Fridge/Freezer replacement in Furnished flat rental

BossHogg

My Daughter is at her wits end as the built-in fridge freezer in her flat keeps going off so she comes home to a puddle and warm food. She is a teaching assistant and has lost 2 fridge/freezer fulls so far.

Agent (LIV) have had a engineer out and said it needs replaced, but it has now been 3 weeks waiting for the Landlord to give the OK.Several calls and emails have not helped to move things forward (and some suggestion that the Agent is about to be replaced by Landlord).

She cannot keep any food fresh, even the milk is going off. It may take 2 more months to get a new Agent in place while the old one does not care.

I've suggested that her only option is to write and formally state that they are in breach of her tenancy agreement and look to find another flat in Leeds.Then there will be a battle to get the deposit back.She is near to tears every time we call as she cannot afford to eat-out or throw away more food.

Is there anyone she can turn to for help, or is the only recourse to be prepared to move out? Could she for example write to say that she will arrange for replacement and take the cost out of future rent payments or is that crossing a line?

Any advice would be most welcome.

anselld

The first step is to confirm what the tenancy agreement states about the maintenance of white goods.

BossHogg

The wording includes...
"To maintain the Property and the Contents therein in good repair during the tenancy, except in respect of damage or through negligence or misuse caused by the Tenant, his invited guests or visitors,..."
and also...
"To take reasonable steps to ensure that the Landlord’s domestic gas and electrical appliances and other similar mechanical appliances in the Property for which he is responsible are safe, in proper working order, and in repair both at commencement of and during the tenancy, in order to comply with the Landlord’s obligations under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 and the Plugs and Sockets etc., (Safety) Regulations 1994."

tlc678910

Could she ask for a fridge on freecycle or buy one second hand on eBay local collection or a furniture charity shop (they tend to deliver). Then, although inconvenient I know, store the landlords fridge (with the door held ajar) so it is returned with the property and she can take her fridge with her.
Tlc

davidmcn

Surely the easiest option is just to get her own replacement?

G_M

Has she written formally to the landlord at the address " for serving notices", explaining the history of the problem and referring to the relevant clause in the tenancy agreement and asking for a timescale for replacement?


Ultimately she could purchase a replacement herself and deduct the cost from the rent, but she must follow a specific process and that letter is step 1.


See


Shelter ( claiming back cost of repairs via rent)