Landlord Decorating Guide UK 2026: Costs, Tips & Best Value
Decorating a rental property is different from decorating your own home. As a landlord, you're balancing cost efficiency, durability, speed of turnaround, and tenant appeal. This guide covers everything UK landlords need to know about painting and decorating their properties in 2026.
Landlord Painting Costs UK 2026
Best Paint Colours for Rental Properties
The golden rule for landlords: neutral, warm whites and light greys. Here's why:
- White and off-white makes rooms feel larger and brighter — appealing to a wider range of tenants
- Neutral colours photograph better for listings on Rightmove and Zoopla
- White is easier and cheaper to touch up between tenancies
- Strong or dark colours can be off-putting to many prospective tenants
- Recommended options: Dulux Brilliant White, Pure Brilliant White, or Almond White for a warmer tone
🏡 Landlord tip: Use the same white throughout your entire portfolio — this makes touch-up work between tenants faster and cheaper as you can buy in bulk.
Choosing the Right Paint Finish for Rentals
Paint finish matters even more in rental properties than owner-occupied homes. You need durability over aesthetics.
- Walls: Use washable soft sheen rather than matt — it cleans far more easily when tenants mark walls
- Woodwork: Hard-wearing satin or eggshell in water-based — resists knocks and marks better than gloss
- Kitchens & bathrooms: Moisture-resistant soft sheen or kitchen/bathroom specific emulsions
- Hallways: Soft sheen or even eggshell finish — high traffic areas need washable paint
How Often Should Landlords Redecorate?
There's no legal requirement to redecorate at set intervals, but keeping your property in good decorative order is part of your landlord obligations under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
As a general guide:
- Full redecoration: Every 5–7 years, or when significant wear and tear is evident
- Touch-ups between tenancies: Every 1–2 tenancies for high-traffic areas
- Kitchens and bathrooms: Every 3–5 years given higher wear
- After damage by tenants: Document thoroughly and recover costs from deposit where justified
Minimising Void Periods with Fast Turnaround
Every day your property is empty costs money. Our landlord property refresh service is designed for speed — using our network of professional decorators, we can complete most properties in 1–3 days.
- Book in advance — schedule your refresh before the tenancy ends
- Empty properties are completed faster — coordinate with your tenant's move-out date
- Our fixed pricing means no delays for quotes or site visits
- We can arrange key collection if you're not local
- Completion photos provided for your records
Can Landlords Deduct Decorating Costs from Deposits?
Yes — if damage beyond normal fair wear and tear exists, you can make a claim against the tenant's deposit through your deposit protection scheme. Photography at the start and end of each tenancy is essential evidence.
Normal wear and tear (minor scuffs, slight fading) cannot be charged to tenants. Significant damage (large holes, heavy staining, unauthorised painting in dark colours) can be.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer a specific landlord service?
Yes — our Property Refresh service is specifically designed for landlords with empty properties. Fixed prices, fast turnaround, and white throughout as standard. See our Property Refresh page for instant pricing.
Can you accommodate tight timescales between tenancies?
We understand void periods cost landlords money. We aim to complete most property refreshes within 1–3 working days. Contact us with your timeline and we'll do our best to accommodate.
Do you work with portfolio landlords with multiple properties?
Absolutely — we offer discounts for landlords with multiple properties and can manage multiple jobs simultaneously. Contact us for a portfolio pricing discussion.
Is VAT charged on landlord decorating work?
Yes — our prices are subject to 20% VAT. However, decorating costs are an allowable expense for landlords and can be offset against rental income for tax purposes.
Flexible ways to pay
A larger decorating project doesn't have to mean one limited way to pay. Get your fixed Paint-MyRoom.com price online and choose from available payment options at checkout, including Klarna and Clearpay.
Subject to eligibility and provider terms.