New tenants want to paint

[Amie D.]

I saw another post on long term tenants that want to paint. I have tenants that just moved in a month and a half ago that want to paint. I'm kind of leery about it because

- They just moved in six weeks ago.
- The entire house has been professionally painted within the past six months. I was living there at the time, so a better quality paint was used mostly in Antique White w/white trim.
- The house has recently been remodeled with newer maple cabinets in the kitchen and refinished hardwood floors.

Is it a big negative to tenants if you don't allow them to paint? They wanted to move in a week early (without paying) and I already said No to that. I also just had the property managers give them a call to make sure they know they are supposed to take care of the lawn because the neighbor called me to let me know the yard hadn't been mowed at all. Guess they'd have time to paint but not mow the yard LOL.

So I just don't want to seem to "mean landlord" but at the same time want to have some standards.

I guess I would consider it in the master bedroom, which has a wood laminate floor, and I considered repainting anyway as the color is a very pale off-white but w/a slight purple undertone. The master bathroom is a sage color so that would be possible too as I'd eventually have it repainted in antique white (but not until whenever it next needed it).

The kitchen is pretty much a non-negotiable. I wouldn't want paint on the new cabinets or on the hardwood floor, it's open to the living room that has some crown moulding, etc, so I wouldn't care for that to be messed up either. I guess I've rehabbed 4 houses and have seen some horrible paint jobs.

As it doesn't need it at a minimum I wouldn't pay for it, and would want them to return it to antique white upon move out. Or would it be better to let them know they'd have to pay for a professional to repaint, as that was what was done before? Or they could repaint it back, but would be responsible for any damages from a bad paint job. (Or just say NO.)

Again I don't want to seem like a bad landlord but don't want the place messed up either. They had good references before moving in and were overall qualified tenants.