Can our landlord charge for painting, when we move?

Jenna

New member
We live in FL adn our landlord painted the apartment an odd color. We are willing to do touch up painting for the holes we made, but the landlord can't match their color. She is telling us that we have to paint the entire house or we will be charged for her to have it painted. Can she do that? The house color was her choice not ours, it was painted when we moved in.
 
If she brings a chip of paint from the wall to a real paint store a (not Home Depot, but a real paint store like Behr Paint, Jancovic Plaza or someplace like that) they should be able to match it.

You are responsible for turning the apartment over to your landlord in the same condition it was in when you moved in, so it might be worth it for you to get the paint matched yourself and fill in the holes. It will be much cheaper than being charged the supplies plus manpower it will take to paint the whole place.
 
Read your lease and then consult the Landlord Tenant Act for FL. I don't believe the LL can use the security deposit money for what is considered normal wear and tear. It is common practice for LL's to paint between tenants.

If your lease calls for you to pay for painting the apartment and the Landlord Tenant Act specifies that only damages can be assessed then the law supercedes the lease.

Pay attention to the details of the time frames in which the LL must inform you by certified mail that he is using your security deposit to make repairs. Document the condition of the property when you turn over the keys and have the LL sign a walk through form. Take pictures of the apartment and do it in such a way that there is no doubt the LL was there or his agent and that it was on such and such a date.

Do not tell the landlord that you have read the landlord tenant act or give him information about the time frames and specifics of using security deposit funds. FL is very strict about this and the law is on your side.

The LL will probably not conform to the law and when it is evident that he did not then you take him to small claims court with the evidence above. Don't depend on the judge to know the law! You should have a copy of the lease and the Landlord Tenant Law with you at the time of the trial.
 
Read your lease and then consult the Landlord Tenant Act for FL. I don't believe the LL can use the security deposit money for what is considered normal wear and tear. It is common practice for LL's to paint between tenants.

If your lease calls for you to pay for painting the apartment and the Landlord Tenant Act specifies that only damages can be assessed then the law supercedes the lease.

Pay attention to the details of the time frames in which the LL must inform you by certified mail that he is using your security deposit to make repairs. Document the condition of the property when you turn over the keys and have the LL sign a walk through form. Take pictures of the apartment and do it in such a way that there is no doubt the LL was there or his agent and that it was on such and such a date.

Do not tell the landlord that you have read the landlord tenant act or give him information about the time frames and specifics of using security deposit funds. FL is very strict about this and the law is on your side.

The LL will probably not conform to the law and when it is evident that he did not then you take him to small claims court with the evidence above. Don't depend on the judge to know the law! You should have a copy of the lease and the Landlord Tenant Law with you at the time of the trial.
 
Was the apartment painted that odd color before you moved in or after? If you came into the apartment with it in color, the landlord should have kept extra paint, or at least know what color it was...
Take a picture of it and see if home depot or another paint place can match that color for you.
It's understandable that you should have to fix up the holes that you made in the wall...you shouldn't be charged for to repainting the whole house because she cant match the color she painted it.
But if it comes down to it and you cant work anything out with her, I would pick up a brush and get painting before I was charged for her to have it painted.
 
If you damaged it you have to have it repainted.

Cut a chip and take it to a good supplier, they can come close enough with the computer.
 
No a landlord can not charge you for painting. as a landlord its their responsibility to maintain their buildings. if it needs painted then they have to pay for it. this is just my opinion.
 
If you put holes in the walls, you are responsible to return the walls to the condition in which you found the walls, odd color or not. Head out for paint color samples and get the best match you can, and then get ready to start painting.

That your landlord may have given you permission to put nail holes in walls does NOT mean that you aren't required to return those walls to their original condition.
 
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