Renting with white goods....

timberflake

My girlfriend and I moved into a newly converted mill 3 months ago. We pay £525pcm, which includes WD, FF and Dishwasher.

From day 1 we've had problems with the washer. On the first day water came pouring out of the bottom so it needed replacing. Since we've had the 2nd washer (only around 2 months) we've had to call the engineer out once and have had to book another apointment for next week as its packed up again! :mad:

My question is that although its not a problem at the minute seeing as its still in its 12 months guarantee, once that runs out, who's responsibility is it to pay for call outs/repairs/replacements?

If the responsibility falls on us, surely we'd be entitled to a reduction on the rent if we needed to buy replacements as the landlord would no longer be provinding the white good(s).

I've loooked at out tennancy agreement, and all it says is that we're responsible for all sevicing and repairs of unduly worn items......have no idea what that means!

scorpio_princess

Hi Timberflake - is the WD or any of the other white goods specifically mentioned on the tenancy agreement? I also rent a flat which came with a washing machine and fridge, and these weren't mentioned on the (bog standard, 2 page) tenancy agreement The washing machine is ok - at least it works! It does seem to be causing some of my clothes to go all bobbly though (not sure how far i'd get complaining about that one!) The fridge has a mind of its own too - it's now decided it's a freezer! My milk is always frozen solid in the morning when I go to use it - grrrrr.

Sorry for hijacking your post, but all i'd say is a newish WD shouldn't be breaking like that, unless you have it on 24/7! That would be my definition of 'unduly wear', so I would complain to the LA. Like you say, it's no good renting a place with all mod cons only to find the mod cons are a con!! IYSWIM

timberflake

We dont have it on all that much actually, is just a very bad brand! The way I see it is that when we saw the ad, it was advertised as £525 a month with WD, FF and Dishwasher, although it doesn't make mention of any of them on the tennancy agreement, but is included in the price of the rent so if anything breaks either we replace it and pay less rent or they replace it. If we were to replace it and move out (obviously taking it with us), surely the next tennants wouldn't be expected to pay the same rent without the white goods!!?

We do have an inventory that clearly states WD, FF, Dishwasher etc, is that good enough?

Tassotti

If the item is included on the inventory, then it is the LL's responsibiltity to maintain that item to full working condition.

Tass

timberflake

Tassotti wrote:

If the item is included on the inventory, then it is the LL's responsibiltity to maintain that item to full working condition.

Tass

Thanks for the reply. Is that true even outside of the gurantee period?

rosysparkle

Yes, it's the landlord's responsibility.

timberflake

Brilliant, think I'm still going to write to our letting agent and ask for confirmation in writing.......you can never be too careful!

justmarried06

Hi - when we were renting our place included the white goods. Any problems that occurred (including the washing machine packing up entirely!!) had to be sorted by the landlord, although it was a bit like getting blood out of a stone sometimes! It was finally sorted after about three weeks of them leaving us without a machine and only after me kicking off to the letting agents about decent homes standards!!! Sorry - mini rant over but if you rent including those items then no matter what it is the LL'd responsibility........unless you've take a hammer to it or something hehe....

JM