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Original poster

Paint rented property when leaving

23 replies

OnwardsandOver · 08/04/2023 10:38

Been in rented house for 5 years, LL selling house and we are fortunate to be able to purchase another property. When moving in place wasn't great, carpet frayed, cracks in walls, patio all uneven, very thin paint and someone had painted all door frames in a weird dark grey emulsion paint. I'm starting to feel overwhelmed with the work that needs doing and what we need to do. Walls have marks on them but if you wipe them over the paint just comes straight off, the weird emulsion stuff has all chipped off and looks bad (we stripped a lot of it back and repainted white with proper wood paint) the carpet has deffinatly seen better days and the whole house just needs a bit of a face lift. So what are we responsible for when we leave? Do we need to repaint as can't clean the walls, do we get carpet professionally cleaned, also as he is selling I feel bad for him as people viewing will probably be put off by how sorry the house looks for itself, and I feel responsible.

OP posts:

Original poster

OnwardsandOver · 08/04/2023 11:46

Anyone??

OP posts:

nicknamehelp · 08/04/2023 11:47

Just leave it as clean and rubbish free as you can. Up to landlord to paint.

ChateauMargaux · 08/04/2023 11:58

After 5 years and not newly painted when you arrived.. you have no obligation to do anything. Carpets were old when you arrived.

None of this is your responsibility.

Elieza · 08/04/2023 12:02

Have a look at your lease terms to se if there is anything in it that may help you decide how to proceed.

For example if it says you must allow landlord entry to paint every five years then he’s due to do it now.

We hired a Rug Doctor carpet cleaner from Asda. Book online. Convenient. Hired for two days and got mine, my pals and my mums houses done. Split cost between us.

Original poster

OnwardsandOver · 08/04/2023 12:06

It was freshly painted Ted when we move in, however problem we have is that of you wipe the walls it takes the paint right back, I've even tried magic sponges but even the lightest wipe takes the paint off the wall. MIL has a carpet cleaner so can borrow that.

OP posts:

FluffyHamster · 08/04/2023 12:12

As per previous poster - check your obligations in the tenancy agreement. It might say carpets need to be professionally cleaned or you need to provide a receipt for an end of tenacy clean. If not, then you just need to return it in the condition you moved in, minus reasonable wear and tear.
Unless you painted and have to 'return' it to a previous colour you shouldn't be painting anything!

Do you have an inventory with photos?

Is your LL reasonable? Could you ask to have a discussion about what's expected /feasible given the relatively poor state of the house?
I'm a LL and a few weeks before a tenant moves out I go round the house with them and point out things that will be charged for out of their deposit if they aren't addressed (usually dirty ovens/ washing machines etc and neglected garden).

With my last tenant we actually agreed to split the cost of the end of tenancy clean as she couldn't move out until the final day and wouldn't have time and I was keen to use someone I knew (but was a bit more expensive) as she always did a thorough and reliable job.

Anyone buying it will probably be planning to gut it after a rental anyway, so any repainting etc may be a waste of time!

CrotchetyQuaver · 08/04/2023 12:14

Just make sure everything is spotlessly clean.
There is a reasonable wear and tear clause. If you are concerned out the decor, maybe contact your landlord or managing agent now and get them to come out and see for themselves what the issues are?

Ilovetocrochet · 08/04/2023 12:24

We are just about to sell my mums house once the tenant leaves in two weeks. She has been there for two years and it was newly decorated when she moved in so we plan to put it on the market straight away without doing any work on it. We have told the tenant not to worry about normal wear and tear, just to leave it clean and tidy. In fact, she has asked if she can buy the white goods as her new rental does not have these and we have agreed to do this - apart from a new fridge freezer, the other items are all over 10 years old so we would be scrapping them.

Could you ask your landlord what they repairs etc want you to do, like us, he might not be too bothered. The estate agent has told us that the value of the house won’t be affected if it looks a bit tatty as most ex rental houses will be renovated and updated by the new owners before they move in - although mums house is good enough for someone to move in first and then do any improvements.

It’s a 3 bed semi in a very desirable suburb of South Manchester close to a tram station and houses are still selling very quickly - fingers crossed!

EstherHazy · 08/04/2023 15:17

Ex letting agent here (admittedly only a few months in the job, it was awful!)

It's really only things beyond 'normal wear and tear' that need attention. So if you went in with it brand new, you don't need to leave with it brand new - just 'brand new less normal living for five years'. Scuffs etc as part of a normal lifestyle are fine. You can 'make good' holes for picture nails etc without painting the whole walls - it won't be perfect but it is fine, and if they used a non-hard wearing paint that doesn't allow wiping, well the fall out from that lies with the landlord. Tbh any new owner's going to repaint anyway so don't over stress :)

Some lease agreements specify professional cleaning on exit. This is actually really useful - you'll probably spend far more hours than you think you will trying to deep clean on exit so it is worth the cost. You could ask your letting agency or landlord if they have a recommended end-of-tenancy cleaner. Go with that and you're basically fine because they'll be happy with the outcome.

