It is recommended to repaint your rental property every 5 to 7 years, depending on the property’s condition and usage. Painting your rental property can make it look nicer and more appealing, which can attract more tenants and boost its market value. Plus, a new layer of paint acts as a shield against weather and daily damage, making it a smart way to maintain your property.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the most important factors to consider when it comes to painting your rental property in Australia.
Timeframes to Consider
As a simple guideline, you should consider repainting your rental property every 5 to 7 years. During this period, it’s likely that you’ll have had 7, 8, or even more different sets of tenants. If any of these tenants have caused damage, it’s important to discuss this with your real estate agent.
Requirements By Law
First and foremost, you should speak with your real estate professional. It’s ideal if you can document your request for fresh paint in writing because it provides your agent with a written record of a maintenance request for the property. They may raise the issue again with the landlord if the answer is a ‘no’ after they have done so once.
Australian law requires landlords to maintain and repair any damages on their property, and this includes maintaining paint jobs. So, if a tenant contacts their landlord in regards to repainting their rental property, the landlord must do so. If you do not paint your rental property, the tenant has the right to hire a professional painter of their choosing and pay for the labour up to the amount you specified in your tenancy agreement, and landlords will be obligated to reimburse their tenant once the painters have completed their work on the property.
Your obligations as a tenant
You must follow the rules outlined in your lease, which are:
- Keep the premises reasonably clean
- Inform your landlord of any damage/disrepair as soon as possible
- Ensure that the property is in a similar condition to how it was at the start of the tenancy
- Without the landlord’s written consent, you may not make any changes or additions to the premises, install or remove any fixtures, or carry out any renovations or improvements
Urgent Repairs
If your reasoning for requesting a fresh coat of paint is considered to be because of a fault or damage that is unsafe or a hazard to be around, then it can be considered to be an urgent repair. For example, if the walls of the property display mould or bacterial build-up, it could pose a serious health risk. This would be classified as a hazard and should be dealt with promptly by the landlord. This in comparison to the wear and tear rule, which is a measure used to indicate the appropriate time a landlord should repaint their property, works differently to urgent repairs.
Improve your Rental Property’s Value
Repainting your rental property is an effective way to enhance its value. A fresh coat of paint can transform the overall look of the property, making it more appealing to potential tenants. It gives the impression of a well-maintained, clean, and cared-for property. This aesthetic improvement can often justify a rental increase, boosting the property’s value. Moreover, repainting isn’t only about aesthetics. It serves a functional purpose as well. A new layer of paint acts as a shield, protecting the property against weather conditions and daily wear and tear. By reducing future repair costs, it contributes to maintaining the property’s value over the long term. So, repainting isn’t just an expense, but an investment that can significantly improve your rental property’s value.
Improving your Air Quality
The role of a property owner extends beyond just property management; it also includes upkeep and refurbishment requirements for the rented space. This includes maintaining the aesthetic appeal of the property, an integral part of which is the condition of the wall paint.
Certain areas within the property, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and window ledges, are particularly susceptible to moisture retention. This damp environment paves the way for mould growth on aging paint. Neglecting such mould accumulation can have a drastic impact on the health of the inhabitants due to the dissemination of mould spores in the air, which are easily inhalable.
The appropriate and recommended course of action in such situations is the immediate removal of the mould, followed by a fresh coat of high-quality paint. This not only enhances the property’s appeal but also significantly improves indoor air quality.
Hire a Professional
It is most recommended that a professional painter completes the paint job. Professional painters ensure that the fresh coat of paint will last for years and will endure any extreme weather conditions. A professional painter can get you a quality finish. Here at Dupaint, we use only the highest quality paints and have expert professionals who have a talent for ensuring high-quality paint jobs.
Make Sure the Company you Hire is Reliable
When you’re looking to hire a professional painter, make sure to do your research. Many unreliable companies will take your money and not deliver on their promises. Check reviews online and make sure the company is insured and licensed.
Conducting a repaint of your home is not as easy as other homeowners think, there are many details you may need to check, plan and decide before the house painting project. Paint design, texture, finish, and colours are some of the important things to think about. If you are a landlord and require repainting your property for future tenants, we can be of service to you. We work efficiently to make sure that we are in and out of your property in the quickest time possible. All of our work is also fully insured, so you can relax knowing that your property is in safe hands.
Alternatively, if you are a tenant searching to find a reputable painting company to refer to your landlord, we can help you there too. According to the standard residential tenancy agreement, keeping the property in a similar condition as it was before moving in is of utmost importance. This means you would ideally have to keep the colour scheme similar to the colours it has now. With our huge range of colours and paint finishes, we guarantee that we will find something to match your walls.
Dupaint for your Painting Needs
We recommend hiring a professional painter for your home paint job. Dupaint uses only the greatest quality paints and has skilled specialists that have a gift for ensuring high-quality paint jobs. When it comes to hiring a professional painter, do your homework. You want to make sure that you are hiring a reputable business for your painting needs. Check online reviews before signing up with them to make sure they’re insured and licensed. If everything else fails, give us a call! Especially if your home is dealing with any urgent repair matters such as mould. We have experience dealing with all types of painting jobs.
