Dean decorates rented homes in Blackthorn for private landlords and letting agents, about 3.8 miles north-east of Northampton town centre in NN3. Many lets here are ex-council terraced and semi-detached houses, and the work is usually a quick, durable repaint between tenancies.
Who rents in Blackthorn, according to the 2021 Census
Renting is a large part of Blackthorn’s housing. In the Census area around Bridge Court and Longmead Court, 18.4% of homes were privately rented in 2021 and 30.2% were social rented. In the neighbouring area within the Blackthorn & Rectory Farm ward, social renting rose to 53.1%, with 17.0% private. Ex-council houses bought under right to buy and later let make up a good part of the private stock, so a landlord here is usually decorating a 1970s terrace or semi rather than a modern flat. Purpose-built flats are a small share of the stock, between 5% and 11% depending on the Census area, so most lets have their own front door, stairs and garden rather than shared communal areas.
| 2021 Census area | Privately rented | Social rented |
|---|---|---|
| Around Bridge Court (014B) | 18.4% | 30.2% |
| Neighbouring area (014D) | 17.0% | 53.1% |
| Wider area (MSOA 014) | 20.8% | 34.5% |
A void turnaround that fits an ex-council terrace
Between tenancies the aim is to get the house back on the market quickly, with finishes that will survive the next let. In a compact Blackthorn house that usually means doing the whole interior in one visit rather than room by room. The specification we tend to recommend:
- Scrubbable matt or eggshell on walls, in one light neutral throughout, so later touch-ups match without hunting for a colour.
- Water-based satinwood on doors, frames and skirtings, which resists yellowing and chips less than old oil gloss.
- Stain block over marks, smoke or water staining before emulsion goes on, so they do not bleed back through.
- Mould wash and anti-mould paint in kitchens and bathrooms where ventilation has been poor.
These houses are around fifty years old, and many carry layers of earlier tenant DIY: painted-over wallpaper, filler left proud and gloss applied over emulsion. We sort these out before decorating, since paint over a poor base is the first thing to fail at the next check-out inspection. Our main landlord and letting agent decorating page covers schedules of work and reporting in more detail.
Outside the front door: whose job is it?
Council-owned homes in Blackthorn have their exterior work done by the council as landlord. For a privately let ex-council house, the outside is the owner’s responsibility, and right-to-buy houses often have a mix of replacement uPVC and original timber. There may be a timber fascia, a door frame or a section of cladding still needing paint. On a terrace, the fascia often runs straight on to the neighbour’s, so the line where your paint stops needs agreeing before work begins. Exterior repaints depend on dry weather, so we schedule them separately from an interior void. Gardens backing onto Lings Wood tend to stay damp and shaded, so fences and timber there usually need a biocide wash before any coating, which is worth knowing when budgeting for the outside.
Keys, access and working with the agent
Many Blackthorn front doors open onto footpaths, with parking in the courts, so we plan loading around the nearest bay. If the property is empty, we can collect keys from the agent and return them at the end, and photograph the finished rooms for the file. More on the estate and its housing is on the Blackthorn area page, and the cost guide explains what drives a decorating quote.
Dean covers Blackthorn from Northampton, about 3.8 miles away. Call 07539 779 036 for a free quote.
Last updated by Dean, DH Painter & Decorator.
