If a tenant leaves holes in the sheetrock that require spot repaint and paint what do you charge? Each week veteran landlord and property manager Hank Rossi answers questions from other landlords and property managers around the country about their rentals.
Dear Landlord Hank,
What do you charge a tenant for a spot repair and painting?
Dear Landlord George,
I don’t charge a tenant for normal wear and tear.
If a tenant hung some pictures, that is a little sheet rock compound and paint.
BUT, if a TV was hung on the wall and a real repair has to be done I charge what it costs me to have the repair done.
I’m guessing $35 to $50 would be a fair amount for a baseball sized hole in the sheet rock.
If you are handy you can do it yourself in less than 30 minutes.
When I do the walk through inspection, I try to check everything.
- Do appliances work properly
- Windows
- Do drawers slide easily
- Are drains not clogged, etc.
If I find a problem I photograph it and send to tenant as evidence of the charge, with a tape measure next to it for comparison of size of damage.
What if a tenant wants to paint and fix the damage themselves? Did you see Hank’s answer on My Tenant Wants To Repaint His Unit – What Should I Do?
About the author Landlord Hank:
“I started in real estate as a child watching my father take care of our family rentals- maintenance, tenant relations, etc , in small town Ohio. As I grew, I was occasionally Dad’s assistant. In the mid-90s I decided to get into the rental business on my own, as a sideline. In 2001, I retired from my profession and only managed my own investments, for the next 10 years. Six years ago, my sister, working as a rental agent/property manager in Sarasota, Florida convinced me to try the Florida lifestyle. I gave it a try and never looked back. A few years ago we started our own real estate brokerage. We focus on property management and leasing. I continue to manage my real estate portfolio here in Florida and Atlanta. “ Visit Hank’s website here.
Photo by Artfoliophoto via istockphoto.com