Something not working in holiday rental - annoyance or money back?

I would request a 10%/15% refund. No hot water in the kitchen of a self catering holiday let is a nuisance. Having to boil water to wash dishes, rinse out cloths, wipe down surfaces, wash hands etc would be a complete pain.

To the poster who said they always use cold water to wash hands and dishes - really - if you’ve just used a chopping board to dice raw chicken - do you just rinse the utensils you used in cold water. And do you really just rinse used cutlery in cold water ?

As usual lots of people posting saying that something that would actually be very irritating and time consuming (and yes - potentially dangerous for the reasons you have pointed out) isn’t a big deal!

I agree with everything posted here and hope the OP sees it and takes your advice.

I wouldn’t be happy at all if I went away and had to waste time boiling kettles of water to wash up and cold water just isn’t the same for getting things clean. My boiler broke down last year and I had to wait a few days to get a part for it delivered and it was a right pain for the reasons mentioned here. I had to boil the kettle and fill the sink with hot water to wash my hands whilst cooking and after handling raw meat, then I’d have to pour that dirty water away and rinse with cold water.
It took ages for the kettle to boil and washing big pans and anything greasy was difficult. I had to buy disposable wipes to clean surfaces.

You don’t have to kick up a huge fuss OP but I’d hope that they would offer some sort of discount if you mention that you have a good stay but it would have been far better if you’d had hot water. The owner is more likely to take the issue seriously if you mention the positive aspects of the place because they they know they would have likely had a glowing review with full marks if they make sure all appliances are working. Even having just one negative review can put people off.

Hardly a pile on.

OP asked for opinions, quite a few people had the opinion that it wouldn't bother them that much. Or do you think people who only agree with the OP should be allowed to discuss the issue?

For the record, I wouldn't book a cottage which said "no hot water in the kitchen", but for the time and energy it would take to chase up what would be what, like £20, I would just let it go. I once booked a cottage where the oven didn't work. I reported it, but managed to go a couple of days without it and not let it ruin my holiday. Stuff breaks occasionally.

I use cottages a lot and tbh I would just let it go. Stuff happens. Once the tv wouldn't work and we had no tv for 48 hours. Another time we had a problem with a bath, with water spraying everywhere. Maintenance issues are a pain but taking money for the inconvenience is a bit petty imo.

Are you sure a tradie didn't come in to take a look whilst you were out? We normally ask guests permission to access and fix this sort of thing whilst they are out and about.

Only once has anyone said no and they had to live without the appliance.

I was expecting some minor thing to be broken. I think hot water is a pretty basic expectation of a holiday let, id certainly be letting them know I wasn't delighted. Lots of other things I have and would let go but hot water Id defo mention.

Probably depends how the host handled it. My mum has a holiday let and things go wrong sometimes - it's rural so it's not like in a city where you call lots of plumbers until one is available to pop round immediately, it can take days or weeks to get someone out.

I've had similar problems as a guest and if the host ignores or refuses to fix I complain, if they're doing their best I don't.

I think I'd expect some money back, but maybe not a huge amount. I'd probably settle for a bottle of wine. Hot water in the kitchen is a very basic expectation. Fine in your own home to go without for a few days, but not in holiday. Otherwise it's basically camping

I can’t believe some of the replies on this thread ! Hot water is a completely normal requirement for a holiday rental or for any home. Have a good moan at them and see what happens OP.

Honestly, if the location was perfect, yes.
If there were comparible properties nearby that did, maybe not. But not because easy pan washing was high on my list of deal breakers 😁

Yes I would expect hot water from hot tap in kitchen if not available from special fancy tap.

I would be really really annoyed about that. I can't believe the people who think you are being unreasonable!

So, hand on heart, if a property listing said that there was no hot water tap in the kitchen, would you book it?

Washing greasy dishes that have had say.. lasagne on, roast dinner with gravy, greasy food... washing all that in cold water is really quite revolting. Because there will always be smears of grease left on the plates and dishes that just cannot be removed with cold water, and all that will be wiped onto tea towels.

OP I would be pissed off with it, and depending on their reaction, I would expect a small refund.

I wouldn’t spend half my holiday in the kitchen, so with a kettle and a dishwasher available I don’t think I’d find it a major inconvenience, really.

Ah, the usual pile on and derails I see. Hot water in a kitchen is a fundamental in most people's book. Who would book a holiday rental that said "NO HOT WATER"? Answer - no one. If someone had come around same or next day to look at the problem fair dos, even if a fix wasn't possible, it would have showed intent. But not to turn up, that deserves comments in reviews and,yes, some compensation.

I’d always boil a kettle for tea rather than use a fancy hot water tap

Seriously, if there’s a dishwasher you can’t have been inconvenienced all that much.
How much time can you have spent washing up a couple of pans!

I'd complain.
I'd not bother arsing about washing pots though. Plates/bowls/cups for how many of you? Is that why you can't fit pans in?
Just stick the dishwasher on twice / three times a day?

Given how long it takes my hot water to come through in the kitchen, it's probably quicker for me to boil my kettle instead! 😂

Boiling the kettle multiple times will have cost the owner more in electricity as well while you've had to do it.

I'd highlight it as a point to say that it was very inconvenient and frustrating that it didn't work and include it in my review of the property. If they want to offer a partial refund, they will, but I don't think I'd be pushing for it.

There's nothing wrong with washing your hands in cold water (I refer back to my first point about my slow hot water - I don't have any choice unless I wait an age every time I want to wash my hands while cooking).

If it had been the bathroom hot water, yes, definitely substantial refund due, but kitchen? It wouldn't bother me massively to the point of wanting a refund, but you're right to highlight it as a problem in your review.

There was no hot tap. Maybe try reading the OP's posts before being clever?

Just got back from a high-end holiday let. We had a few issues e.g. main oven not working. Absolutely ask for some money back, would drive me mad having no hot water.

The fact that there is a kettle supplied would make me think the tap hadn’t been working for a while. If you have a working boiling tap you have no need of a kettle.