Cracked induction hob - who's responsible to replace?

Steph260311

Hi
Hope this is the right forum.
I let out my old house and got a text from my tenants yesterday saying that they were wiping the induction hob after using yesterday and it now has a crack - they say they can still use the hob as its not across the heat rings.
Who is responsible for the repair/replacement of the hob?
I haven't seen the crack yet but find it difficult to believe that it would have cracked through normal use.

theartfullodger

As hob is landlord's property clearly most landlords with half-a-brain would not want tenant replacing it with whatever they think right using whatever workmen they choose who may not be qualified to work on electrics.

So I'd say landlord is responsible for replacing hob: if landlord things tenant responsible for damage (unlikely to be able to prove) he is at liberty to sue or attempt deposit recovery.

Some you win, some you lose.


Cheers!

bitsandpieces

Take a look at the hob - but, given that they tend to be glass and normal use involves putting heavy and hot pans on them, I don't think it's implausible that they'll crack without the tenant doing anything wrong. Even if the tenant did do something daft, you may well struggle to prove it.

If it does need repaired/replaced (from what you say, I don't know whether this will) I imagine you'll want to do this yourself - to be confident it's done well. If you can show it was the tenant's fault, you can then go after them for the cost (after appropriate allowance for depreciation, assuming you replace).

Steph260311

Thanks - I don't want to be seen as a bad landlord but at same time don't want to be taken advantage of. I've already told them a couple of times that if there's any issues they need to contact us ASAP.
I might check my buildings insurance and see if its worth claiming

bitsandpieces

Steph260311 wrote: »

I've already told them a couple of times that if there's any issues they need to contact us ASAP.

To be fair, it sounds like they did in this case - they contacted you the same day. If the hob's still working, it's easy to miss a crack or imperfection even if it was there for a bit - I don't exactly inspect my hob daily, anyway!

G_M

Hobs don't just 'crack' for no reason. Yes, they do need a certain amount of care in use as banging a heavy pan down (or using wrong kind of pan!) can crack them.

I have had one for 10 years now, am careful using it, and clean it carefully/regularly. It is still 'as new'.

But frankly, I would never put one in a rentalproperty.

Did you provide instructions for its use and care? Is it clear to them what saucepans are suitable/not suitable?

As to your question:

* as artful says, you should certainly arrange the repair/replacement yourself but
* the financial liability depends on the cause of the crack.
a) If the tenants damaged it through improper use (and assuming they knew HOW to use it), then they should pay.
b) if the hob was faulty, or spontaneously cracked itself (!), OR you failed to let them know what precautions to take, then you should pay.

That's the legal bit (and proof is of course difficult).

The practical bit might be that as a good LL, and in the interests of keeping good tenants happy, you just replace it (with a more robust hob?)

Wywth

As G_M says, we too have had a glass topped hob (Halogen) and it's not cracked in the 25 years we've used it.

If you use the hob correctly, it should not crack ... but as with anything, if it is abused it will probably break.

The person who broke it is responsible for the cost of replacement, but the landlord may wish to arrange for the work to be carried out themselves (but make sure such cost is not unreasonable)

A glass topped hob in a rental property was probably not a wise decision in the first place.
Kitchens & bathrooms (and anything else the landlord supplies) needs to be cheap and cheerful, so they can be regularly replaced in a rental property

Steph260311

Hi
The hob was put in about 3 years ago maybe less as the house was our home originally.
I gave all instructions to the tenants when they moved in.
I'm going to have a look and see if the crack can be repaired and replace with cheap & cheerful if not. The tenants have literally just signed for another year, so I want a good ll/tenant relationship with them.