Is this petty?

Fireflyaway

Yes as soon as we moved in I reported the washing machine and I reported the fridge the day it broke. The agents have a very good system where its all recorded online.
Yes I'd pay extra for a hot tub! Come on though that's a bit different. The LL doesn't know if we have the means to replace the white goods. A hot tub is a luxury but fridge and washer is an essential. I don't think its unreasonable to expect him to replace such things promptly if they break.

Cakeguts

It doesn't make any difference to rents whether there are white goods or not. Some people want them because they don't have any. Some people don't because they have got their own.

rach_k

I wouldn't ask out of fear that the landlord has a garage full of smelly, old-but-functional appliances that he would drop round for you rather than give you any money off! What would happen then?

BLOW_FLY

Rather than ask for a direct rent reduction, what about asking for a small rental concession if you are faced with a rental increase in the future?

I think that would be my approach.

BF

konark

Unless it's in the contract LLs have no duty to replace white goods.

FBaby

The actual house we are in is really nice and in good repair etc but I know if I supplied white goods I ensure they work and are in a good state

I think you're looking at it the wrong way. The LL left the white goods because it was easier and he assumed that it could be used by new tenants. Otherwise, he would have got rid of them and the rent you paid would have been just the same. He probably saw it as doing you a favour, not that he wanted to rent the place with white goods and asking for a higher rent for it.

You could ask for a reduction, but even if he agreed, this could then be followed at the end of your fixed term by a notice of increase of rent.

sheff6107

You pay to rent them but if a washer costs £200 and is expected to last 5 years, that means you pay £3.33 a month.

So with 2 appliances you'd only really be looking at £6.66 a month reduction.