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AIBU?

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Original poster

To feel frustrated with my freezer situation as a renter?

131 replies

Silentfriend · 21/09/2024 11:27

I’ve been renting my place for a while, and for more than a few weeks now, my freezer has been malfunctioning. I turned it off and unplugged it, leaving the door open for 24h+, but it hasn’t defrosted properly, and the ice buildup is still significant.

On top of that, my cooker also packed up, and I haven’t had a working cooker for a week now.

I’ve tried several things:

  • unplugging and leaving the door open for 24h+
  • using warm water
  • clearing the drain hole

Despite my efforts, it hasn’t improved, and I’m now left without a functioning freezer for weeks. I was hoping to sort this out myself before contacting the landlord.

AIBU to be frustrated? What should I do next?

OP posts:
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Boomer55 · 21/09/2024 16:49

Before the days of frost-free freezers, I just used to sit there with a hairdryer to defrost them.

Original poster
Silentfriend · 21/09/2024 16:47

sunsetsandboardwalks · 21/09/2024 16:36

I'm not sure he's required to provide you with an alternative - most people will have ways of cooking food temporarily - microwave or the kettle to boil water at least.

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Someone else mentioned that he could so that’s why I asked

OP posts:
Original poster
Silentfriend · 21/09/2024 16:44

Whatevershallidowithmylife · 21/09/2024 16:36

You posted you were going to raise it with the LL now and you posted less than an hour later! Everyone here has been trying to help you but given you thought it might be the LL responsibility to come and defrost your freezer, well, I give up 🙄

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Please do give up because you have not got your facts right at all. I posted I was going to raise it with the landlord, I contacted him, he replied. I posted the update here. What about this is so hard to get and causing you to have a problem with what I wrote? Talking about I gave him less than an hour, I simply shared what he said. Give up and get on with your life because you are truly creating issues about nothing.

I also did not expect him to come round and defrost the freezer, nor did I think it. Clearly comprehension isn’t your strong point at all.

I appreciate the constructive comments and don’t appreciate yours. Come off the post and do give up.

OP posts:
sunsetsandboardwalks · 21/09/2024 16:36

Silentfriend · 21/09/2024 14:17

Well my landlord completely ignored my request for a temporary cooking alternative whilst I have no cooker and just told me to ask the lettings company for an update. Frustrating. He also ignored the issue about the freezer seal.

I'm not sure he's required to provide you with an alternative - most people will have ways of cooking food temporarily - microwave or the kettle to boil water at least.

Whatevershallidowithmylife · 21/09/2024 16:36

Silentfriend · 21/09/2024 13:22

After taking a closer look at the seal, I can see that it’s bent, pushed in, and peeling away. This makes sense now with what I was saying about the door closing before. I’ll raise this with the landlord now.

Show quote history

You posted you were going to raise it with the LL now and you posted less than an hour later! Everyone here has been trying to help you but given you thought it might be the LL responsibility to come and defrost your freezer, well, I give up 🙄

Original poster
Silentfriend · 21/09/2024 16:28

Whatevershallidowithmylife · 21/09/2024 16:27

You gave your LL less than an hour before posting! And yes it should be the letting agency you contact- that’s what they get paid for by the LL.

Edited
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I gave him less than an hour, what do you mean? I contacted him hours after writing this post and he replied pretty soon after. What are you talking about?

Also, I’m aware of the letting agency’s purpose, the landlord has also advised me to speak to him directly about issues and gave me his direct contact details. Stop being so patronising.

OP posts:
Original poster
Silentfriend · 21/09/2024 16:27

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Previously banned poster.

You’re confused. That hasn’t happened. And it’s the cooker hob, not the oven. A new one has not been purchased. It was a plumber that came round yesterday, not the landlord.

My comment you highlighted above was also in reference to the freezer (not the cooker) responding to someone else asking how long it had been like so and how long I had been dealing with it. Get your facts right.

OP posts:
Whatevershallidowithmylife · 21/09/2024 16:27

Silentfriend · 21/09/2024 14:17

Well my landlord completely ignored my request for a temporary cooking alternative whilst I have no cooker and just told me to ask the lettings company for an update. Frustrating. He also ignored the issue about the freezer seal.

You gave your LL less than an hour before posting! And yes it should be the letting agency you contact- that’s what they get paid for by the LL.

roastthatnut · 21/09/2024 16:19

This reply has been deleted

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roastthatnut · 21/09/2024 16:18

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MontyDonsBlueScarf · 21/09/2024 15:52

If you have a fan heater you can use that instead of a hairdryer. It doesn't have to be hot, a stream of cold air will help. Just make sure that it's supported on something or otherwise protected so that if you get more of a flood than a gentle defrost, the electrics aren't in danger of getting wet.

JammieMaggie · 21/09/2024 15:51

Silentfriend · 21/09/2024 13:02

Wow, what a comment. That’s really uncalled for. Don’t be so rude.

