Lanlord does not seem keen on me installing a tumble dryer. My rights?

JDBMSKE

I've been living in rented accommodation for about a year and a half and have been doing my laundry so far with nearby family. After being in a better economic position and wanting more convenience I'm now going to do it at my own expense, and want to get a condenser tumble dryer in my flat to use in conjunction with a washing machine the landlord provides communally in the building on a old coin operated meter. There is space for it in an empty section of the kitchen worktop intended for appliances.



When I've asked the landlord about this he's had a very reluctant response which suggests he's not keen on the idea without outright saying 'I don't want you to get one'.

He says that no tenant in the building has asked to use one before and suggests most tenants use the high spin cycle on the washing machine and air the clothes in their flats, and highlighted the risk of fire from a tumble dryer as a concern. He seems very keen for me to use the washing machine, even offering to come down and show me how it works!

Clearly that would work, but I only have a studio flat with a bedroom and don't want to have drying clothes everywhere, or to have the windows open in the winter with electric heating, or risk damage from damp, which I'm sure he's aware of. Above all else if I see fit to spend my money on a machine and the electric bill what business of it is his?

He's asked about my insurance coverage, and as part of my home contents cover I have 'Occupiers and personal liability' cover that should surely cover me for destroying the building through negligence? And I assume he must have buildings insurance that would cover fire as well.

The only issue I can see is there is a clause in the tenancy agreement that I can't do anything that would increase or invalidate his buildings insurance, and perhaps he has a lower premium because he has said no tumble dryers are used by tenants, though he has not come out and said this is the problem. There is no specific part of the agreement covering washing and drying beyond not allowing damp or mould to form.

What are my rights in regards to this? I really would benefit from a tumble dryer as I feel it would fit my lifestyle, and a rarely used A++ rated model will hardly cost anything to run per year. I have a reasonable relationship with him and don't really want to resort to legal advice and the letter of the law if I can.

Is it possible he's just not sure about what I'm allowed to do because this is the first time it has come up or is there something suspicious going on?

G_M

Providing you cause no damage (particularly to the fabric of the building), and leave the property at the end of the tenancy as you found it at the start, you can do as you wish.

Carrot007

Is he an idiot?


He want you to air clothes in the house causing damp rather than use a tumble dryer?


Now You probably mean a B rated one unless you want to spend £1000. But still!


Modern sensing ones are really not a fire risk as long as you clean them properly. Or even if you do not! (they just stop if they get too hot - I think I cleaned the codenser bit out after a year! Do the fluff all the time though but it does get down into the condensor a bit. Get one with a top water collector if you want it easy!

HampshireH

Are you in a studio apartment with a communal washing room or kitchen ?

If so this makes the communal area his responsibility. That includes any risk from appliances which others could potentially use. Have you asked about him installing one for everyone and therefore he can ensure its safety, pat tested and serviced as he sees fit?

What rights does your tenancy agreement give you to the communal areas?

How would you know the cost of the electric ? Not that it would be of any great amount

JDBMSKE

Carrot007 wrote: »

Is he an idiot?


He want you to air clothes in the house causing damp rather than use a tumble dryer?


Now You probably mean a B rated one unless you want to spend £1000. But still!

Thanks for the responses, there are a few A++ heap pump dryers out there for less than 1k. Still relatively pricey but I'm happy to see them as an investment.

It is rather odd, as everything I could find online suggested landlords dread tenants drying clothes on radiators etc.

I may just have to say to him he's entitled to think I'm mad for getting one, but if he can't come up with a valid reason not to have one I will get one.

HampshireH wrote: »

Are you in a studio apartment with a communal washing room or kitchen ?

If so this makes the communal area his responsibility. That includes any risk from appliances which others could potentially use. Have you asked about him installing one for everyone and therefore he can ensure its safety, pat tested and serviced as he sees fit?

What rights does your tenancy agreement give you to the communal areas?

How would you know the cost of the electric ? Not that it would be of any great amount

The flat is self contained and I don't share anything with anyone else. There is a washing machine in the building basement which is communal access, though not set out in the contract. I suppose he could install one next to the washer, but they seem quite reluctant to spend money, and already seem quite self satisfied with the current arrangements.

I've looked at what the manufacturers estimate for their machines and my unit electricity cost, and assumed as a single occasional user it would not exceed that.

Marvel1

I dry clothes indoors in winter, I run a dehumidifier, no issues.

HampshireH

In which case your insurance and tenancy probably mean from your flat door inwards and don't cover amything that is not within your flat.

Therefore you dont have a right to put a tumble dryer in the communal area. You wont be able to monitor its use or anybody tampering with it (not saying they would) and ultimately your LL would be liable if anything went wrong.

It would be unusual for your contents insurance to cover a domestic appliance in a communal area which could in theory be subject to use or misuse by others.

Im not a LL but can guess this is the angle the LL is taking

Alter_ego

OP wants to use dryer in own flat. See post 1

JDBMSKE

Yes, it's going in my own kitchen in my flat, sorry if that's not clear from what I wrote : )

His main angle seems to the the insurance, so that's the main thing I want to clarify.

HampshireH

Oh gosh. Been a long day sorry i read it going alongside the communal.

Ignore everything I said an plug in at your hearts content:beer:

G_M

JDBMSKE wrote: »

.....there are a few A++ heap pump dryers out there for less than 1k.

Where do these driers vent the water extracted from the clothes?


Some require an external vent through the wall to direct the warm damp air outside. That involves structural damage.


If you vent such a machine internally, the damp air will cause condensation (and potentially mould) inside.


Some, I believe, cool the air to that the steam turns to water which can drain away.