Oven not working - what can we do?

jessielicious

Just bought first property with BF and moved in. We have discovered that the oven, which is part of a fitted kitchen, doesn't work. Have contacted our solicitors and asked them to find out from the sellers whether there is a knack to it. I asked her what would happen if it is broken, and she seems to think there's not much we can do.

Surely if it's included in the price of the house, and the sellers know it doesn't work, they have an obligation to tell you this or replace it? After all, it's not something that would be picked up during a survey, and you're unlikely to ask them to switch it on to check when you are viewing?

We are not happy with the sellers for other reasons, they had clearly not looked after the house and neglected basic repair jobs, they didn't even leave the house clean! But those things we will take care of ourselves. The oven thing is a real pain, and I can't believe they can deliberately keep it from you that an appliance is broken.

In a similar vein, if it is broken and can't be fixed, how easy is it to replace an oven in a fitted kitchen? And once you've done it, would it limit your options when you come to replace the rest of the kitchen? Would we be better off just replacing the whole kitchen now, as we would do this eventually anyway?

wigginsmum

When I sold my flat, two of the rings on the hob were dodgy and I pointed this out. I wasn't prepared to get them fixed before the sale went through so I think we negotiated the price downwards slightly.

Replacing a built-in oven is fairly simple if you take the measurements properly - DH has replaced two of ours over the years.

It's a long shot, but you haven't interrupted the power supply or pressed buttons to send it into automatic mode instead of manual, have you? This can make an oven seem dead.

dunstonh

After all, it's not something that would be picked up during a survey, and you're unlikely to ask them to switch it on to check when you are viewing?

Actually it is. The homebuyers report and survey would have checked it.

If no-one enquired about the working status of the oven, then they have no reason to disclose it.

jessielicious

wigginsmum wrote:

It's a long shot, but you haven't interrupted the power supply or pressed buttons to send it into automatic mode instead of manual, have you? This can make an oven seem dead.

It's weird, because it's an electric oven and the clock on it works, so presumably it must have some supply going to it?? The gas hob is fine, it's just the main oven. Haven't pressed anything, and can't find any switches in the house which relate to it. I hope it's something which can be easily fixed. I do remember expecting to see layers of grease when I first opened it, as they had left the rest of the place in such a state, and was surprised that it wasn't too bad. So maybe it's been broken for a while and they just used a microwave instead. In which case I think they should have mentioned it.

Gorgeous_George

Have you got the operator's manual? It may be perfectly ok but you may not be setting it properly. There may be a timer set for example or a switch may need pushing in to make it work. It could be a child-proof feature that is stopping you from getting it to work.

I'd ring them first and ask for help nicely before assuming that they have sold you a dud. If they have, I doubt there's much you can do. they could argue that it weas fine when they left.

Good luck.

And no, do not replace the kitchen just because the oven isn't working. Don't even replace the oven - it may just need a new thermostat. I hope you don't have a car

GG

Debt_Free_Chick

jessielicious wrote:

Surely if it's included in the price of the house, and the sellers know it doesn't work, they have an obligation to tell you this or replace it? After all, it's not something that would be picked up during a survey, and you're unlikely to ask them to switch it on to check when you are viewing?

We are not happy with the sellers for other reasons, they had clearly not looked after the house and neglected basic repair jobs, they didn't even leave the house clean!

All of this is pretty normal and none of us are required to maintain or clean our properties (thank goodness ).

The general rule with buying property is "caveat emptor" or "buyer beware". This means that the buyers have to satisfy themselves as to the condition of the property they're buying - hence, you would normally get a survey (did you?) to point out some of this stuff. However, a survey would not necessarily test that all appliances were working - if you had a survey, it might only have checked that the power was being delivered to the oven (as the clock is working).

Sellers ONLY have to mention defects in (a) the sellers information, where it asks a specific question and/or (b) when they are directly asked a question e.g. "does the oven work?".

In a similar vein, if it is broken and can't be fixed, how easy is it to replace an oven in a fitted kitchen?

Kitchen units are designed these days so that one is a specific "housing" for an oven. If you replace the oven, you should be able to slot it into the existing unit. If you have a tight budget, try eBay or Freecycle for a cheap (or free) replacement.

silvercar

We've just taken legal advice as the hot water wasn't working in the en-suite bathroom and thehouse was in a general poorer state of repair than when we inspected it just prior to exchange. (We had a full structural survey). We were told there is little we can do. I am fuming because the they clearly let their alsation dog loose once they had exchanged - scratched wooden floors rooms needing decorating etc Also they had fitted a cupboard tightly round a boiler so there was no way it had been serviced (or repaired) since installation 2 years ago!

KentAde

Thanks folks for this thread, as we are selling our house and the oven extractor fan and light in the hood don't function - and haven't been for a while. Was thinking of leaving, but the threads have changed my mind, and now an engineer is calling on Saturday to fix. Expensive inconvenience, but now a necessity...

Sparky29

We have got a gas cooker that has electric ignition. When the power goes off the cooker timer has to be changed from auto to manual before the oven will light. The hob and grill still work OK. See if it says auto on your display next to the clock and try and get it off.

dougk_2

If its an electric oven , does it have a grill function as well ? does that work?

Also there should be a cooker switch somewhere as the oven is hard wired in - is that switched on? The timer may be running off an alternitive 3 pin plug!

Also again if its electric has the cirusit tripped out or been turned off in the fuse box?
Otherwise it could just possibly be something as simple as blown heating element which isn't too costly to get sorted.

Tassotti

I have a similar electric oven, and the clock has to be set before the oven works. Is the clock set or flashing?

Have you got the destruction manual? If not, you can probably dload it from the interweb