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I stand by it! 😂

Swissrollover · 21/09/2024 15:42

Have a look online for a new seal, they are usually quite cheap and very easy to fit yourself. You'll need the make and model number. Lots of companies available usually with "spares" in the title, or eBay or Amazon.

When renting, I often found it was easier to simply replace/ repair inexpensive things myself rather than feel stressed by the landlord/ agent taking a long time to action the repair. Not if under warranty or expensive though.

How is the defrosting going? Do you have a hairdryer blowing on it?

roastthatnut · 21/09/2024 15:30

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Previously banned poster.

Original poster
Silentfriend · 21/09/2024 14:17

Well my landlord completely ignored my request for a temporary cooking alternative whilst I have no cooker and just told me to ask the lettings company for an update. Frustrating. He also ignored the issue about the freezer seal.

OP posts:
justasking111 · 21/09/2024 13:44

Silentfriend · 21/09/2024 13:00

I do think there is a slight seal issue tbh. I’ve noticed that sometimes the door closes fully, but other times there’s a slight gap, even with no ice obstructing it. It seemed to sort itself out for a while, but then one day I opened it to find it completely frozen.

I’ll continue defrosting it, but I appreciate the reminder about the seal, and I plan to raise this with the landlord.

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My grandchildren went into the garage where we keep a spare fridge freezer, hunting ice creams. It was 24 hours before we noticed. The whole freezer was welded shut with ice all four drawers. 🙈

Missmarplesknittingbuddy · 21/09/2024 13:39

ThirstyThursday · 21/09/2024 12:37

The food doesn't need to defrost. It just need to kept frozen for a short while as the OP finishes defrosting the freezer, then putting back in the freezer.

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Obviously, if this is possible, but the OP has already had the freezer off for 24 hours so in defrosting the freezer fully some or all of the food is likely to thaw too. Was just offering a " cook and freeze " possibility if this happens .

Original poster
Silentfriend · 21/09/2024 13:22

Peachy2005 · 21/09/2024 12:43

The freezer will keep frosting up if the seal is faulty so if this is an ongoing issue, yes you do need to ask the landlord to have it looked at. I don’t understand why you can’t get it to defrost unless you live somewhere very cold. If it freezes up unreasonably fast again then I would say it’s the seal. In meantime, don’t make ice in ice cube trays (spills), try to minimise how long door is open and always double check it’s fully closed - every single time. .

After taking a closer look at the seal, I can see that it’s bent, pushed in, and peeling away. This makes sense now with what I was saying about the door closing before. I’ll raise this with the landlord now.

OP posts:
Funnywonder · 21/09/2024 13:19

Silentfriend · 21/09/2024 13:02

Wow, what a comment. That’s really uncalled for. Don’t be so rude.

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I agree. Have reported. There’s just no need.

Original poster
Silentfriend · 21/09/2024 13:02

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Wow, what a comment. That’s really uncalled for. Don’t be so rude.

OP posts:
Original poster
Silentfriend · 21/09/2024 13:00

Peachy2005 · 21/09/2024 12:43

The freezer will keep frosting up if the seal is faulty so if this is an ongoing issue, yes you do need to ask the landlord to have it looked at. I don’t understand why you can’t get it to defrost unless you live somewhere very cold. If it freezes up unreasonably fast again then I would say it’s the seal. In meantime, don’t make ice in ice cube trays (spills), try to minimise how long door is open and always double check it’s fully closed - every single time. .

I do think there is a slight seal issue tbh. I’ve noticed that sometimes the door closes fully, but other times there’s a slight gap, even with no ice obstructing it. It seemed to sort itself out for a while, but then one day I opened it to find it completely frozen.

I’ll continue defrosting it, but I appreciate the reminder about the seal, and I plan to raise this with the landlord.

OP posts:
JammieMaggie · 21/09/2024 12:58

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

sunsetsandboardwalks · 21/09/2024 12:55

If the drawers are frozen shut then this must be an ongoing issue - if you've not been keeping up with regular defrosting/maintenance then that's on you, not your landlord.

I would get a bowl of boiling water and leave it in front of the open freezer door - then make some kind of "cave" with a towel or something to contain the steam, it should start to melt the ice. Or, use a hairdryer on the hottest setting and just sit there for a while and melt the ice that way. It's what we always do and it only takes a few minutes.

SmileyHappyPeopleInTheSun · 21/09/2024 12:50

Positivenancy · 21/09/2024 12:33

Sharp object + slippery hard surface+ confined space= stupid imo, but you do you.

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Thank fuck I don't have to rely on MN for advice or permission to live my life.

I was actually agreeing with you given OP posts perhaps a knife wasn't a good idea with hindsight - it's your subsequent posts that well frankly make me well eyeroll.

justasking111 · 21/09/2024 12:48

I've used a hairdryer on the freezer.

Take out the food, cover it in a duvet. Blast the hair dryer at it and chip away

Have to add after doing all that the freezer was still buggered. So ordered a new one off AO.com.

You need to itemize the spoilt food and claim on your contents insurance.