Can I Ask The Landlord/Estate Agency to buy us a Freezer?

Alarae

Basically over 6 weeks ago we reserved our rental property after viewing. During this viewing we were shown a small undercounter fridge, then a separate freezer in the cupboard under the stairs. We were led to believe this freezer was included- we even specified at the time.

Two days before we were to move in, I get a call confirming the inventory time and "oh, also you do realise that the freezer does not come with the property?" I said no, I didn't, but asked if there was a freezer come with the property. She confirmed there was, and left it at that.

My partner did the inventory, and not only is there not a freezer as such, it is a SINGLE SHELF in the fridge. It is minuscule, and had I known this was what we were receiving I never would have rented this property!

Do I have a claim under misrepresentation? All I was is for them to provide a small freezer for the cupboard which we were led to believe came with the property in the first place. We are happy to go out and buy the freezer and take it home, as long as we get reimbursed in some manner.

We have looked at a cheap standard freezer, which is £110. I'd either want to be reimbursed for the purchase or £10 taken off the monthly rent.

Do I have a case here? They did not tell us about the lack of freezer until two days before we were set to move, so we couldn't find somewhere else even if we wanted to!

Annie1960

Looking at the posts on this forum from other tenants, if this is your only problem with the LL then count yourself lucky!

anselld

Nothing to stop you asking, but it isn't worth arguing about.

Pick one up second hand. Then either take it with you or sell it on when you leave.

lighting_up_the_chalice

You could ask, but I wouldn't hold your breath.

A second hand freezer can be picked up for next to nothing. Is it really worth starting a tenancy on a sour note for the sake of buying a cheap freezer you can then take with you/sell on when you leave?

BitterAndTwisted

The freezer most likely belonged to the previous tenant but the agent didn't know that.

Misrepresentation? Don't be daft!

You can ask for anything you like, even the moon on a stick but that doesn't mean not getting it is a crime or even a contractual breach.

Just buy a freezer and take it with you when you leave.

pmlindyloo

Although I agree with the advice given - buy one yourself and take it with you I am wondering whether this might come under this:

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/cpregs/oft1008.pdf

specifially page 16 where it says that giving false information to deceive the customer where such practice is likely to cause the consumer to take a different decision would be unfair.

Anyone?

Even if it is have you got any evidence to back this up other than a verbal one. Was the freezer advertised as part of the rental particulars on the LA website? Did you sign the contract before or after you were told there was no freezer in the cupboard for you?

Only problem is, even if you had a case for them to provide a freezer , you might be seen as a troublesome tenant and get a notice for possession PBQ. Not worth the hassle in my humble opinion.

kinger101

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

The freezer most likely belonged to the previous tenant but the agent didn't know that

If the agent wasn't sure, they should have checked. But I tend to agree with the other posters, that it's probably not worth starting a tenancy on a bad footing for the sake of a freezer which you could pick up for £40 second hand.

The agent does seem like a weasel though, so I'd try do deal with them by e-mail in future, so that there's a written record of everything they say.

POPPYOSCAR

Alarae wrote: »

Basically over 6 weeks ago we reserved our rental property after viewing. During this viewing we were shown a small undercounter fridge, then a separate freezer in the cupboard under the stairs. We were led to believe this freezer was included- we even specified at the time.

Two days before we were to move in, I get a call confirming the inventory time and "oh, also you do realise that the freezer does not come with the property?" I said no, I didn't, but asked if there was a freezer come with the property. She confirmed there was, and left it at that.

My partner did the inventory, and not only is there not a freezer as such, it is a SINGLE SHELF in the fridge. It is minuscule, and had I known this was what we were receiving I never would have rented this property!

Do I have a claim under misrepresentation? All I was is for them to provide a small freezer for the cupboard which we were led to believe came with the property in the first place. We are happy to go out and buy the freezer and take it home, as long as we get reimbursed in some manner.

We have looked at a cheap standard freezer, which is £110. I'd either want to be reimbursed for the purchase or £10 taken off the monthly rent.

Do I have a case here? They did not tell us about the lack of freezer until two days before we were set to move, so we couldn't find somewhere else even if we wanted to!

Really?, your decision to rent this property was based on a fridge and freezer?

societys_child

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

Really?, your decision to rent this property was based on a fridge and freezer?

Apparently . . .

---

#FirstWorldProblems

jjlandlord

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

The freezer most likely belonged to the previous tenant but the agent didn't know that.

Likely what happened, especially considering the agent's employees doing the viewings usually look like they ended there because they were under-qualified for the till at Tesco...

This is of the things I learned when I was a tenant:
(1) When viewing, specifically ask whether every appliance (and piece of furniture) you see is included.
(2) When handing over money and filling the application, you put it in writing that this is on the basis that "as confirmed by landlord/agent during our viewing, the fridge/freezer/whatever seen will be provided".

Alarae

It does seem like a minor issue, but considering the price of the rental I really wouldn't have bothered with renting a place without adequate freezer space. It's an extra expense that wouldn't have been needed. It's just really niggling because other rentals in the same price have this included, as I was led to believe this would as well.

I'm probably taking this issue harder than I should, but my agents have been totally rubbish up until now. Nothing heard after initial reservation fee for a few weeks until I had to chase them to issue the contracts to sign. Then this phone call two days prior to the tenancy...

Perhaps I'll just email in a complaint to the agents about how they have handled things. They really just need a kick up the backside because their communication has been absolute tripe.