Tenant's kid painted walls

[Ryan Coburn]

I had a tenant who lived in a house for 6 years (i've owned it for 2) and painted a few walls in to almost black.  His 5 yr old daughter "painted" doors and a few walls in her bedroom and the master bedroom a splotchy red.  Other than those areas, the paint looked good enough to not be painted for a new tenant.  What's the call on withholding a portion of the repainting expense from the deposit?

Thank you!

[Jerry W.]

Since the tenant was there for 6 years and you have only owned for 2 years there are additional problems.  Did the prior landlord authorize it?  If so was it done before you bought the property?  Does the lease have a no painting clause?  All of those questions may affect the outcome.