Are my tenants too good to be true?

Go for it, but make sure that you have written agreement that they will reinstate it if necessary at the end of the tenancy. I got caught out by tenants who put a frieze up for their baby boy and left it there. Slight problem when the next tenant had an eight year old girl!

I have tenants like this - they are a great benefit and not too good to be true. When tenants show this kind of interest they are obviously in it for the long term and need to be treated with respect i.e. suggest you keep the rent at the current level - as quite simply they are maintaining and improving your property at the same time! plus you are unlikely to have to spend on tenant changeover - i.e. your property could be empty for a couple of months and you incur added cost for a finders fee! So treat them as gold standard! As regards changes make sure they are in keeping i.e. not painting a feature red wall - which is a nightmare to paint over! Always ensure that tenants refer to you before making any changes to decor! maintain a good relationship it works.

It partly depends how good the current decorating is, if you would need to redecorate when the leave the risk is a lot lower of letting them do it.

If they want any thing other then light colours, tell them you to use easy peel wallpaper. You also have to cover yourself if they get paint on the carpets or electrical fittings.

Hi
We have tenants like that also. A real pleasure and we hope they stay for many years!

This has brought up one slight concern at the back of my mind.
If they injure themselves carrying out the work would our buildings insurance cover them ok for public liability?

i always allow this and offer to pay for the materials on receipt of invoices, providing:
1) they use dust sheets
2) they confirm the colour/s and they are acceptable
3) they use making tape as otherwise every other surface will also be painted
4) you have confidence that they know what they are doing (depends on quality of existing decs).

Thanks everyone, that's so reassuring and really good advise too. I couldn't really think of a reason why not myself but its great to have your positive thoughts to make my mind up.

We only allow tenants to be decorate after they've been with us for 1 year, then we take each case on it's own merit . Firstly have they always been good rent payers and secondly what condition they keep the property in, if both answers are good we usually say yes, but we do ask them to show us what colours they plan on using.
Like other people have said, if they want to make it homely they generally plan on staying (it's people that want to paint it black the day they move in that are the problem). If they want to change carpets we usually ask them to lay the new one over the old incase they want to take it with them when they leave. If you feel the carpets could do with upgrading and they ask to change them you may want to consider paying, could keep them there another 5 years. Sounds like you have great tenants 🙂

Yeah its a great idea but as a solicitor would say 'but what if?'
What if their standard of painting is similar to a 10 year old child?
What if their view of a straight edge is that of a shaky old timer?
What if their idea of colours is not neutral?
What if there is an accident and they spill a tin of paint on the carpet?

Then who pays to correct the problem? A letter of understanding, jointly signed, will help in the end of lease arbitration .... perhaps.

Yep, if you have all the answers to the things that can go wrong, then go for it.

Reply to the comment left by "Jill Lucas" at "05/08/2014 - 11:41":

They sound like committed, good tenants, but remember their taste may not match yours. I would let them decorate, but add an addendum to your tenancy agreement - that the property must be brought back to the original standard on vacating the property - ie magnolia throughout!
This therefore allows for a highly stylish magenta and chocolate brown colour scheme whilst they are there, on the understanding that it either be re-painted or they forego their deposit.