Inheriting a tenant with a bad attitude

[Ashley Shearer]

My husband and I just had an offer accepted on a multi-unit (our first investment ever!). If all goes well, we'll be occupying one side, and the owner JUST got new tenants in a week ago, so we'll be inheriting them. We haven't' seen the lease yet.  While walking through the property, we did meet the new tenants (middle-aged couple and daughter ~15 years old). One of the first thing the man says is, "Now I know it's not completely settled yet, but I have to ask, are we going to be able to paint? Because there are lots of places that need it. I don't care if it's the same color, I'll even do it myself, but I'm picky and some of these walls really need it." 

Now it wasn't rude, but it wasn't nice. I'll say, it felt a TAD bit demanding actually. I really didn't like it. I assume, when he rented from the current owner he was accepting the rental as-is. If we settle on the house, we weren't expecting to do much to the other side until the tenants moved out (with the exception of necessary repairs). We want to "put our foot down" early, but we also want to have a good relationship with our tenants and not start off negatively.

We definitely don't want them to paint, but should we offer to paint? Should we just shut them down and say no way? We are planning on occupying for 1 year, maybe when we move out and paint our side, we'll suggest we can paint theirs too? 

Landlords - do you do any unnecessary updates during tenancy if your tenants request it? Or if say, the carpet starts really wearing down, even though your tenants don't plan to leave?  Thanks in advance!

[Jill F.]

You know, we've looked at a lot of units and even on a first tour the tenants will tell you all about any problems with the unit. A huge number say their unit needs paint and flooring. 

I do not let tenants paint. Painting is harder than they think. If they don't have experience they'll make a mess and do it poorly. (There will be splatter all over the trim and flooring and the ceilings will need to be redone because the don't know how to edge). Since we look for properties where we can add value and then raise the rent, I tell inherited tenants they can get first shot at remodeled units but the rent is higher. I do not remodel units with a tenant in place--- you'll never hear the end of the whining about how the painters got drips on their heirloom furniture or the carpet layers scratched up the fine furniture. How the new carpet is outgassing and causing them asthma and the paint fumes are giving them migraines for months. Nope. I'm not going there.

They can purchase removable TemPaint wallpaper in any color or pattern they want. (I'll even offer to help them hang it). Or they can hire professional painters to paint the place with temporary colors of their choosing or permanent colors that I approve.