To insist that Landlord ensures we have a usable oven by xmas??

[BrieAndChilli]

Handle on our oven had fallen apart (it comes off every few months since we moved in 8 years ago, we've always screwed it back on and got on with it) last time we got the landlords handyman to come fix it as we knew it was on its last legs and wanted someone else to be responsible if it was unfixable, he fixed it but agreed it was a bit of a bodge job.
He's just come round again and said no way can he fix it as the plastic holding the handle to the door has basically disintegrated! He's taken photos to send to the landlord to find a replacement

It's quite an old oven and I've searched online and can't find the right handle anywhere, even eBay.

I will be livid if we can't use the oven for xmas, what are my rights to demand that we have a working oven??

Is it the landlord's oven (and will stay at the property if you move?) - we had this last year. Dreadful landlady tried to get DP to go out in snow to collect a second-hand oven to suit when her handyman was already in the area (they both live an hour away). We got an oven but it took a lengthy argument via email! Not sure of your rights but good idea to get your contract out, pretty sure you should be entitled to a working oven since you're paying for use of the property and its existing contents.

If your landlord has supplied white goods and it's in your contract, legally they have to provide you with an oven. It's an every day essential. Just be aware you may not get a new one. There's a couple of weeks to go until Christmas so I don't see why not. Does your landlord use letting agents or do they do it themselves? It'll be easier to get what you want with a letting agent, in my experience.

I'm kind of in your situation, been here 2,5 years and the oven is shocking. It works but the door is very very very very very stiff, one of the hobs doesn't work, the others take at least 20 minutes to heat up. The top oven/grill hasn't ever worked since we've been here. Problem is, our landlord recently sold (though we haven't yet been told officially it's sold), so we have no idea who our landlord is or new letting agents. So if ours breaks, we're screwed. Joys. We've actually got a broken window... 100+ year old building so expensive repair. Landlord announced selling 3 days after we told them... Still not fixed.

It's the landlords (is a fitted oven rather than freestanding)
Just wondered if we had a 'right' to an oven like hot water /heating etc
Landlord does it himself, has loads of properties hence the not so handyman.

If it's fitted I would assume they would have to, else they risk tenants damaging things trying to replace it. It probably would be worth checking your contract

Do you have an inventory - list of items and white good that came with the house? Has the LL paid for the handle to be repaired before? If so then they are duty bound to ensure all is in working order and repair or replace in a timely manner

Just wondered if we had a 'right' to an oven like hot water /heating etc

The landlord does legally need to repair or replace the oven; unless your tenancy agreement says otherwise, but there isn't a timeline for that like there is for heating/water. It just needs to be repaired in a 'timely manner'. The only precedent that I can find for this said four months was acceptable with a microwave; if you don't have a microwave then the landlord should provide one if the oven repair is likely to take over four weeks (although that appears to be a Shelter best practice as opposed to legislation).

I should think that the landlord will want to fix it asap, though.

Appliances can be funny, landlords obligations for them aren't statutory so it's worth checking your contract to make sure there aren't any clauses saying they will repair but not replace etc.

That being said, if they have been repairing it so far I'd usually assume they are also responsible for its replacement. However as with heating/hot water they are only obliged to sort it in a 'reasonable' timeframe, the definition of reasonable being anyone's guess. If you've got other means to cook, e.g. Microwave, reasonable probably extends further.

Have they suggested it won't be sorted before Christmas?

Ask the LL for a new oven and say you need it by the end of next week. The element went in the oven in my flat which was rented. Tenant called to tell me and I bought and got fitted a new one within two days. There's no excuse for them not to.

If the oven is included in the property, then it's the LL's responsibility. I leave an oven and washing machine in my flat because I am fine with dealing with that and I'd rather a tenant didn't try to do a half-arsed diy job in fitting either.

I am told that many LLs these days leave no white goods/appliances at all.

Still over two normal weeks until tatmas, there's no excuse for ll not sorting this simple problem.

Write (not silly kiddy comms, write ) saying what you want to happen and when. Or price up a replacement and offer to sort it, deducting the cost from the rent. Ask for a quick go ahead on that.

Tatmus?

Handyman has just rung to say he's coming round Monday evening to fit a new oven no demanding necessary!!