What are your rights if your landlord asks you to paint the house when you leave?

As with anything to do with a tenancy, it all depends what the tenancy agreement or lease says. If the lease says the tenant must repaint the property or that the tenant is responsible for the cost of repainting beyond normal wear, then that is what the you have agreed.

That said, a normal assured shorthold tenancy agreement and most local authority leases do not include repainting or maintaining the outside, or structure of the property as those are usually landlord responsibilities. It helps if you have an inventory which sets out the condition when you arrived.

If you are not sure what to do, speak to a solicitor, your local free law clinic or Citizens' Advice. If there is a dispute about it, bring it to the attention of the Deposit Scheme holding your deposit. They will not release any money to your landlord until the dispute is resolved.

Don't let a landlord push you into spending money if it is their responsibility - find out first.