Landlord's Guide to Painting Between Tenancies in Camden

Repainting a rental property between tenancies is one of the highest-return investments a Camden landlord can make. A fresh coat of neutral paint makes a flat rent faster, photograph better and reduces the risk of deposit disputes with outgoing tenants. Most 1-bed and 2-bed flats can be fully repainted within a standard 7 to 10 day void window.

Here is everything you need to know about getting it right.

Why repaint between tenancies?

Faster reletting. Freshly painted properties photograph better and show better. In Camden’s rental market where landlords compete for tenants at similar price points, presentation matters.

Fewer deposit disputes. The main cause of deposit disputes is damage versus fair wear and tear. Scuffed, marked walls that could go either way become a problem when a tenant is demanding their deposit back. A full repaint at the start of a tenancy establishes a clean baseline and makes any new damage clearly attributable to the tenant.

Damp and mould prevention. Camden properties, especially older Victorian and Edwardian conversions, are prone to condensation damp in bathrooms and bedrooms. Repainting with a moisture-resistant emulsion in these areas provides a degree of protection and makes it easy to spot new mould growth before it takes hold.

Legal protection. If you charge the incoming tenant for professional cleaning and decoration, an inventory that documents the freshly painted condition at the start of the tenancy makes any deduction at the end far easier to justify.

What to repaint

Not everything needs repainting every void. Here is how to prioritise:

Always repaint: Main reception room walls and ceiling, hallway walls, bathroom walls and ceiling.

Repaint if marked: Bedroom walls, kitchen walls.

Check condition, repaint if needed: Woodwork (skirting boards, doors, window frames), ceiling throughout.

Specialist areas: If there is a patch of mould in the bathroom or bedroom, treat the mould first (kill spray, let dry, prime with anti-mould primer) then repaint. Do not paint over active mould.

Choosing the right colours

Neutral colours rent fastest. In Camden’s rental market, the most popular palette for relets is:

Walls: Warm white (Dulux Magnolia or similar), light grey (Dulux Cornflower White or Farrow and Ball Elephant’s Breath if you want premium) or a warm off-white.

Ceilings: Brilliant white throughout.

Woodwork: Brilliant white or off-white gloss.

Avoid feature walls and strong colours. What you love, a prospective tenant may not. Neutral colours also make it easier to touch up between tenancies without a full repaint.

Timeline for a void repaint

A well-planned void repaint in Camden runs like this:

Day 1: Professional end of tenancy clean (we can coordinate with our Ferizi Property Services team).

Day 2: Painter visits, carries out prep (filling, sanding, priming bare patches), applies mist coat to any newly plastered areas.

Days 3 to 5: Main paint coats throughout. Walls first, then ceilings, then woodwork.

Day 6: Touch-ups, check-out with inventory company if required.

Day 7 onwards: Available for viewings.

For larger properties (3-bed and above) add two to three days. Always build in a buffer day before your first viewing.

Painting versus touch-ups

Landlords often ask whether they should repaint fully or just touch up marked areas. Our recommendation: full repaint is almost always better value.

Touch-ups on walls that have faded or yellowed over a tenancy rarely match. You end up with visible patches that look worse than evenly faded walls. A full repaint costs more upfront but leaves the property looking genuinely fresh.

The exception is if the tenancy was short (under 18 months) and the property was freshly painted at the start. In that case, targeted touch-ups may be sufficient.

Fair wear and tear versus damage

This is the question that drives most deposit disputes. Broadly:

Fair wear and tear (tenant not responsible): Light scuffs from furniture, minor nail holes from pictures hung reasonably, fading from normal UV exposure over a long tenancy.

Tenant damage (chargeable): Large holes in plaster, extensive crayon or pen marks, burns, stickers or adhesive residue, deliberate gouging.

A fresh, professionally painted property at the start of a tenancy documented in the check-in inventory protects you clearly. If the outgoing tenant has caused damage beyond fair wear and tear, the evidence is unambiguous.

Frequently asked questions

Can I charge the tenant for repainting?

You can only charge for painting if it is required to fix damage beyond fair wear and tear. A repaint that is simply necessary because the property has aged through a normal tenancy is a landlord cost. This is why many experienced Camden landlords repaint proactively between every tenancy regardless, then factor the cost into their pricing model.

How long should paint last in a rental property?

Trade-grade paint in a well-maintained rental property should last three to five years on walls, longer on ceilings (less wear). Kitchens and bathrooms often need repainting more frequently due to moisture.

Do you offer a landlord discount for multiple properties?

We work with a number of Camden landlords and letting agents on an ongoing basis. If you have multiple properties we can discuss pricing. Call us directly to talk through your requirements.