End of tenancy redecoration, priced against the inventory
The question at the end of a tenancy is rarely whether to redecorate. It is which rooms genuinely need it, and which marks belong to the tenant rather than to the passage of time.
Scheduling
Assessed once the check-out report exists, so scope is argued from the inventory rather than from memory.
Evidence
A written room-by-room note separating what we would call ordinary wear from what looks like damage, which is useful supporting material if a deposit deduction is later disputed.
Rolling instructions
Landlords who keep a colour and finish record with us spend less at each subsequent check-out, because more of the property can be touched in rather than repainted.
What the work covers
- Room-by-room assessment against the check-in inventory photographs
- Targeted touch-in where the existing scheme is sound and matched
- Full repaint only in rooms that will not read evenly after touch-in
- Nicotine, cooking grease and candle-soot sealing before repainting
- Picture-hook and fixing repairs made good to match the surrounding wall
Wear and tear is not a decorating decision alone
We can tell you what caused a mark and what it takes to put right. What can be charged to a deposit is a matter for the tenancy agreement and, if it is disputed, the deposit protection scheme holding the money. We describe the condition accurately and leave the adjudication where it belongs.
Touch-in first, repaint where touch-in will show
A two-year tenancy in a well-kept flat often needs hallway and kitchen attention and very little else. We walk the property with the check-out report and mark up what genuinely needs a full coat, which is usually fewer rooms than a blanket quote assumes.
- Hall, stairs and landing: heaviest traffic, usually first to need a coat
- Kitchen: grease film above the hob and around handles
- Bathroom: moisture bloom and sealant staining
- Bedrooms: often touch-in only after a short tenancy
Getting the property ready for the next inventory
Check-in clerks photograph everything. Consistent sheen, clean cut lines at the ceiling and skirting, and no paint on ironmongery all reduce the number of notes on the report, which reduces the number of conversations later.
Finishes we specify for this work
Batch-matched to the landlord's recorded scheme wherever one exists, so a touched-in wall does not flash under daylight and force an unnecessary full-wall repaint.
Questions landlords and agents ask
Can you tell me what is fair wear and tear?
We can describe the condition and its likely cause in writing. Whether a deduction is allowable is set by the tenancy agreement and, in dispute, by the deposit protection scheme.
Do you have to repaint the whole room?
Not usually. If the scheme is recorded and the finish matches, we touch in and only repaint the walls that would otherwise read patchy.
Will you work from the check-out report?
Yes. We prefer to walk the property with it so scope reflects the report rather than a general impression.
How soon after check-out should we book?
As soon as the report is signed off. Waiting is what turns a tidy three-day job into a rushed one.
Can you match a colour nobody recorded?
We can match on site from a sound area of existing paint, and then record the reference so the next tenancy is straightforward.
Do you remove tenant-applied colours?
Yes, strong colours are dealt with properly with an obliterating system rather than three hopeful coats of white.
Send the check-out report and we will mark up what actually needs redecorating.
Planning a commercial painting or decorating project?
Speak to a Hampshire commercial decorating contractor that turns up, communicates clearly and delivers a finish that lasts.