriously damaged) - we would just get the flat redecorated if we felt it needed it (and surely "fair wear and tear" allows for it getting a bit grubby over time? Would not object to "Stikarounds" or something similar for a child's bedroom.

We also seem to end up paying for everything that the tenants break, from the shower door to the catch on the washing machine, which does irritate me a bit.

tjacksonpfc · 04/05/2006 08:50

we rent privatly through and agency and our agency told us that basically we cant do anything in the house and that the landlord was in iraq in the army. the other sunday there was aknock at the door and it was the landlord coming round to exchange some step ladders before he moved with the army to catterick he told us that we can do what we want as long as it improves the place eg sort trhe garden out and as long as the paint wasnt to hideous and he would write to the agency to tell them we had his permission. so i definatly think it depends on the landlord and agencys are more hassle than they are worth.

hannahsaunt · 04/05/2006 10:19

I guess it partly depends on why your landlord is renting in the first place. Is it an investment property with a turnover of tenants in which case they would either not mind decorating within reason/not allow to ensure ongoing appeal to a wide market or (like us) renting out whilst overseas and it's still the family home. I would be furious if our tenants redecorated (esp as lease forbids).

Original poster
busybusybee · 04/05/2006 13:18

Thanks for the replies everybody - Its helping to get my head round the idea of renting privately

I assumed (foolishly) that I could get a council place. Therefore I was thinking I would probably have to pretty much redecorate the whole house. I was quite looking forward to painting dds room

Not decorating is one less hassle though I suppose :o

MrsSchadenfreude - stickarounds is a good idea I will ask perspective landlords about those! Especially as Ive got some for dd already waiting!

OP posts:
charliecat · 04/05/2006 13:20

why are you having to move into private accomodation? Why are you not eligible for council housing?

doobydoo · 04/05/2006 13:26

Landlords do varySmile.We have had good and bad.There are definitely ones who want to take the money but do not want responsibility for replacing stuff etc and don't know what normal wear and tear means and forget that you are paying them,they are getting the money and itsyour home while you are there and take your depositetc.But most of them are okGrin and you need to ask if you can do stuff before you commit yourself to moving in

Original poster
busybusybee · 04/05/2006 14:02

CC - I am eligible for council housing and I am more than happy to move into one asap

The trouble is I have been told by the lady who has my application form on her desk that in this area the waiting list is mega long. Apperently the areas I have listed are 'desirable' She said I would have to wait over 6 months for somewhere in those areas - which I know isnt terribly long but my current situation is fairly untennable.

I would get somewhere quicker if I didnt care which area they put me in - But trouble is I do care!!!!!

OP posts:
charliecat · 04/05/2006 14:08

Yep, you could always tick the other areas box and see what comes up. It wont do any harm would it? If your going to rent privately anyway..

Original poster
busybusybee · 04/05/2006 14:24

Trouble is it doesnt quite work like that - If only it were so easy :o

There is a list of about 50 possible areas to choose from! You list your preferences about 10.

It is impossible to know which areas are less desirable
Its a rural area - mainly. So most of the areas are ruled out for me cos I dont drive. Plus we also need to be withing walking distance of a school that uses welsh almost all the time.

And the woman I spoke to said it basically didnt matter what area I put down I havent got a hope
:(

OP posts:
charliecat · 04/05/2006 14:25

:( Nightmare :(

Original poster
busybusybee · 04/05/2006 14:32

I know cc - I have got a hope if I can wait six months to a year. Which I would do If I could. But dh wants out of our marriage, home and current employment NOW! We live in a rural area now so without him to drive ds to school and drive me about to the shops etc Im stuffed basically. It isnt possible to live in a rural location and not drive. It really isnt.

H isnt prepared to wait around forever. He has said he wont move until I am settled somewhere but he isnt prepared to wait six months while council sort me out with somewhere to live.

OP posts:
Original poster
busybusybee · 04/05/2006 14:36

Of course I could register myself homeless (current landlords have offered to give me an eviction notice if it would help :o They are nice and are trying to help!) but then in all likelyhood council will stick me in emergency b&b or crummy flat somewhere. - sounds dreadful but I really cant bear that. And I would have the hassle of moving again. We only moved here ago so I havent forgotten how much hassle moving is!

OP posts:
Tortington · 04/05/2006 14:51

a lot depends on why you are moing - you said your husnamd want out - yeah well - tell him to fuck off then. let him rent somewhere.

Tortington · 04/05/2006 14:51

let him go in a B&B

jamsam · 04/05/2006 20:23

busy...hows it going??
sorry about earlier..battery died..

i was thinking maybe you could look at some of the online letting sites..i found a house in the village on that, but they didnt want me, alas!!!!