Hey everyone! I'm moving into a new place, and my landlord is responsible for getting the walls patched, repaired, and primed before I move in. I only asked their contractor to paint the walls white. Now, I'm hit with a bill for $1,942 just for one coat of paint (not including ceilings) and for two doors in a space that's only 890 sq ft. This seems outrageous to me, and I suspect it might even cover prep work that the landlord was supposed to handle. I did ask the contractor for an itemized breakdown, but they refused and are pressuring me to pay. What can I do about this situation? I really feel like they're shifting the costs onto me.
3 Answers
It sounds like your landlord should be the one handling this payment. If your lease doesn't state you're responsible for the painting, you should stand your ground. You can ask the contractor again to clarify the charges, but ultimately this should be a discussion between them and your landlord.
Did you sign any agreement that makes you responsible for those paint costs? If not, I’d just tell the contractor to talk to the landlord. You're not liable for costs associated with getting the property ready unless there was a written contract stating that you were to pay for it.
Nope! The landlord just brought their painter in after I mentioned I wanted the walls white.
That’s a hefty bill for paint! Just make sure you have all your communications documented. When you asked the contractor to paint, there should have been a discussion about payment. If nothing was agreed upon in writing, I’d suggest contacting your landlord to clarify this with them. It’s ultimately their contractor, not yours. And it doesn't seem fair for you to foot the bill for work they should have handled directly.
I'm starting to realize I should’ve gone through the landlord directly instead. Thanks for the advice!
Yes, I am responsible for paint, but this amount seems way too high. I had a bigger place painted for only $1,300!