ChateauMargaux · 08/04/2023 15:39

Normal wear and tear... unless you have repainted, you have hammered loads of nails in the wall or your kids have gone crazy with felt tips over the walls.. no painting required... even if newly painted when you moved in. 5 years is a reasonable amount of time for high traffic areas to need repainting.

Greenfairydust · 08/04/2023 16:08

I never understand that ''professionally cleaned'' rubbish.

The flat I am renting while my house purchase goes through was certainly not ''professionally cleaned'' when I moved in.

So I will clean it up myself when I move out.

I never quite understand what another cleaner could do for a one bed flat that I can't do myself...

CornishTiger · 08/04/2023 16:12

You need to leave it clean and free of your items. That is it.

If there is a clause about carpets being cleaned possibly that too.

However that is it.

TheInterceptor · 08/04/2023 16:21

I would paint it. The only ever time I ever got my entire deposit back was when we painted all the interior.

DumpedByText · 08/04/2023 16:31

I moved out of a rental after 5 years, I had to have the carpets cleaned as I had a cat, cost me £120. I didn't paint though, I left it spotless but the landlord has to expect some wear and tear after 5 years!

FluffyHamster · 08/04/2023 17:05

Greenfairydust · 08/04/2023 16:08

I never understand that ''professionally cleaned'' rubbish.

The flat I am renting while my house purchase goes through was certainly not ''professionally cleaned'' when I moved in.

So I will clean it up myself when I move out.

I never quite understand what another cleaner could do for a one bed flat that I can't do myself...

For a one-bed flat that may be true, but a professional end-of-tenancy clean will be much more thorough than most tenants could or will do. They often work in teams and bring professional cleaning equipment etc and they know the areas to especially check which a tenant will often overlook.

I used to think the same as you, but having seen the difference I now just accept that it's money well-spent and saves all the hassle of moving out stuff then having to come back to deep clean, just as you probably want to get stuck into a new place!

TheGander · 08/04/2023 21:01

A landlord can no longer insist on a professional clean at check out. It sounds like he used poor quality paint and that’s why it’s coming off when you clean. I’m a landlord and I’d advise to clean the bathroom and toilet and kitchen well. Ensure grouting is clean and there’s no mould around. Obviously hoover before leaving, he’ll want it presentable for viewings .Was there an inventory with photographs when you moved in?

Pemba · 09/04/2023 04:33

Sounds like he'd done a cheap decorating job just before you moved in. Not your responsibility to re-decorate, especially after 5 years.

We recently left a property after 3 years, it was already fairly shabby when we moved in. Landlord attempted to claim some money from the deposit for re-decorating, but the DPS adjudicated he wasn't entitled to anything and that in any case due to the length of the tenancy it would soon have been time for him to repaint anyway. And that was after a 3 year stay, so with your 5 years you should be fine.

Your landlord chose to have a shoddy paint job done, you have not caused damage, it's what they call fair wear and tear. Don't feel bad for him, goodness me.

Original poster

OnwardsandOver · 09/04/2023 06:49

Thank you everyone. He has been lovely in regards to selling the house and I think that's why I feel so bad, he said we can stay for as long as it takes to sell it, which means viewings whilst we are still living here. I always think of your selling the home you would do touch ups and whilst I will ensure the house is clean and presentable for any viewings, I really don't want to paint it all.

OP posts:

AxolotlOnions · 09/04/2023 07:30

Landlords are supposed to paint every 5-6 years so you just need to leave it clean and tidy.

good96 · 09/04/2023 12:36

I’m a landlord myself and after 5 years I would expect wear and tear on the property. Look back at the inventory if you still have it and if any major damage or alterations from that then you’ll have to replace but a worn carpet and walls is generally down to the landlord to sort once vacated. That said though, some would expect holes to be filled in if you’ve made any in the walls for curtain poles that weren’t in the property on entry as well as picture hooks.

good96 · 09/04/2023 12:39

To add - I would expect any rental property to be left clean and tidy too that includes all rubbish gone! - some that are rented through an letting agent mandate that this is a professional clean and receipt provided as proof.
I’m in the process of selling my rental property, the tenants leave in 4 weeks and I’ve told them that to leave the property clean and tidy. I will be re-painting it before it completes anyway.

CellophaneFlower · 09/04/2023 12:54

OnwardsandOver · 09/04/2023 06:49

Don't feel bad, I assume you're still paying rent? That's why he's happy for you to stay, he doesn't want it empty!

Pemba · 09/04/2023 13:24

Yes, exactly. He wants to have his cake and eat it! I hope the viewings are not inconveniencing you too much, OP? You have every right to limit them if it is too much. Say to one or two days a week.

Such a pain having to tidy each time. It's bad enough if you're selling your own property. You are the one doing him a favour. He didn't care about leaving you with painted walls and woodwork not fit for purpose for five years, did he?

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