If I paint a common area, can I claim back from the mgt company?

Hi there,
I'm living in my apartment for nearly 9 years and my management fees are fully paid and up to date.
There are x4 apartments in my hallway and I am the only owner occupier. The other x3 apartments house families with small children. These children don't have anywhere to play, and so my hallway has turned into a playground. As a result, the hallway is filthy. The kids have drawn all over the walls (they are quite young) and the carpets are stained. I've spoken to my neighbours and they say that its not the kids who live on the hallway that have done the damage but rather kids who live on other floors.
Anyway - I've hounded the management company, who have tried to clean up, however they have even advised themselves that the walls will need a paint job...and that they don't have the money for this.
My question is why should I put up with the dirt, when I'm fully paid up with my fees.
Does anyone know that if I foot the bill to buy paint myself, and then paint the walls myself - can I claim the cost back from my management company?
Has anyone done this?

Thanks a mil

If they say they don't have any money how will they pay you?

Any expenditure will most likely need their approval in advance so you could be wasting your money. Colour/quality of paint will probably need approval also. You would need to be careful too of any children getting paint on their clothes or getting in the way and possibly injuring themselves while the job is being done.

Sue Ellen said:

If they say they don't have any money how will they pay you?

Click to expand...

This.

Plus, unless the kids stop playing there, they're just going to wreck the place again...they're kids...

Another angle to take is get onto the landlords of your neighbours and tell them that their kids are dirting the place. I'm sure it's somewhere in the conditions of living there that you can't wreck the hallways.

Simple answer to your question is no, you can't.

+1 with Leo's response above, plus lodge complaint with the PRTB, copying Management company secretary.

Thanks all. I knew it was a long shot!