Do you have to provide freezer in fully furnished accomodation

Stuball_2

I am after some peoples opinions or my legal obligation on the following subject:

I have taken a 6 month contract working away and decided to rent my house out. Upon reading the small print in my landlords insurance with Peacocks it says all electrical equipment should be certified and proof is requested if there is a claim, so I have had all the appliances tested and have a certificate to say they are all fine. One of the items is a half height fridge with the top shelf being the freezer compartment which had always been fine for me as I lived alone. However the tenant and his wife have told the letting agent that it isn't big enough and the letting agent has told me it is my responsibility to purchase a seperate freezer for them. Is this correct?

To be honest I don't particularly want to fork out on a new freezer which I will have no use for in 6 months time. I was thinking of buying a second hand one but then I would have to get it tested and certified which is another call out charge just for one item which of course could fail and have to be removed anyway.

I want to keep the tenant happy after all the horror stories you hear about disgruntled tenants so I was just wondering what other peoples opinions were on the subject. Thanks.

Snooze

I don't know the legal answer but I wouldn't have thought there were any "rules" about minimum sizes for freezers and in fact I doubt that you have to provide a freezer at all. You tell the tenant what the furniture comprises of and it's up to them whether they're happy with that amount. If they're not then it's up to them to either discuss it with you before they agree to the tenancy or find alternative accommodation.

Personally I'd be tempted to say "tough !!!!!!" as there is a freezer and it is working. If they don't like what's provided then they know where the door is and I'd also get on the bell to the LA and tell them to stop talking bollox about rules for freezer sizes. :rolleyes:

If the tenant wants a chest size freezer then point them at the nearest Comet store.

Rob

lynzpower

MY understanding is that there DOES have to be a fridge and freezer in "fully furnished" along with curtains, and oven.

However, it can come as PART furnished if oyu dont want to provide these things.

If THEY feel its too small for them then fine, TBH you can get a 2nd hand FF for pence on ebay, its probably worth getting it pat tested, then saell again when you get back.

Unless you just want to can these tenants off and try to find new ones. Depends on your local market I guess.

clutton_2

if these are good tenants - then try freecycle for a free fridge freezer - then PAT test wont be a great cost in the overall scheme of things - if they are not especially good tenants find someone else

arealbasketcase

the following could be a useful link, half way down the page,

http://www.arla.co.uk/info/landlords.htm

It doesn't sound to me like you need to worry but someone is bound to tell me I'm wrong.:rolleyes:

bristol_pilot

lynzpower wrote: »

MY understanding is that there DOES have to be a fridge and freezer in "fully furnished" along with curtains, and oven.

lynzpower - do you have a source for this, please? I find it a bit surprising that a freezer is regarded as essential for 'fully-furnished'. I agree with the other items listed.

lynzpower

Im hunting for a link now, I know I have seen the link on here beofre so digging around!

lynzpower

Ok Arla says this:

Are There Any Rules About What Comes With A Property If Its Fully Furnished, Furnished, Part Furnished Or Unfurnished?
No, there are no strict rules but both expectations and reality can vary in different areas of the country and even within different niche sectors within the local markets.

Generally, a property offered as “fully furnished” would come with all the main fixtures, furnishings and fittings, white goods etc., plus the standard crockery, cutlery, glassware, pots and pans etc., that a reasonable tenant would normally use on a day to day basis.

At the other end of the scale, an “unfurnished” property would normally be provided only with such basics as carpets, curtains and light fittings.

Clearly, there are infinite variations between these two extremes of what might be included. Therefore, the critical aspect, whether you are a landlord or tenant, is to make sure that everyone clearly understands what main items are, or are not, included before finalising the tenancy agreement.

bRISTOL COUNCIL SAYS

I am renting out my property as "furnished". What furniture should be provided?

Property rented as furnished is not significant in law in the way that it once was. In the past it has had a bearing on a tenant's security of tenure, but this is no longer the case with modern tenancies.
The property should contain furnishings and equipment necessary to live in that property. Essentially however, the property is "let as seen" and as agreed. It is best to check what will be provided prior to signing a contract. The rent can then be agreed to reflect the amount and quality of those furnishings.
URL="http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Housing/tenancy-relations/tenancy-relations-frequently-asked-questions.en;jsessionid=A50167BDD4155C7A0753FC71FF88F77D#contentaccess"]back to top[/URL

http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Housing/tenancy-relations/tenancy-relations-frequently-asked-questions.en;jsessionid=A50167BDD4155C7A0753FC71FF88F77D

Wilkinsons, a letting agent says:

Furnished:

A fully furnished property should be ready for immediate occupation without the tenant providing anything but their personal belongings (with the exception of TV/video, Hi-Fi) and should include the following:

Kitchen:
Cooker
Electric Kettle
Fridge/Freezer
Iron & Ironing Board
Washing Machine/Dryer
Vacuum Cleaner
Dishwasher (optional)
Broom
Microwave (optional)
Dustpan & Brush
Matching Dinner Service
Mop & Bucket
Cutlery & Kitchen Utensils
Crockery
Set of Saucepans & Frying pan Bedrooms:
Each bedroom should have:
Bed & Mattress in good condition
Pillows & Duvet
Wardrobes
Dressing table & stool
Bedside Table & Lamp
Mattress Covers Bathroom:
Bathroom Cabinet
Electric Shower (optional but preferable)
Shower Curtain (if applicable)
Mirror
Bath & Pedestal Mat

Lounge:
Three Piece Suite
Coffee Table
Table lamps
Dining Room:
Dining Table with Chairs -
(suitable for size of property)
Sideboard or equivalent
Placemats
Garden:
(Should be left in a manageable,
'seasonal' order)
Dustbin
Lawn Mower
Gardening Tools
Garage:
(Should be left empty with keys)
Hosepipehttp://www.wilkinsons.co.uk/lyp.php

So Im happy to be proven wrong I think I understood furnished from a standard of letting ( i worked in an EA for a while, and also locla authority) so it seems to be that the standard is set by the Letting agent, and not the law IYSWIM.

Edited to say ion my stint as an inventory clerk, I attended a number of fully furnished properties and had to count and photograph EVERYTHING including each piece of cutlery/glases/ bathmats and so forth.

Snooze

Right, so after those 18 pages of rules and regs which don't actually help the OP at all as there's no mention of which specific items :rolleyes: it is clear that there are no rules on the specific sizes of freezers (not that there's any legal requirement for them to be provided anyway). There is your answer stuball, so tell your LA to sling their hook.

Rob

lynzpower

It seems to me through the quagmire of all this information, that your easiest option is to drop the "fully" bit. Ive rented flats before that are simply FURNISHED ( ie not the fully) and they have had the basics ( white goods & OK furniture). the fully bit generally does include the pots & pans - I did remember thinking it very weird that anyone would really want to use old -multiplyused- cutlery so we packed up all the kitchen stuff when we moved in and put it in the cellar.

PasturesNew

I'd call mine fully furnished. I have no freezer, nor drier. Nor matching dinner service.... or half the posh things on that list. I'd expect it to be "as seen".