Legal advice on rental agreements | Legal advice centre

Questioner

Some time ago, a new heating boiler was installed at my mother-in-law's house, who lives in a residential care complex. This was because the landlord had to comply with the law. The installer has renewed all the heating pipes. The old ones were removed, which created holes in the laminate and the floor. The old pipes went through the ceiling to the downstairs neighbor. These holes have been filled with a brown paste, which makes it look like there are large drops lying around. Two walls are damaged and the new heating pipes have all been left bare. Today I had an appointment with the responsible project manager. It has now been agreed that the walls will be plastered, the holes will be emptied and will be refilled with a color that best suits it. The heating pipes are not painted, we have to do that ourselves. I have read the lease and it states that the resident is responsible for the interior painting of the wood and for the walls and ceiling. My question now is to what extent can we demand that the landlord completes everything properly in such a project?

Lawyer

Of course, you are not obliged to paint the heating pipes that the landlord has replaced. On the other hand, I think that the landlord is not obliged to do this either. Leaving heating pipes unpainted may not be attractive, but it does not lead to a defect in the rented property. The heating pipes will do their job, regardless of whether they are painted or not.