AboutJonathan Dever, Esq Expertise Real Estate Law, Buying Selling, Investor, all types of acquiring property through "creative techniques" and fraud avoidance
Experience Super Lawyer by Law and Politics for the last three years, part of over 900 transactions in the last 6 years
Organizations Ohio Bar Assn
Greene County Bar Assn
Champaign County Bar Assn
Publications Personal web site and web articles
Education/Credentials JD - Capital University
MA - IU of Penn
BA - U of Cincinnati
Awards and Honors Super Lawyer 2005, 2006, 2007
Who is Who, Lawyers 2006, 2007
Question QUESTION: We own a rental home. The inside of the home was painted two years ago. Our tenants gave us notice and we did inspection with them. We didn't notice anything unusual until the tenants moved. The walls in two of the bedrooms are extremely dirty. The tenants lived there for two years. Can we charge the tenants for repainting these rooms? Thanks
ANSWER: Did you do a move out inspection with them and see the "damage?" Did you tell them that they would get their deposit back? Are you talking about dirt or damage?
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QUESTION: We did an inspection with them, but did not see the dirt on the walls as they were covered by furniture. We did not tell them they would receive their deposit back. We are talking about dirt on the walls. Thanks.
Answer Depending on the type of paint you use in your units, dirt can be cleaned off the wall. If you have a flat paint, it cannot and would require repainting the walls effected. You will need to balance the "normal wear and tear" issue. Typically dirt has a cleaning fee associated with it. It really is a judgment call on your part as I cannot see the problem area.
In the future, do your walk through after their belongings have been removed from the property.
