Exploding Oven - Are we at fault?

KayRah

Hey everyone,
Me and my husband live with in a small flat with an AST which was for 12 months but is now running month to month. We've been here for about 18 months and never had many problems and we didn't really bother the landlord over little things like broken light fitting or furniture, preferring to fix things ourselves.

Anyway a couple of days ago the front pane of glass of our oven exploded, for want of another word, leaving glass all over the kitchen floor. It was about 11pm at night so we cleaned it up, went to bed and told the landlord the next day once we were home from work.

When he came round, he asked if it was in use (it wasn't, but it was cooling down for about 2 hours) and if we'd poured cold water on it (which we hadn't). He didn't seem to believe that tghe oven had just exploded and that we must be responsible in some way.

The oven is nowhere near new, I guess its about 10-15 years old. I googled exploding glass ovens and there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that this can happen in older ovens.

So the landlord thinks that we should pay a third of the cost of a new one, approx £60. I think that a new oven comes under wear and tear and that we shouldn't have to pay, whereas my husband thinks we should pay up for an easy life.

Jut wondering if anyone has any insight into the situation?

Thanks!

clutton_2

if you can verify that the oven is indeed 10-15 years old (go to manufacturers website maybe) - then it is wear and tear and the LL should replace it.

whoever pays for it - it needs replacing by the LL now, as he has a duty to replace it - as long as it was there when you moved in - you can argue the toss about payment later on - via return of your deposit if necessary

did you get an inventory signed by LL and yourselves when you first moved in?

Geenie

I don't think you should have to pay if it was part of the fixtures and fittings, especially if 10/15 years old, as it could have had all sorts of problems going on if not checked by an electrician before you took the tenancy.

Ovens can be got quite cheaply, and replacing this sort of thing is what comes under costs when a LL, so he should replace and pay in full. I am a LL by the way, so no axe to grind here, just being fair. Good luck OP.

Mum_of_3_3

Oven doors do indeed explode, however it may be possible to replace the glass instead of the whole oven, that's what my cousin did when the door to her expensive range cooker exploded a while back.

M_o_3

cheepskate_2

Yes oven doors do explode, happened to mine about 15 years ago but was while the oven was on. I was really lucky as was just about to go and check on the item in the oven and would have been eye level to the explosion.

Should be classedd as wear and tear

jamesb1239

Happened to me in a rented flat 2 years ago, Landlady decided it was our problem as it was fine when she left it, ended up just claiming on our insurance under accidental damage... yes i know we shouldnt have as it wasnt 'ours' so to speak but it was the only way we could afford it, the bill came in at about £75 for the glass and about £80 for the engineer to come out and fit it.

theartfullodger

The Landlord should replace the oven promptly: If he can't replace it (with something at least as good) fairly fast he should knock something off the rent as a gesture of good-will.

Cheers!

Lodger (Landlord since 2000)