Do you allow tenant to paint their rooms

[Sam Leon]

A tenant applicant asked if she could repaint the rooms in the color of her choice.

She doesn't know the color of her choice yet.

How do you all handle that?

I don't know how handy she is. The current paint was done and I took trouble to move out stove, fridge...removed electrical cover plates, AC vent covers, to paint the back wall and around. I removed closet doors so I can paint the walls and gaps you couldn't otherwise reach.

I don't know is she's going to end up painting 90% and doing a lousy job of it and I end up having to reverse it.

and I don't know if she may paint them purple or dark brown.

Would you allow your tenant to repaint? Any advice?

[Jon K.]

NO WAY.

You'll end up with neon, black, or tacky colored walls.

Paint will get on the crown molding and floors.

Then you're stuck repainting it for the next tenant.

If they paint it without approval, that's damage from security deposit.

I strictly forbid painting of walls, cabinets, ceilings, etc. several times in my lease.

They're not going to be nearly as careful as you are when they paint.

Now, if it's an old house that needs new paint anyway, I might let them choose the color and they pay a professional (that you choose) to repaint it a neutral color.