Tenant Keeps Painting Interior Unit - Warned to Get Permission

[Anne Taylor]

My tenant emailed me that she is in-process with painting the kitchen of her unit. I emailed her a month ago to not paint any other rooms beyond the bathroom without advance discussion. At move-in 1.5 years ago, this tenant requested to paint the unit and indicated having professional experience with her mother. She is in early 20's so her hands-on experience would probably be rather limited.

In March 2020, the tenant emailed that she had started painting the bathroom and emailed a link to the color she had chosen. I responded that I was happy to pay her supplies costs and negotiate labor costs. However, I warned that since I live out of state and could not view results in near-term, she would assume some liability if I did not find the quality or color schemes to be viable after her lease term ends.       

This morning, she emailed again that she was in-process with painting the kitchen and emailed 2 links to proposed colors for her next paint project, the bedrooms. This is a young woman of apparent modest economic means (she disclosed reduced hours under CV-19 lockdown & I have already reduced her last rent by 75%). Realistically, the odds of recovering any fees for correcting a poor paint job with a professional would be slim. She is already in-process, so shutting her down now may increase bad-will and lack of care for unit over her remaining 9 mos. lease term.

· How likely is it that interior painting by amateurs turns out well enough to appeal to future tenants?

· How do I determine how much to pay her, especially sight-unseen until I arrive on-site 2 months away.

· Should I stop the painting now with threat of a lease terms breach or be grateful for lower cost paint job?

[Patricia Steiner]

You've unleashed a beast...please put the leash back on!  Here's my recommendation:

1.  Advise the tenant that you will not be subsidizing any painting of the unit and you will not be authorizing any additional painting.  

2.  Advise that she is not authorized to paint your property and that she is risking her security deposit by doing so.  She is also in violation of her lease that clearly states that she has to have your permission BEFORE starting any project and you have no interest in cosmetically altering the property at this time.

Between HGTV, Instagram, and every online home website, you can't unleash the "inner decorating warrior" in a tenant ever - for it will surely result in several coats of paint (and a hefty dose of resentment) to undo all things warrior.  

May the force be with you...