White Goods

[blue2]

Hi

I have been a tenant with a private land lady for 6 years. A couple of months ago when it was time to renew the tenancy she said that I had to sign an agreement about white goods. It said that I was now liable for the maintenance, repair and replacement should anything happen to the fridge, freezer, oven and washing machine. I signed the agreement. My land lady said that she should have done this years ago and that all land lords did this.
When I moved in 6 years ago all the white goods showed signs of wear and tear, they were not brand new. Today the washing machine has been playing up and I am worried there will be problems.
Is this agreement normal ? Does the fact that the white goods were old when I moved in matter?

Thanks.

[SirOracle]

Don't know if this sort of agreement is normal.

However you have signed it,and you will be liable for the white goods covered by the agreement.

[Buenchico]

>>>However you have signed it,and you will be liable for the white goods covered by the agreement

Except for the fact that the document you signed would seem to be invalidated by the provisions of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977!

You presumably rent the property as 'furnished', which means that you're paying a supplement (over what you'd pay for an 'unfurnished' property) for the use of (among other things) the fridge, freezer, oven and washing machine. That places a duty upon the landlord (not you!) to ensure that those items remain fully available for your use (i.e. in working condition).

Of course if you were to kick a hole in the fridge door, or rip the washing machine's door from its hinges, you'd have to pay compensation but that situation would apply irrespective of whether or not you'd signed anything relating to those items. Normal 'wear and tear' repairs are the landlord's responsibility, not yours!

[Peter Pedant]

// Don't know if this sort of agreement is normal. //

yes I do .... it is

Law change around 24 mo ago where the landlord became responsible for the condition of white goods in rented accommodation

which could be excluded by a clause in the lease.

I dont think it is covered by the Contract Unfair terms acts
but it may be

The intention was to get the landlords to pay up if children got stuck behind fridges, electrocuted themselves and so on - and not a free replace old for new condition - but this is clearly an unwanted effect ( as so often happens )

I think she probably will want you to replace if you have signed for it

try discussing it with her

[cassa333]

Chris,

I agree with what you have said but wonder how would blue2 or any other tenant in this situation, go about letting her LL know this without setting herself up as a pain in the Harris tenant?

Does she wait until an appliance goes wrong or say something before?

[Peter Pedant]

// That places a duty upon the landlord (not you!) to ensure that those items remain fully available for your use (i.e. in working condition). //


blimey that was overblowing landlords duties a bit BC - but anyway the duty was place on them by statute a year or so ago....

Remember Landlords dont stand over you when you are doing your washing, and admonish, " if we slam the door like that, the washing machine wont last long !" byt which I mean they have no way of mitigating loss under these circs ( and so by implication should NOT be responsible under common law principles )

and the effect was that Landlords didnt supply them but said bring your own white goods...

[Peter Pedant]

// Does she wait until an appliance goes wrong or say something before?//

as in " I am mystic meg and my washer is gonna play up a week on wed and leak everywhere " ?