Can tenant repaint to avoid deposit retention to pay cost?

[richiedc]

quick and easy one I think
Moved out of rented house, cleaned all marks off walls, knew we required some touchup paint on the walls (we went in with newly painted walls) as we had bashed it getting sofa in.

Asked agent to ask landlord twice for paint colour so we could match it.

no reply

when we move out, low and behold, he wants painters in at £150ish to repaint the walls.

Im still in the negotiation stage of bond release, although I think he has gone ahead and done the painting as he was having someone move in 3 days after us..what should we say is fair? The cost of the paint only? as we were fully capable of doing it ourselves.

any help appreciated

[MrShed]

Unfortunately after u have moved out you are pretty much tied to whatever they say in this situation....they can quite rightly charge you the labour costs. Not saying fairly here, but you could have matched the paint yourself....using them not getting back to you as an excuse isn't a valid reason. You say you could have done it yourselves. You are right, but you didnt. You don't have a leg to stand on I'm afraid.