Washing Machine missing from rented house

MyopicMoo

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone could tell me the legal point of view on this:

We rented a house a year ago. The rental information, and viewings showed that there was a washing machine in the property. When we got the keys and the inventory was done we discovered that the washing machine had gone. I called the letting agent who said the owners had taken it. We asked if we could get a reduction in rent in order to cover the cost of a machine - the landlord refused. As it was a long term let we bit the bullet and bought a machine.

Now, only a year into an 18 month contract (and having been told that we would be able to rent the place for at least 2 years) the owner has decided to sell. We have found a place to move to but as it has a washing machine we now have to get rid of ours.

Is there anything we can do? Obviously when we sell the machine we will only get a fraction of what we paid for it.

Sorry for the long post, any advice gratefully received.

snapping_crocodile

You could always ask the landlord to remove the washing machine from the new place as you already have one of your own. We have done this in the past, and the landlords have been quite helpful and accomodating

G_M

Well, you've got another 6 months so you'll have had 18 months use of the machine.
Why not offer to sell it to the LL?
You could always hint you'll be more amenable to him/her showing prospective buyers round over the next 6 months (remember you have the right to refuse to let him do this up till your contract ends in 6 months time).
Or does the LL want you to leave before the 18 months is up? He can't make you if you have an 18 month contract, so again, you could negotiate and early contract termination on mutually beneficial terms. Don't tell him you've found somewhere - make it seem like you'd be doing him a big favour to leave early.

MyopicMoo

We were told there was a break clause after 12 months, so the LL has put the house on the market with 'vacant possession'. We were told that we would get 2 months notice when the ll wanted us out, but we decided to go when it suited us as I can't take time off work to move.

I was wondering if the letting agent had breached any rules as they advertised and let it with a washing machine which was then not there.