Terms and conditions for a painter and decorator

A decorator's disputes rarely start with the paint. They start with the wall underneath it: the plaster that blows when the old paper comes off, the room that was not cleared, the colour the customer chose from a phone screen, and the invoice that arrives after the customer has decided the finish is not quite right. Terms that deal with those things in advance are what I draft, for a fixed fee of £995 in five working days.

Who this is for

Painters and decorators in England and Wales working in private homes, rental properties and commercial premises, as a sole trader or through a limited company. Most of your customers are consumers, some are landlords, letting agents and businesses, and the law treats the two groups differently, so the terms are written for both.

What matters in decorating terms

Quotes, preparation and what is found under the surface

A quote for decorating is a quote for the surfaces as they appear on the day you looked at them. The terms should say that preparation beyond what was visible, such as failed plaster, damp, filler-heavy walls or paper that will not strip cleanly, is priced as an extra and agreed in writing before you continue. That single term removes the most common argument in the trade.

Materials, colours and customer-supplied paint

Where the customer supplies the paint, or insists on a product you would not have chosen, the terms should make clear that you take no responsibility for coverage, colour, durability or the number of coats needed. Colour matching to a sample, a screen or a previous finish is never exact, and the terms should say so, along with who pays if the customer changes their mind after the first coat is on.

Access, furniture and the state of the room

Your price assumes the room is cleared, or that moving and covering furniture is part of the job. The terms should say which, what happens if you arrive and it is not ready, and that you are not responsible for items the customer chose to leave in place. They should also deal with working hours, parking, and the use of water and electricity on site.

Drying, weather and finish

Exterior work depends on the weather and interior work on drying times, and neither is within your control. Completion dates should be estimates, weather delays should not be a breach, and the terms should describe what a finished job looks like and give a short window for the customer to raise snagging points, after which the work is treated as accepted. A 'perfect finish' is not a standard you want to be held to in writing.

Homeowners, cancellation and getting paid

A job agreed at the customer's home or by email and phone is an off-premises or distance contract under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. The customer has 14 days to cancel, and if you start within that period without their express request you may not be paid for the work done. Deposits should be proportionate to the materials and dates you are committing to, stage payments are sensible on larger jobs, and the balance should be due on completion, not on the customer's satisfaction. For business customers, painting and decorating is a construction operation under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, which may bring in its payment rules.

What it costs

Customer or supplier terms and conditions, £995. One set of terms, customer-facing or supplier-facing, drafted around your business. Five working days.

Review of your existing terms, £495. You already have terms and want to know how much of a problem they are. Returned marked up with my amendments and an explanation of the changes. Three working days.

Buying online forms the engagement on payment. The scope is what the terms and conditions drafting page describes, you accept the Terms of Service at checkout, and I email you within four working hours to get started. If you would rather ask something first, email me.

What you get

• A full set of terms drafted around your business, not a template with your name inserted
• A covering note in plain English explaining every commercial choice I made and why, so you can defend the terms in a negotiation without ringing me
• Liability, payment, termination and IP provisions set at a level that will survive a procurement review
• Consumer-facing wording drafted to be enforceable where you sell to consumers
• Guidance on how to incorporate the terms properly, which is where most businesses actually fail
• One round of amendments after you have read them

What is not included

• Negotiating your terms with individual customers
• Sector-specific regulatory compliance beyond the contract terms themselves
• Website privacy notice and cookie compliance, which I quote separately
• Terms governed by the law of another country

Questions I am often asked

Can I refuse to guarantee a finish on a wall in poor condition?

You can, provided the terms say so before you start. The usual approach is to state that you will advise on the condition of the surfaces and that where the customer chooses not to have remedial work done, the finish is at their risk.

What if the customer wants a different colour after I have started?

That is a variation. The terms should require it to be agreed in writing with the extra cost and time, and should make clear that repainting over a finished coat is chargeable, not a snag.

Do I need different terms for landlords and letting agents?

The same document can serve both, with a section that applies only to consumers. Landlords and agents are usually business customers, so cancellation rights do not apply to them and you can claim late payment interest under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.

Related guidance and services

• Terms and conditions drafting, £995, the service this page describes
• Contract review, £495, if a main contractor or business customer has sent you their terms to sign
• Terms and conditions for a builder doing domestic work, if you also take on general building work

This page is general guidance for businesses in England and Wales, not advice on your own circumstances. Last reviewed: September 2026. Email geoffrey@caesar.co.uk.