A painting blog, 
where you will not only find the colourful side of the trade.

Tenant vs Landlord

Over the past few years I have received many calls from tenants looking for a painter because the landlord would only return the deposit if the property was tidy, clean and ready for the next tenant to move in as soon as possible.  While talking, I ask them to send pictures to whatsapp or viber, or maybe to my email, to see what needs to be done. In most cases, pictures that are stuck to the wall cause damage by peeling off layers of paint. Or the holes that have been drilled need to be filled. This must be plastered, sanded and painted twice. The walls around the bed also get dirty, or behind the desk, where we spend most of our time. In many cases, the lack of cleaning is also the reason for painting, as scrubbable wall paints can withstand cleaning, but only with care. If the tenant has a child or children, they often express their creativity on the wall (I know because I have children), which is usually crayons, pencils, markers. Sometimes they end up with food on the wall. You might think that I am exaggerating, but  remember one couple had a fight and threw eggs at each other, but they ended up on the walls. And guess who had to clean up their mess? Sometimes it’s the smell or damage caused by pets that makes painting necessary.

In any case, I don’t really like this situation because I don’t know what the relationship is between the tenant and the owner, so I usually ask for the owner’s number to get his consent to do the work. If the renter insists on paying for the entire painting and does not need the owner’s permission, he will confirm his intention in a signed document after receiving an itemised quotation. If this does not happen, then the work will not start and the project will be a non-starter for me. Often the tenant will mis-measure the areas to be painted, so I usually recommend an on-site survey, which costs 10,000 ft.

This includes petrol, parking, travel and my time after the survey, the written quote and the time spent.  We will discuss what is planned and budgeted. The aim, of course, is for the tenant to get their deposit back in the end. I have an easy job if the walls (possibly the ceiling) need to be painted white, but if the walls and ceiling are coloured, then a problem starts. I usually ask to find out the colour code or fancy name for the paint if possible.


However, even this doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get the same colour, so even if you have to touch up a few areas, it’s best to paint the whole wall from corner to corner, from floor to ceiling. This way you will need a lot more paint (I told you) and the cost of the work will be higher. If wallpaper needs to be repaired, it can only be repaired and pasted up to a certain point.  If mould has appeared, there is a solution to make it disappear, but using the right materials is essential.
Once we have agreed the details, I will procure the materials, start the painting at the agreed time and finally issue an invoice for the painting. In conclusion, if you find yourself in a similar situation, don’t leave it until the last minute, because in many cases you won’t be able to find a painter to do the job.

Is it time? Call me!

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