New tenants just moved in. The house is in good condition and recently repainted but they would like to change the color of the walls in some rooms and started mentioning the cost of paint… Should I offer to pay for the paint if they can decorate it properly (even though the house is in good condition but they don’t like magnolia?)
In my experience I would say that you do not permit any changes to the decoration until they’ve been in for a minimum of 6 months and then they can make a request in writing for authorisation. I learned this the hard way - I paid to have the whole house painted (white) and they wanted to change and add colour. If I didn’t know any better I’d swear they’d done it blindfolded. A combination of mustard yellow and battleship grey in EVERY room. They painted wooden doors in grey gloss. It was horrific and cost a fortune to repaint white after they moved out.
And definitely don’t give them money for paint!
Just my opinion from experience!
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I would say never let tenants redecorate themselves as youll have no comeback if the quality of their work is bad or the damage carpets or furniture.
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I wouldn’t pay for paint.
I’d consider letting them paint if they are clearly responsible and it is likely they will stay a long time. Tenants will generally stay longer and look after place better if you allow them to make it feel more like a home for them. I’ve allowed it for a few tenants and while results weren’t always of a high standard they were happy and stayed well beyond when a redecoration would have been due.
If there are potential issues with tenant l, ie affordability, behaviour or reasonable likelihood they would move within 3 years I’d decline.
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Just thought i would give the opinion of a reasonably new tenant (2 months) I personally wouldve mentioned it at the viewing or at least asked about the decorating policy , however if it is not mentioned in the TA I (again this is only my opinion) can see the lofic in getting it done sooner then later before you have to move stuff that we all accumulate over time however I would be happy (and expect) the following
1 Landlord to expect a detailed list if areas being painted/decorated and the colours
2 possibly a pre and post decorative inspection by the landlord
3 an agreement that whenever I vacate the property the decor is put back to a pre determi.ed standard and any costs incurred from LL having to is deducted from deposit
I would not expect the ll to pay anything towards the cost as again
1 I shouldve clarified at viewing
2 as you state it is decorated now its just personal choice that they dont like the colour
I do though belive tenants who are given the go ahead from ll to decorate etc are more likely to be happy tenants and long term tenants and more respectful to the property
Again this is only my opinion
Never pay for paint (unless the paint is in need of fixing!)
Are they going to stay for a long time? Possibly then. But you will make sure that it is to the same or higher standard than existing paint job and that they will reimburse any damage to carpet etc. Inspect before and after.
I must be unusual because if a tenant wants to make a house feel like their home I encourage it. I always ask for a written description of what they want to do including specification of colours etc. and make it clear the work must be done to a professional standard or I will treat it as damage to be recovered from the deposit. If the tenant has been there at least 6 months and two 90 day inspections have been passed with no problems I pay for the paint (not wallpaper). I have a tenant at the moment who wants to modernise the kitchen (which definitely does need to be modernised) and I am going to pay half the cost. Everything I do is based on the assumption that nothing is as costly as void periods, and nothing is as much work as selecting and vetting new tenants, so a few quid on paint or even half the cost of modernising a kitchen is a good investment if it means a happy tenant who stays for years and looks after the place because they feel they have a stake in it. Anyway I have a budget for repairs for each property which usually builds up into a pot to be spent when things need to be done, so any expenditure comes out of that pot. Anyone who thinks they can keep 100% of the rent they receive is going to come a cropper. At present I am budgeting £1,000 per annum per house for repairs.
Happy if they want to paint - - no cost to you though that is their decision - - and they have to restore to what it was before leaving otherwise cost to restore will be taken from their deposit 
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I once had prospective tenants for a viewing.
I had just finished having a professional decorator and cleaners in. The place looked immaculate.
The couple viewing asked if they, at their expense, could recarpet the whole house, repaint all the rooms, refit the kitchen and bathroom to make it ‘theirs’ (bathroom was recently updated), plus asked if they could take it in turns to pay me rent on a weekly basis!
Oh! Then they mentioned they had just taken on a pet dog, that day, although my house is a modern, one-bed place, with no real garden and I had stated no pets!
I declined them.
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The house was just repainted and they just moved in. Psychologically I suggest you refuse this. They are basically testing if they can get control over you by imposing their will. You agree to this, there will then be other requests. You need to be in charge here, not them.
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I agree with your sentiments.
However, the downside is their deposit would likely not cover the cost or the lost letting time required to reinstate the decor if the tenants don’t do it before leaving.
Risk verses reward is always a balancing act in such situations. Rarely has it come out in my favour though…!
My tenants offered to do the same if I paid for the paint- I agreed as I trust them. However they haven’t got around to it since (a year ago) they’ve been there for 3 years and are great tenants hence I’d allow it on that basis.
If asked I allow tenants to to decorate hiw it suits as long as the walls other than the feature wall remains the same colour usually white. Dark colours are a nightmare to cover should they move on. We have a 10 year tenant so obviously I would make an exception for them.
So they can decorate how they like as long as it suits your colours (white) seems a bit Henry Ford like to me
And then you say you will chamge this for a 10year tenant is there paint easier to cover or is thay just you suiting yourself
Obviously you dont realise what some tenants are like. Would you like to try covering dark blue or black. Obviously we can discuss it but at the end of the day the tenants we have live the properties they are in thats why they chose to rent it. When I said 10 years thats how long they have been in and never had a rent ibcrease. Problems solved quickly. So if your suggesting Im a selfish landlord you are deluded. If someone moves into a property and immediately asks to change the format then no that isnt goung to happen simply because we will have spent a lot of money to ensure it is immaculate. Once they have been in a year or so and both happy that leads to a discussion. Im not painting over awful colour walls for a 6 month tenant for anyone.
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Agree I had a tenant who painted the hallway black
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