Landlord dragging feet about replacing oven

[MackerelOfFact]

I have lived in this property for a year, the development and fixtures are aboout 5 years old. Three weeks ago the oven stopped working (in fact it turned itself on while we were in the kitchen, and couldn't be turned off - so we turned off the mains power and the next time we went to it, it wouldn't do anything).

I called the landlord immediately and he assured me that he would send someone round the next day - would call be back with a time. I have called him nearly every day since, and apart from him deciding that it's not repairable after about a week of me calling - which I think was just because he didn't want to go to the bother of sending anyone out - nothing has happened. For a week he has been assuring me that he has 'ordered' a new one and that it will arrive 'in a day or two' - keeps promising to call me back with a day and time (I will need to be in for delivery) but never does. I am at my wits' end, and even stayed in all day Saturday because he said he would pop round and give me the paperwork for the delivery, but didn't.

I don't actually believe he's even actually ordered it, I have also asked him to email the confirmation of the order and delivery but hasn't. And once we have it, I don't trust that he'll send someone round to install it either.

What can I do? DP suggested that we do it ourselves and then bill them for the cost of repairs, but worried they won't pay. Also a bit worried about withholding rent since the contract stipulates the property has to be inhabitable before reduction of rent it considered.

[Unwind]

Check Shelter advice online for your region.

[lalalonglegs]

You could write to him saying that he has to replace it by a certain time otherwise you will do it yourself (I would also be tempted to send him links to particularly expensive ovens so that he may feel more motivated to get on with it himself). It is a bit of a high risk strategy though - if he doesn't replace it, do you really want to have responsibility?

[MackerelOfFact]

Thanks for the suggestions, I looked on the Shelter site but the 'repairs' they talked about seemed to refer more to structural or building repairs. Not sure if the same rules apply to fixtures and fittings? They strongly advise against funding it yourself though.

I will write to the landlord, it's a management company and the person responsible for our property changed at the start of this year. The previous guy was much better, this one is pretty useless. Problem is, I only know his first name.