Fridge freezer broken down - new one in 3 weeks?

21yrold

Hi guys,

Im posting on behalf of my friend, i know its not ideal but im registered on here etc hes not and at work!

His fridge freezer packed in last weekend (23rd) hes spoken to the letting agent and apparently they cant have a new one until the 10 of April?

Is this the normal length? He is unable to store any food and is eating out atm at a huge expense!

Is there anyway he can make them speed up with the process or is it a case of waiting?

He lives in Birmingham city centre, renting

I understand its difficult to give the best answers so sorry in advance!

pinkteapot

Others will know more about his rights, but it is possible to eat/drink without using a fridge freezer.

Pasta with a jar of pasta sauce. Add tinned tuna if you want meat/fish in it. Jacket potato with beans. Sandwiches with spreads (jam/marmite/peanut butter).

He shouldn't need to eat out for every meal.

Also, takeaway would be cheaper than eating out.

p.s. if he needs more ideas for meals to make without a fridge/freezer, post on the old-style board - they're amazing with that sort of question.

BitterAndTwisted

It's a case of waiting. The agent cannot compel a landlord to replace white goods or source one themselves without the landlord's explicit consent. Some tenancy agreements do not have the landlord accepting responsibility for the service or replacement of white goods, so you pal is lucky that they're going to get one, albeit in three week's time.

If the wait is going to be too long they could consider getting a temporary replacement through something like FreeCycle.

21yrold

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

It's a case of waiting. The agent cannot compel a landlord to replace white goods or source one themselves without the landlord's explicit consent. Some tenancy agreements do not have the landlord accepting responsibility for the service or replacement of white goods, so you pal is lucky that they're going to get one, albeit in three week's time.

If the wait is going to be too long they could consider getting a temporary replacement through something like FreeCycle.

Oh ok, wasn't a major major issue as there both out at work all day etc but if there was a way to get them to speed it up he would have taken it, thanks for letting me know and also about the food ideas :P

Its one of those fitted kitchens with the door as a cupboard so might be why its taking time maybe?

studentsaver166

This happened to us a few months ago, though luckily it was snowing so we were able to keep a few things on the balcony in buckets!

The other posters are right that technically you can't force the landlord to do it quicker as it's not an 'emergency'. That said, it's massively inconvenient and if the appliance belongs to him/her then they really ought to replace it. 3 weeks sounds like far too long. Most companies that I looked at delivered within 2-3 days. Maybe ask why it's going to take so long? Perhaps try to be helpful by researching reasonably-priced examples yourself or offering to buy it yourself and deduct from the rent, providing the landlord with the receipt? Give them options; that's what we did.

studentsaver166

21yrold wrote: »

Its one of those fitted kitchens with the door as a cupboard so might be why its taking time maybe?

They don't take any longer to source, they're just more expensive. Ours is the same.