When renting out a property, using neutral colors on the walls is usually advisable. Sticking to common, universally liked colors helps make the rental property appeal to a broad prospective tenant pool.
That said, neutral colors can be less appealing to some tenants. Some tenants may find these colors boring and want to redecorate their living space to be more visually interesting. For this reason, the tenant may request that you allow them to repaint some walls or rooms.
Before you can make the decision to approve or deny this request, here are the pros and cons of allowing tenants to paint their rented premises.
Pros of Allowing Tenants to Paint their Rented Premises
Longer Tenancies
Everyone enjoys living in a property where they feel happy and comfortable. When you allow tenants to personalize their space, they will feel more at home and rent longer.
Longer tenancies can mean keeping more of your profits. You’ll save on the costs of preparing the unit and marketing it to new tenants when you keep tenants for the long term.
Shorter Vacancies
Vacant rentals are profit killers! Every day that your property sits vacant will mean more expenses for you.
To maximize on leads, you could make your rental ad exciting to prospective tenants by letting them know they can repaint their home. This can help you attract a large prospective tenant pool.
Higher Income
Allowing tenants to repaint their rented premises can have its benefits for both parties. The tenant can enjoy living in a personalized home while you benefit from being able to up your rent prices.
This is because few landlords allow tenants to enjoy the privilege of repainting their homes. By allowing tenants to do so, you’ll be standing out from the competition.
Cons of Allowing Tenants to Paint their Rented Premises
The following are the reasons why you shouldn’t allow tenants to paint their rented premises.
Bad Paint Jobs
If allowed to paint their own walls, the tenant may lack the experience to do a proper paint job. They may not know, for instance, what goes into preparing the walls, applying paint evenly, or achieving quality finish.
Repainting
Eventually the tenant will have to move out. It could be due to a lifestyle change or expiry of their lease; the reasons could be many and varied. If your tenant’s color choice is too unconventional, you may have to spend the time and money to repaint it in order to market effectively.
Property Damage Risk
If the tenant fails to follow proper painting techniques or uses low quality materials, property damage can occur. Walls, ceiling, floor, and even the fixtures may end up being damaged by rogue paint.
Should You Allow Tenants to Paint Their Rented Premises?
Now, after considering both the pros and cons, should you allow it? The following are important considerations you should examine before making the decision.
Not Allowing Paint
As a landlord, you reserve the right to either allow a tenant to paint or not paint their rented premises. After all, the property is yours, so it’s your choice to make.
After receiving the request from the tenant, don’t be immediately dismissive, as a quick rejection can damage your relationship. Be kind and friendly and explain your reasons clearly. You can also specify the restriction in the lease that prohibits tenants from painting.
But if possible, offer the tenant a compromise. You could, for example, suggest that the tenant use a removable wallpaper.
Allowing Paint
Alternatively, you can allow your tenants to paint their walls. However, make sure that the tenant agrees to certain conditions first before going ahead with the paint makeover.
- Let them seek your permission when it comes to choice of colors, type of paint, and the areas to paint.
- Require the tenant to use high-quality paint. You could even go ahead and suggest to the tenant the specific type of paint they must use. This will ensure top-notch results.
- Require them to hire professional painting services.
- Require the tenant to restore the original paint color before moving out.
- Require the tenant to pay for any damages that can result from the painting. As already aforementioned, repainting the unit can result in damage to the fixtures, walls, ceilings, or floors.
Ideally, have these requirements in writing by including an addendum to the lease. This will ensure the tenant is legally accountable to the rules therein.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, you get to set the rules as a landlord. If you choose to allow the tenant to do so, make sure to protect yourself against any possible liabilities that can arise. But if you choose to disallow the request, then make sure the tenant knows that it’d be a lease violation to do so.
For expert help in any property management aspect, look no further than Five Star Property Management. We deliver superior full-service property management services to investment property owners in Pocatello and Chubbuck. Get in touch to learn more!