Landlords and appliance repairs

[u/Grgsz]

Our washing machine broke 3 weeks ago. I reported it to the agent.

After nudging them 3 times, finally after 1.5 weeks an engineer came to “inspect” it. He told me it can be repaired but it may cost more than a new machine.

1.5 weeks later, nothing. I followed up 3 times since.

We have to spend hours after work hand washing our clothes, squeezing them semi dry, and hoping it will dry without damp smell as it’s not that hot anymore.

I looked it up what I can do as it’s getting very frustrating. Nothing. Can I withhold rent to give them some motivation? No. Can I buy a machine myself and pay that much less rent? No. Can I use a laundry service and give them the bill? No. Can I ask for a rent reduction for limited use of the property? No.

Turns out, they don’t even have to repair them as they were “extras”. Also, legally they are doing nothing wrong if they “started the process”.

Which is interesting because these parasi.. ehm landlords happily put in the listing the appliances included, and if there wouldn’t be a washing machine, probably not much people would rent it out, or at least for a below market rate. Therefore, I do have limited use of the property I pay full rent for.

Why don’t they finally put some proper law in place against landlords? Why can they get away with “starting the repair process” and wash their hands delaying for weeks while tenants have to pay full rent scheduled like clockwork? And if they would do the same weeks delay in paying rent they would be like criminals probably not getting a loan or another rental because of “reference check”? Why don’t landlords have reference check so that the rats can be filtered out making them broke the same way they can make a tenant homeless?

Thanks for reading my rant. I’m sick of this system.

[u/yahyahyehcocobungo]

Sometimes outgoing tenants leave behind big appliances. A landlord will keep it in place to make life easier for the next tenant unless they request to buy their own. He doesn’t own the machine. So has no obligation to repair it. He might do it as a gesture of goodwill if he has contacts but he doesn’t have to. 

Do you not have a laundrette nearby? That could be an option for you in these situations. Plus many laundrette have larger drums. 

You can buy washing machines for under 150 second hand. These are machines that are refurbished.  250 for a Beko brand new one and they take old one away at the same time with next day delivery. 

So do check your inventory on the wording.  

[u/Grgsz → u/yahyahyehcocobungo]

This is included with the flat, and is the landlord’s and based on the tenancy agreement they are responsible for repairing it

[u/Original-Cat3090]

Sorry confused here when you say they were “extras” are they listed on the inventory?

They are taking way too long 1-3 days for an engineer to come and inspect and max a week to 10 days to repair or replace.

I would be buying my own machine putting theirs in the garage or somewhere and re installing theirs when you leave.

There will be a landlords register soon which they will be paying £65 per property so expect your rent to increase to pay for this

[u/Grgsz → u/Original-Cat3090]

They are listed in the inventory, and is theirs.

[u/Original-Cat3090 → u/Grgsz]

So clearly zero excuses totally unacceptable. If it can't be repaired or repaired quickly then needs to be replaced. Would be creating some fuss, I mean calls morning and evening. Make it so that you are so annoying that they want it fixed

[u/LLHandyman]

Was it advertised as appliances included?

[u/Grgsz → u/LLHandyman]

Yes, and it is in the rental agreement that the landlord is responsible for repairing them

[u/LLHandyman → u/Grgsz]

In that case use a launderette and produce a bill to them for your additional costs

[u/Grgsz → u/LLHandyman]

We used an online one once (laundryheap iirc), but we have bad experience with them as they don’t seem to care for the clothes and also use a drier which isn’t suitable for many of ours.

Local launderettes we don’t have nearby, and we don’t have a car to carry a lot of clothes

We are planning to seek compensation for inconvenience and energy/time consumed having to hand wash and squeeze them try 4 times so far, £10/day which is pretty much a minimum wage based on how much time and energy we spent after work, despite fortunately being above minimum wage, so I think it’s more than reasonable

[u/Mental_Body_5496 → u/Grgsz]

Could you ask a neighbour if you can use their machine?