Mystery of the disappearing White Goods

Viking_Man

We moved back to the UK last May, and rented a property in the West Midlands. The house is a terraced house rented unfurnished, and came with a built-in gas cooker and a fridge, but no washing machine. So we bought a washing machine and plumbed it in.

Now we're looking to rent somewhere nearer my children's school. We looked at one house, also unfurnished, but it came with only an electric cooker, no washing machine or fridge.

In the end we didn't go with that house, but then found somewhere better and have signed up to rent this new place from around the end of April. But this new place comes with no washing machine, no fridge, and even no cooker.

It used to be the case that unfurnished rental properties came with "white goods". I don't know if this is a legal requirement or just common practice. But is this practice in decline now, and tenants are expected to provide their own white goods? Anyone else have any experiences of this?

djm1972

Hi,

There's no legislation regarding what must be included in an unfurnished rental, but when I was investigating letting my flat recently all the agencies that I had round to give an appraisal recommended including the Fridge/Freezer and Washer/Dryer...

Innys

As a landlord, I provide cooker, fridge/freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher.

I don't even have the last two in my own house, but tenants expect them to be available these days.

On the other hand, the washing machine and the dishwasher both broke in my let house in the last three months. Obviously, I had to replace them, but that's the risk you take with renting...

fesdufun

It seems to vary. I have just relet our house and it was fully furnished however most people seem to want it unfurnished so we removed everything except the gas cooker, we did have a fridge, freezer and washing machine in there but the new tenants already have these so we took them out. I think people like to try to build up furniture and white goods in anticipation that they will have their own house one day.

clutton_2

i think provision of white goods is determined by the sort of tenants you have, and what they expect. i never provide any white goods - i provide built in cookers, but, that's all.

every portable electrical appliance now needs certification - yet more expense.

anguk

clutton wrote:

i think provision of white goods is determined by the sort of tenants you have, and what they expect. i never provide any white goods - i provide built in cookers, but, that's all.

every portable electrical appliance now needs certification - yet more expense.

If it's short term tenants you're after I'd say it's best to provide the white goods but if you're going for long term they'd probably prefer to have their own stuff.

furndire

I would imagine that a lot depends on what rent a landlord is getting as to whether they provide the white goods.

franklee

fesdufun wrote:

I think people like to try to build up furniture and white goods in anticipation that they will have their own house one day.

That would be fine if there was always the same size slot available for all white goods. But these days there are so many variations, slim line, full width, tall fridge with freezer underneath, fridge and freezer side by side, inset or freestanding. A tenant with their own white goods simply can't know what size and shape will fit in the available space where which is why I prefer properties that come with them provided.

If there was a freestanding standard gap available for each appliance in all rented properties then I'd prefer my own, but there isn't. I can't put any freestanding appliances in my current place anyway as everything in inset.

thesaint

clutton wrote:

i think provision of white goods is determined by the sort of tenants you have, and what they expect. i never provide any white goods - i provide built in cookers, but, that's all.

every portable electrical appliance now needs certification - yet more expense.

What certification is this?

I knew Gas appliances need a certificate yearly, but I was not aware of portable electrical appliances needing an equivalent.

Is a washing machine portable?

clutton_2

it is a common misconception that electrical goods/installations do not need checking. Under the various Health and Safety at work Acts - landlords have a specific "duty of care" to provide a safe environment for tenants. Whilst there is no specific piece of legislation (as far as i know) which says that a certificate is required (it will be in the not too distant future) - the ONLY way a landlord can be sure that he has fulfilled his "duty" is by certification - a PAT certificate shows that portable (capable of being carried out of the building) appliances are safe; and a Periodic Inspection certificate shows that the installation is safe. Periodics can last for several years

This makes little sense - in so far as the CORGI regs actually say we should re-certificate in between each tenant !!!!

clutton_2

it is a common misconception that electrical goods/installations do not need checking. Under the various Health and Safety at work Acts - landlords have a specific "duty of care" to provide a safe environment for tenants. Whilst there is no specific piece of legislation (as far as i know) which says that a certificate is required (it will be in the not too distant future) - the ONLY way a landlord can be sure that he has fulfilled his "duty" is by certification - a PAT certificate shows that portable (capable of being carried out of the building) appliances are safe; and a Periodic Inspection certificate shows that the installation is safe. Periodics can last for several years

This makes little sense - in so far as the CORGI regs actually say we should re-certificate in between each tenant !!!!