Unless a tenant is there very long term and has already been there for multiple years, most LLs would not entertain this as an idea.
It is up to LLs to maintain property. Between tenancies is the usual time for updates. At that point, the potential tenant takes the property as seen. If there is anything they are not happy with/want changed, they say BEFORE signing and LL either agrees to make changes or doesn’t. On that basis, the tenancy goes ahead or doesn’t.
LLs shouldn’t be re-letting with a shabby bathroom. However, if the price reflects this and the tenant accepts the condition, then this could be okay. It is unusual for tenants to agree to do work ahead of tenancy but this could be possible as part of reduced rent.
As a LL, I certainly would ensure any work was done ahead of a new tenancy. I would not want a tenant engaging in works. There is a lack of communication tool over quality and it muddies the waters. A LL always needs the option to give legal notice and although a tenant having done work wouldn’t interfere with that, it could confuse the situation…..especially for a LL like OP who doesn’t sound entirely clear about usual LL behaviour.
So as a LL I would do all work ahead of new tenancy. If a tenant then ended up staying multiple years, I would look to do any necessary work after perhaps 3-5 years, as that’s the timescale you’d be looking at decorating or changing carpets anyway. I would ask them if they wanted the work done, as there could be some disruption. As existing tenants, the work would benefit them and I wouldn’t expect to give discounts on rent if the work was purely optional for them to choose or turn down, and the work was brief and not vital. If they didn’t want the work done, they could say ‘no’. In that case, I’d wait until tenancy change, which is best anyway, but as a courtesy, I’d offer Ling term tenants decoration or carpets, or something else needed. I would t expect to be fitting new bathrooms or kitchens until tenancy change, unless a tenancy turned into extremely long term…..but then I’d also have expected all of these to be decent before the tenant started. So no-one should find themselves living with a shabby bathroom if it was decent and newish when taken over, unless they are there for many multiple years.
So personally, I’d say ‘no’ to the request, but I’d also not find myself there becaue Id have done the work previously.
It’s important to do Landlording right. This means you do the work upfront and pay for it. It’s your responsibility. When this happens, requests by tenants to do work, which are tricky and mean you lose control and can face a crap job, either don’t happen as the requests aren’t needed, or are easily turned down, because decent quality has already been provided.
I would be happy to let tenants do basic painting/decoration using neutral colours if they had been in the property for a year and were extending the tenancy. This is always on the basis that any damage is made good, and any poor quality workmanship is made good at their expense. I don’t allow it in the first year as too often, a poor job is done and this then in reality involves cost to me in righting it….and that’s okay if a tenant has been there a couple of years, but not if it turns out to be just 6 months. I’m willing to bear an element if cost here for a longer term tenant and because I understand people like to personalise their homes. The trouble that people often miss with this, is that it often involves further time and expense for the Landlord in terms of righting poor work, before the next tenant appears. The tent as often say they will right any damage or pay for it, but the reality of getting this is quite difficult. That’s why many LLs simply refuse. Most will refuse those in the early stage of a tenancy…after all…who knows how new tenants will turn out and if they will stay around, or turn into troublesome tenants. Tenants doing work frequently involves costs for LLs so it’s understandable that until tenants are a known quantity, it is refused and larger jobs not allowed, but something the LL arranges and indeed pays for.