Landlord wants to redecorate

[schmalex]

We moved into a rented house just under a month ago. The landlord now wants to redecorate the entire ground floor. We're only planning to live here for 6 months while we buy our new house and renovate it. I am pregnant and at home with a toddler and really don't want decorators in.

Our tenancy agreement says we have to give access for 'necessary repairs, maintenance, alterations or redecoration'. But surely redecoration can't be 'necessary' one month after we've moved in. Can we refuse access for painting?

Sadly you can't refuse. You have agreed that they can do this . You could ask if they could do it some other time - but I expect that they are wanting to get the property ready for a longer term let or for holiday lettings maybe ?!

Of course you can refuse! It doesn't sound necessary, and would interfere with your quiet enjoyment of the property.

It doesn't really make sense to decorate when you still have 5 months left on your lease and you have a toddler anyway.

Add to that that you are pregnant - what safeguards does the LL plan to put in place to ensure that you aren't exposed to fumes?

Any properties we have let out, we have always done decorating between tenants - a bit of a pain, because you may only have 1 weekend to get the place done, but I wouldn't dream of expecting a tenant to put up with decoration. I can think of only one time when we needed to finish decorating the bathroom once the tenant moved in, but it had been made very clear before they signed the lease, and was completed in the first week.

I think it is reasonable to say that it is not convenient. Is the LL suggesting a reduction in rent for the period that the decorators are in?

That's exactly what I thought, contortionist".

Good point about fumes, Beryl. The property was empty for 2 weeks before we moved in, so I really don't know why they didn't do it then. No suggestion of reduction in rent, they are still at the quotation stage at the moment though. I will have a word! I'm sure it can wait.

We wouldn't dream of doing this. It is better to do it between tenants if it needs doing. Just go back and say politely that as you are home all day and only plan on staying 6 months could they possible wait. Remember you do not need to give access to the property.