My oven has failed, the agent is closed

vapd

Hi, my oven has just stopped working, when it went it took out the main trip for the whole flat, so I don't think its something I can attempt to fix myself. My letting agent is on holiday until 2nd Jan. At least thats what the answer phone message says. This is a link to their website with what to do when the office is shut:
http://www.sandersonsuk.com/lettings/what-happens-when-the-office-is-closed.php
As far as I can make out that means my oven failing is not classed as as much of an emergency for me to get it fixed and then charge the agency! But that seems outrageous to me. Do you think I can get a repair man in and get it fixed and get my money back?

Innys

vapd wrote: »

Hi, my oven has just stopped working, when it went it took out the main trip for the whole flat, so I don't think its something I can attempt to fix myself. My letting agent is on holiday until 2nd Jan. At least thats what the answer phone message says. This is a link to their website with what to do when the office is shut:
http://www.sandersonsuk.com/lettings/what-happens-when-the-office-is-closed.php
As far as I can make out that means my oven failing is not classed as as much of an emergency for me to get it fixed and then charge the agency! But that seems outrageous to me. Do you think I can get a repair man in and get it fixed and get my money back?

Have you tried to reset the trip switch at the consumer unit? If you reset the switch and the oven keeps blowing the trip switch, don't use the oven unit the agent sends someone out to check it over.

A failed oven isn't an emergency. An emergency is the roof blowing off, the boiler breaking down in winter, a downstairs window being smashed or the electrics failing. However, if you can reset the trip switch yourself, the problem will be solved.

If you think a failed oven on its own is an emergency, you're expecting too much from your landlord/agent.

vapd

Well, I think I should be allowed to get a repair man out and then bill the agency. Your telling me that is unreasonable. So we will just have to leave that there.

Are you telling me that if I do get a repair man out I will not get my money back?

The situ with the oven now is that the light turns on and the fan spins but it does not get hot.

Myser

Depending on the cost of the repair, the landlord may recompense you.

However I think legally, you have to give the landlord a reasonable period of time to repair it. I don't think you are entitled to claim a refund if you haven't given them the opportunity to send their preferred repair company.

As this isn't classed as an emergency, you may have to wait until the new year for them to send someone.

mikeandrach_2

an oven failing is a pain, not an emergency. nobody and no property is at risk as a result of an oven failing. do you have a microwave? failing that take aways. you may actually have some joy getting back the cost of take aways, if you dont go overboard cost wise, and dont have a microwave for example. equally though, if you have relatives in the area and the agency know you have (ie guarantors etc), they will probably say you should have made arrangement to eat with them.

k66yla

vapd wrote: »

Well, I think I should be allowed to get a repair man out and then bill the agency. Your telling me that is unreasonable. So we will just have to leave that there.

Are you telling me that if I do get a repair man out I will not get my money back?

The situ with the oven now is that the light turns on and the fan spins but it does not get hot.

Same thing happened to mine a couple of months ago. Knocked everything out in the fuse box. I'm guessing a repair man will cost loads especially with needing new parts. Luckily I had my Halogen Oven to use so not bothered getting mine fixed. Will probably be cheaper to buy a new cooker.

Innys

vapd wrote: »

Well, I think I should be allowed to get a repair man out and then bill the agency. Your telling me that is unreasonable. So we will just have to leave that there.

Are you telling me that if I do get a repair man out I will not get my money back?

The situ with the oven now is that the light turns on and the fan spins but it does not get hot.

If the electrics work and you have alternatives, presumably you aren't living in a castle in the middle of nowhere, getting a repair man out and then deducting the cost from the landlord is unreasonable, yes.

As others have said, if you use some of the alternatives i.e. takeaways, you may be able to claim them back. But that by no means guaranteed.

Finally, if you weren't happy with th emergency cover the landlord/agent were offering, you shouldn't have rented the place. If the agent is a law abiding one, I'm pretty certain the cover would be included in the terms and conditions you received before the tenancy commenced. If that's not the case, you could probably have a stronger case should you appoint your own electrician and then claim the money back.

KateLiana27

Our microwave cost £25 from Argos (not on sale) and has lasted four years. Pick one up and make do with that for a week. Most things can be microwaved rather than oven-cooked.

If you're lucky, you may even get it reimbursed when the letting agent opens - but personally I would consider it just one of those small miscellaneous expenses you incur when renting a property (good preparation for the millions of huge unexpected expenses when you're a homeowner). And when the agent opens, make sure you find out the policy for genuine out of hours emergencies.

vapd

Well, thanks for all the replies. A number of points have been raised.

I do not have a microwave because my kitchen is so small it would have to go in the lounge, which is also my bedroom (have a futon) as I use my bedroom as an office and storage area (work full time, sell on Amazon and Play to earn a bit extra and study a degree part time).

I used to be a home owner but sadly split with my partner and she got the house, which was fair enough actually but I sure do miss that house.

In the 12/13 years that I have lived in rented accommodation I have never had to rent from an agency before now. I can say that all the private landlords I have had have been great. Not in a million years did I think that a reputable agent would not have something sorted out for times such as this. But there you go. I still have gas hobs so it is not the end of the world. But I believed that one of the joys of renting a part furnished place was that when things went wrong......

Oh well, happy new year to you all!

silvercar

Even if you could get hold of someone at the letting agency it is extremely doubtful that they would be able to locate any parts that might be needed for a repair outside normal office ours.

They are letting agents not magicians.

chrisw

Sounds like the element has gone. They often trip the electrics when they pop. Search for the make /model on espares or ebay. They are usually around a tenner and fairly easy to fit.