I rent and have those old brown cupboards. I am asking the property ow

Do NOT use chalk paint. It will not last. If it were my rental I would not let you do this as by not doing it properly and preparing the cabinets, you will eventually create more work for the landlord.

i would use 'bath & kitchen' paint. Cost is about $30. per gallon but worth it.... will paint fewer coats than latex paint. I used it for my brown old cabinets and love the end result.

ESP ( Easy Surface Prep) then Undercoat and then Topcoat (Satin)

Negotiate with your landlord to split the cost of getting a pro to do the job? And you’ll do the legwork to get quotes, check references, etc?

Jeannie - Sherwin Williams - they have ideas on their site. Jean

Sounds like you know how to do this. You still may lose your rental deposit...

I covered mine in contact paper when we lived in an apartment. It made a huge difference. You can also use a Rust-Oleum paint that's made for cabinets.