Should I Allow Tenants to Paint My Rental Property?
If you have some experience in property management, one or two tenants have probably come up to your requesting to repaint the rental. To attract as many tenants as possible, you might have chosen to go with neutral colors. Often, rental property owners choose either white or gray and this works for most tenants. But you will find a tenant who wants to give the unit a bit more life.
So, how should you go about it? The team from Peak Residential has put together the following information that offers property owners various options should they find themselves in such a scenario!
Don’t Allow It
This is the first response that you can give your tenant. Even though the tenant is going to be the occupier, the rental unit is your asset and you reserve the right to choose how it is used. Preserving the current paint color might be in your best interests.
However, choosing to say ‘no’ might be the difference between a stable rental income and months of staring at a vacant unit. While you might be against the repainting of your unit, you can meet your tenant halfway and agree on removable wallpaper. Ideally, removable wallpaper should easily come off at the end of the lease without any damage to the décor or walls. Some removable wallpaper leaves unsightly marks on the walls so ask your tenant to purchase quality removable wallpaper.
Also remember to communicate your denial of their request to repaint the unit in a respectful and courteous manner so preserve your landlord-tenant relationship.
Allow it with Conditions
It’s very common for tenants to want to add some personal touches to their rental unit. This is especially true if they’re staying in the property long-term. If you really like your current tenants want them to stay long-term or find yourself in a difficult rental market, it could be in your best interest to allow tenants to repaint the space. However, you can set conditions in place.
One particular agreement that will work to your benefit is choosing the colors beforehand. After all, you wouldn’t want your space to be painted in a color that doesn’t agree with a majority of the tenant pool. So you can allow the tenant to repaint the space if it’s colors that you approve of. You can also ask restrict repairing project to certain rooms or walls in the rentals and require that the jobs be done by professionals.
Another condition you can set in place is charging a tenant ‘repainting fees’. The tenant would have to cover the cost of having the space repainted back to its original color prior to moving out. Before charging repainting fees, please consult with a professional on whether it is legal in your State.
Allow it Unconditionally
This is the most straightforward response that presents a win-win situation for both sides. However, there are some cons to agreeing to this. Just as pointed out above, the tenant might be a bit extreme in their color and style choices. While you might have said yes, it’s still best to have a sit down with the tenant and agree on the type and quality of paint.
It goes without saying that it should be a color that works for your property long term. Also, since you are considering this a investment, insist on the use of a professional painter who will do the job. You don’t want an unprofessional job that will decrease the demand and value of your property in the future.
Agreeing to your tenant’s request it also comes with a number of advantages. First and foremost, you will strengthen your landlord-tenant relationship and overall reputation. Additionally, a tenant who is looking to change the paint will probably stay in the rental for longer since very few landlords are willing to give them that concession.
General Considerations on Repainting
As the property owner, you will hear a number of reasons as to why the tenant wants the property repainted. They might say that they are dissatisfied with the current color, the paint is too faded, or the paint doesn’t match with their furniture. But before you say yes or no to their request, there are several issues to consider.
Choosing to become a landlord means that you have to be in compliance with county ordinances and state laws. Therefore, you must have a look at your state’s provisions for rental painting. For instance, there are some states that require property owners to repaint their unit after every five or seven years. If it’s time to repaint the unit anyways and the tenant is looking for a change, this could be an opportunity to settle on a color that you both like.
You might also find yourself in a situation whereby the tenant painted the property without your knowledge or go-ahead. This can be considered abuse or damage to the property. You have the right to deduct the cost of repainting from the tenant security deposit. Rely on the professional expertise of a property management company to advise you on how to go about such an issue.
Bottom Line
Choosing any of the above solutions comes with their own pros and cons. There is no absolute directive that informs your decision. As the property owner, you should use your experience and understanding of the property market to make the right decision.
However, should you feel overwhelmed by this and general management of your rental property, you can get in touch with the property management experts at Peak Residential. We are a leading service provider and can help you achieve your real estate investment goals. Get in touch with us today and receive a quote for our property management services!
