Oven broken - who pays?

shelleywa

Hi all,

My oven has just broken!

I am renting the property privately with my Landlady but we still got the contract drawn up by a local letting agent. Having trawled through the contract and tried to decipher it (why can't they just write these things in plain English?!) I have found the following clause:

Landlords Obligations
To take reasonable steps to ensure that the Landlord's domestic gas and electrical appliances and other similar mechanical appliances in the premises for which he is responsible are safe, in proper working order and in repair both at commencement of, and during the tenancy, as may be necessary from time to time in order to comply with the Landlord's obligations under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994, the plugs and sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994.

Can someone please tell me what this blurb is saying and ultimately, who is responsible for the cost of the repair work?

Also, if it is the Landlady's responsibility, do I leave it up to her to organise the repair work with her chosen repair company?

Many thanks in advance!

somethingcorporate

Sounds like it is her responsibility.

Have you talked to her about it?

PasturesNew

Her responsibility. Contact her and the agent, by writing a proper letter, asking them to get a little man out or replace it.

[Deleted User]

Should be your landlord/ladys responsibility.

Werdnal

Sounds like the LL is responsible BUT it also depends on the nature of the problem with the oven. If LL can prove the fault/failure was down to misuse, then you could be held responsible for the cost of repairs.

Report in writing (letter), direct to the LL if you deal with them, and request they arrange an inspection/repair at their earliest opportunity.

shelleywa

Thanks! That's a bit of good news then :T

No, I haven't spoken to her yet. Shouldn't be a problem though, hopefully - she's usually very fair/helpful. Just wanted to be armed just in case!

Thanks again.

dimbo61

Is it a gas oven ? have you got a copy of the Gas safety certificate ?

G_M

If you have a good relationship, start with a phone call and friendly chat. Follow up with a quick friendly note just so it's formally recorded:

"Further to our conversation yesterday regarding the oven repair, thanks ever so much for your help and I llok forward to hearing from the repair engineer as discussed" or similar.

If you have a bad relationship, skip the phone call and write a more formal letter.

Counting_Pennies_2

We had problems with our appliances when we rented and our landlady organised a company to come out and fix it the next day.

It will be with a company of their choice as they are paying the bill for it

thelem

Anything on the inventory forms part of your tenancy agreement so the landlord is responsible for maintaining it, provided you have not damaged it through misuse, in which case you are responsible.

G_M

thelem wrote: »

Anything on the inventory forms part of your tenancy agreement so the landlord is responsible for maintaining it, provided you have not damaged it through misuse, in which case you are responsible.

Sorry - this is not necessarily true.

In this case it is, since the clause in the tenancy agreement makes it clear.