Broken Appliance - Landlords Responsibility?

[Baby_Sham]

Hi, not sure if this is the correct section for my question, but hopefully someone will be able to help.

I had my oven on last night and after about ten minutes of it being on, all the electrics in the house tripped.
I flicked the trip switch and it all came back on, but the oven will no longer heat up - despite it switching on ok, and the grill working fine.
I sent my landlord a text this morning to advise him of this, and he's just called and said it's not his responsibility.

He said the cooker was only there because it came with the kitchen when they put it in, and normally the tenant would have to supply their own, so it's down to me to pay for it to either be fixed or replaced.

I've checked my tenancy and it says nothing about kitchen appliances, but surely this can't be right?

[Daffy6543]

It's his cooker, he supplied it, he must fix it.

[Baby_Sham]

Thanks Daffy.
I know it sounds a bit silly, but I'm a bit upset after his phone call as he was really abrupt with me and said "what do you want me to do about it? The cooker is your responsibly and you only have it because it came with the kitchen".
Well surely that's like saying the shower is my responsibility too because it came with the bloody bath!

[woofgang]

If the kitchen was there with cooker when you viewed the property then you have a right to expect that that is part of what you are paying rent for, unless it was pointed out at the time.

[Baby_Sham]

No, it wasn't pointed out at all. This is the first I've heard of it.

[Mamyalynne]

He's wrong, if he had wanted to let the house with no appliances he should have removed it prior to your moving in.

His responsibility.

[Baldric]

We have 6 Rentals, we put new appliances in before we let them, and unless a Tenant he done something stupid to mess it up, we would expect to replace it under the circumstances you describe.

[Baldric]

PS, sounds like a Heating Element has blown to me.

[Baby_Sham]

Thanks so much for your answers, I really am very grateful.
He's told me to re-check the trip switch box, which I have just done and everything is as it should be, and to then text him and let him know if it's been solved.
He said if it doesn't still work then he will "send his mate round" on Friday to have a look at it, but I will have to foot the bill.

I cannot afford to do that, so I'm a bit stuck as to what I should now do?

[Baby_Sham]

Baldric, I spoke to a friend about this and he said the same.
I suggested this to my landlord and he rubbished it immediately :-(

[Mamyalynne]

Most Councils have a Housing Advice section that will give advice even to private tenants.

[Peter Pedant]

Check with C AB - I think it is clear that if he supplied it which he did then he has to maintain it

Once you have checked you might point out the law has changed recently to impose a duty on him...

[Peter Pedant]

No dont agree to that
If he sends his mate around then he has to pay which he has to anyway.

[Baldric]

I'm Not saying you should fix it, but if you Google
'Electric Oven Heating Elements'
it should give you an idea of costs involved whoever is paying the bill.
Good luck

[Peter Pedant]

Electrical Appliances

All electrical equipment provided by a landlord must be safe and in good working order. The landlord is responsible for repairing any broken or faulty electrical items. However, the tenancy agreement may state that the landlord is only responsible for certain electrical appliances, so it is important that the tenant is familiar with the terms of the agreement. The tenant is always responsible for repairing any electrical items which they own and have brought with them to the property.



Read more: http://www.tenancyagreementservice.co.uk/repairing-obligations.htm#ixzz38JCtuyA3


from

http://www.tenancyagreementservice.co.uk/repairing-obligations.htm

go sh+g him, girlie !

[Baby_Sham]

Thanks Mamya, and Peter. I am going to give the council and CAB a ring now, see if I can get some advise which I can then pass on to him.

It really angers me, because there has been so much wrong with this house that I have resolved myself, out of my own pocket, and the one time I ask him to get something fixed as soon as possible (as it's not ideal to just have a hob to cook on with two children) he pulls this card on me.

Thanks again, I will give them a ring now.

[pixie373]

I think he is responsible, as it is his appliance- unless you have signed something to say differently. After all, if you had tried to fix it yourself and made it worse, he would have said it wasn't your place to.

[Baby_Sham]

Peter, that's brilliant. Thank you very much :-)

[Peter Pedant]

well this says not

http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2013/03/07/is-the-landlord-responsible-for-the-repair-of-kitchen-white-goods/

but I am certain a landlords duty changed in April 2014 to one of a duty to maintain

[Baldric]

There must be some dodgy Landlords about, If we rent a house to someone with White Goods in situ, (which applies to all 6) we take responsibility for them. Maybe that's why we have 4 out of 6 long term Tenants.

[boxtops]

Let's get back to basics, Baby - what does it say in your tenancy agreement about Landlords' fixtures & fittings?