Tenant making changes without landlords permission?

[MountainDew]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? OR

A friend of mine recently moved into an apartment and the walls have not been painted over the course of several different tennants, and they obviously could use a new coat of paint. My friend asked the landlord if she could hire professional painters at her cost to repaint the place. The landlord refused and offered no explanation. She was even going to let the landlord pick the color.

She has a 2 year lease with a $1000 deposit. Can she paint the walls even though the landlord has said no, IF she paints them exactly the color they are now? Could the landlord use that as a reason to terminate the lease early, or keep the full $1000 deposit? About her deposit on the lease it says the deposit will be refunded after the unit is inspected "and found to be in same condition (or better) as found".

I would say a new paint job for free in the same color would fall under the "or better" category, no? My thinking is that she should be able to paint the walls whatever color she wants, as long as she paints them back to the original color before leaving.

 

[Gail in Georgia]

What part of "no, you can't paint the walls" does your friend have difficulty understanding?

Gail

 

[BL]

The time to address issues such as this is during a walk through before signing a lease .

If one isn't satisfied with the paint , and is told no , you can-not paint ,then one has a choice to not rent the place.

 

[MountainDew]

Let me rephrase that. What are the legal consequences if she says F you to the landlord and paints the walls anyway?

1. Is that a reason to keep her deposit if the walls are the same color and in "better" condition than as found?

2. Is that a reason to terminate her lease early?

A simple yes or no will do. You guys are not the landlord here...

 

[pgl116]

what part of contract don't we understand? you violate the terms of the lease and see ya as far as the security deposit that's a different story

 

[MountainDew]

what part of contract don't we understand? you violate the terms of the lease and see ya as far as the security deposit that's a different story

It says nowhere in her contract that she cannot paint, and even if it did I don't think that's a strong enough reason to evict someone. We're not talking about ripping out load bearing walls or painting the entire thing bright pink. It specifically says the deposit will be refunded if the unit is found in "better" condition.

I'm not asking peoples opinions here. Just the facts, please.

I would think that if the landlord found new paint that is "unauthorized", then the most the LL could do is require new paint in the original color, am I wrong? Is a landlord legally allowed to evict somebody over indoor wall paint?

 

[MountainDew]

How about a real life example:

Landlord comes in one day and finds the walls painted, in better condition than they were previously. LL freaks out and says "oh my god tenant, you painted the walls the same color they were before! Get out of my apartment!"

Is that a good enough reason to evict a residential tenant with a lease?

 

[Gail in Georgia]

Yes. The landlord can certainly begin the eviction process over this matter. Whether they would do so we cannot tell you.

Gail

 

[Andy0192]

It says nowhere in her contract that she cannot paint, and even if it did I don't think that's a strong enough reason to evict someone. We're not talking about ripping out load bearing walls or painting the entire thing bright pink. It specifically says the deposit will be refunded if the unit is found in "better" condition.

I'm not asking peoples opinions here. Just the facts, please.

I would think that if the landlord found new paint that is "unauthorized", then the most the LL could do is require new paint in the original color, am I wrong? Is a landlord legally allowed to evict somebody over indoor wall paint?

Yet, when presented with facts, you attempt to counter with opinion & speculation.

The landlord already said "no", the lease doesn't specifically allow it, and the tenant took possession of the apartment in a condition acceptable to them at that time.

 

[MountainDew]

Yet, when presented with facts, you attempt to counter with opinion & speculation.

I'm allowed to speculate and offer my opinion all I want. This is my thread. Like I said I only want people replying with facts, not useless, unhelpful rants.

 

[BL]

I'm allowed to speculate and offer my opinion all I want. This is my thread. Like I said I only want people replying with facts, not useless, unhelpful rants.

It may be your thread ,but sorry to inform you this is free legal advice.

Your thread can also be locked when it has no more value to continue.

You can not dictate to the member volunteers how they reply .

 

[csi7]

The tenant asked the LL the question.
I would take pictures prior to painting, then take pictures after painting, and before leaving, paint to neutral color if needed.

 

[Andy0192]

I'm allowed to speculate and offer my opinion all I want. This is my thread. Like I said I only want people replying with facts, not useless, unhelpful rants.

Fine - here's some useless, unhelpful speculation that will give you some homework & keep you occupied.

Search what can happen to a landlord who allows work to be done by a 3rd party that he's not directly paying for. Like when your tenant friend doesn't pay for the work in full, on time, for whatever reason.

Then, search for what happens if the work is not done properly, or the "professional" painter doesn't have full insurance and a worker falls off a ladder or is otherwise injured on the job.

For one last project, search what will happen if your friend decides they want to paint the apartment in their own "designer colors" - with the intention to re-paint when the friend moves out.... but for whatever reason, they move out mid-lease & stick the landlord with an off-the-wall color that requires a total repaint.

This landlord isn't stupid. There's much to lose, and very little to gain.

 

[Hot Topic]

And you're so adamant and stirred up about the situation because there's no "friend."

 

[pgl116]

I'm allowed to speculate and offer my opinion all I want. This is my thread. Like I said I only want people replying with facts, not useless, unhelpful rants.

Correct this is your thread....on a public forum, and you can speculate and offer your opinion all you want but "Quite frankly my dear I don't give a damn"