White goods in rented accomodation

jebervic

If a property has been let out as unfurnished but has a washing machine, cooker, fridge and freezer, can the landlord remove any of these items, for example if a tenant was complaining that one or more items weren't working properly, can the landlord just remove the item? or does he/she have to fix/replace it?.

clutton_2

are these items on the inventory ? if not they you need to get them included on the inventory asap. i believe that a landlord HAS to provide the means of cooking and hot water at all times.

Guy_Montag

That happened to me - unfurnished flat, though white goods were included, but since the fridge-freezer was brown (surely the only brown firdge-freezer in the world) the LA agent claimed it wasn't their responsibility.

I'm not sure what the situation really is.

jebervic

clutton wrote: »

are these items on the inventory ? if not they you need to get them included on the inventory asap. i believe that a landlord HAS to provide the means of cooking and hot water at all times.

mmmm, a clause in the tenancy agreement says the landlord is responsible for a list of items "but not other fixtures, fittings and appliances for making use of water or electricity" so presumably this ecluseds dishwasher, washing machine and electric cookers ?

kodokan

clutton wrote: »

are these items on the inventory ? if not they you need to get them included on the inventory asap. i believe that a landlord HAS to provide the means of cooking and hot water at all times.

On the means of cooking point - I researched this when we moved into an unfurnished and cookerless house, and it turns out the house only needs to have either a gas or electric point to enable the tenant to fit their own cooker; providing the actual appliance isn't obligatory.

I would have thought that so long as the appliances are on the inventory, then the landlord has to repair/ replace/ reduce the rent..?

kodokan

jebervic

kodokan wrote: »

On the means of cooking point - I researched this when we moved into an unfurnished and cookerless house, and it turns out the house only needs to have either a gas or electric point to enable the tenant to fit their own cooker; providing the actual appliance isn't obligatory.

I would have thought that so long as the appliances are on the inventory, then the landlord has to repair/ replace/ reduce the rent..?

kodokan

yes but if the tenacy agreement states "but not other fixtures, fittings and appliances for making use of water or electricity" then surely a washing machine or diswasher are appliances that make use of water and are therefore excluded?, whether on an iventory or not, surely they can be removed and signed as being removed from the inventory?.

sooz

look a few lines further in your agreement.

my agreements say the same thing, ie I as landlord am responsible for maintaining the utility supplies, but further down the contract it says i'm also responsible the the bits I have provided that connect to the supplies..ie taps, sinks, cookers, fridges etc. i'll dig out a contract tomorrow and have a look for you.

clutton_2

sooz there are thousands of different tenancy agreements - its what is in the OP's agreement that will be important here

olly300

jebervic wrote: »

If a property has been let out as unfurnished but has a washing machine, cooker, fridge and freezer, can the landlord remove any of these items, for example if a tenant was complaining that one or more items weren't working properly, can the landlord just remove the item? or does he/she have to fix/replace it?.

If they are not the landlords' property the landlord doesn't have to fix, replace or even remove them.

Some tenants leave stuff i.e. furniture, appliances in properties and instead of landlords' chucking them away they leave them there as they can't be bothered to remove them or deduct money from the previous tenants deposits for the costs of rubbish removal.

Some contracts make it explicity clear that it's the tenants responsibility for removing non-working applicances. Others don't.

The best course of action is to ask in writing whether the applicances are the landlord's as they were there when you moved in and get a written response from them. If the applicances are not the landlord's then you can do what you like with them.

jebervic

sooz wrote: »

look a few lines further in your agreement.

my agreements say the same thing, ie I as landlord am responsible for maintaining the utility supplies, but further down the contract it says i'm also responsible the the bits I have provided that connect to the supplies..ie taps, sinks, cookers, fridges etc. i'll dig out a contract tomorrow and have a look for you.

you must mean this

"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 is he is responsible are safe, in proper working order and in in repair both at the time of commencement of, and during the tenancy, as may be neccesary from time to time. in order to comply with the landlords obligations under the gas safety (installation and use) regulations 1998, the electrical equipment (safety) regulations 1994, the plugs and sockets etc

now my interpretation of that is as follows

this section below specifically says the landlord is not responsible for these items

"but not other fixtures, fittings and appliances for making use of water or electricity"


but the section you mentioned and I have shown says "for which he is responsible for"

jebervic

olly300 wrote: »

If they are not the landlords' property the landlord doesn't have to fix, replace or even remove them.

Some tenants leave stuff i.e. furniture, appliances in properties and instead of landlords' chucking them away they leave them there as they can't be bothered to remove them or deduct money from the previous tenants deposits for the costs of rubbish removal.

Some contracts make it explicity clear that it's the tenants responsibility for removing non-working applicances. Others don't.

The best course of action is to ask in writing whether the applicances are the landlord's as they were there when you moved in and get a written response from them. If the applicances are not the landlord's then you can do what you like with them.

the items are the landlords and on the inventory, but the contract specifically excludes "fixtures, fittings and appliances for making use of water or electricity" therefore he/she is not liable for repairs to washing machines or diswashers even if they are an inventory- well thats my interpretation.

Any other thoughts?