Helpful video reference. The video above is "PAINTING RENTAL PROPERTY FAST: QUICK TURN EP2" from Handy Landlord. It is a practical walk-through of the technique, worth watching for the hand movement rather than just reading about it.
Walk the property and list what needs doing
Go room by room with a notepad before you buy anything. Note scuffs, marks around switches, blu tack residue, nail holes, chipped skirting and any areas of damp or mould.
Separate cosmetic jobs from repairs. A mould patch or a damp stain is a repair first, and painting over it does not fix it. Sort the cause before the decorating.
Take photographs as you go. They are useful for the deposit discussion and for the inventory, and they help you remember exactly what was wrong with each room.
Prepare quickly but properly
Wash greasy areas such as the kitchen walls and around door handles with sugar soap, fill holes and sand them flush. Spot prime the filler so it does not flash through the finish. Never mix bleach with other cleaning products when dealing with mould or stains.
If it is an older property built before the 1960s, do not dry sand old paint. Wet sand and keep the dust down.
Choose a durable neutral
A light neutral in a durable, wipeable finish hides marks, suits most furniture and can be touched up between tenancies. Keep the same colour from one refresh to the next so you can patch later, and note the colour name and finish for each room.
Work in a sensible order
Ceilings first, then walls, then woodwork. Use a roller for the main areas and cut in with a brush. Work through the property in one run with the doors off or wedged open, so each room dries while you start on the next.
Ventilate the rooms while paint dries and keep the heating on a gentle setting in cold weather.
Finish and record
Wipe down switches and handles, take up the dust sheets, and photograph each room for the inventory. Keep a labelled tin of the wall colour for touch-ups.
What this means in Herne Bay
Herne Bay has plenty of rented flats in converted Victorian seafront buildings and family lets in the 1930s semis around Beltinge and Greenhill. Coastal air and condensation in flats with limited ventilation make mould more likely, so check windows and bathrooms before you paint. A wipeable finish earns its keep in the more heavily used family lets.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Painting over mould or damp so the problem comes back through the new finish.
- Using a different white or finish each time so touch-ups never match.
- Skipping the prep and having the scuffs show through the new coat.
Quick answers
How many coats do I need between tenants?
Often one coat over clean, sound walls is enough if the colour is the same. A colour change or heavy marks usually needs two.
Do I paint the woodwork every time?
Not always. Clean it, touch in chips and repaint it every few tenancies or when it looks tired.
Prefer we do it?
Room painting from £325, standard trade paint and labour included. See our price guide, our interior decorating page or get a fixed quote.