To ask about our landlord?

[NowSissyThatWalk]

Hoping someone can help!
Been renting here for 6 months. The property was let unfurnished but came with an integrated dishwasher. This dishwasher came up with an error code and stopped working. We did what we could, but its properly integrated and impossible take out in order to get a proper look at it.

I text the landlord saying we've got an issue with the dishwasher and could he get a plumber out. He replied saying that:

"The house was let unfurnished. The dishwasher was already there and free to use however if there is an issue with it you will need to sort it out"

So DH has taken the skirting boards away from it and tried to do what he could following bloody YouTube but no luck, error code still there. We really can't afford a plumber right now.

To be clear - its not the landlords dishwasher but not ours either, it came with the house.

Can anyone advise??

If it's detailed in the inventory as part of the property then it's the landlord's unless the inventory states otherwise.

DO NOT THROW THE DISHWASHER AWAY

The key is "belonging to the landlord as are included in the inventory". But if it,s been left by a previouse tenant then it never really belonged to the landlord, get out that inventory.

Do not touch that dishwasher at all.

Keep a record of the fact you told him it's broken as well.

It's his responsibility to pay it, you've shown that from the contract. He isn't going to, fine. But you don't repair it either, unless you're happy wasting your own money. You never repair or replace stuff in a rented house unless it's your things. You don't own it, it's his property.

Keep the proof though as guaranteed he will try to sting you for it in the deposit. You have the contract to say its his and the messages to show he won't fix it. State to him the contract and say you won't be fixing it as its his responsibility.

Thanks all for the replies. It's completely integrated, as in we cant even pull it forward a tiny bit, looks like it was put in by the previous owners before the landlord when the kitchen was fitted.

If the dishwasher was put in by the previous owners not tenants, then surely the dishwasher is his and his responsibility to fix?

Go back to your landlord and say in writing (not over phone call) that you are going to have to rip it out. And take a screenshot of it all just incase he tries to deduct from your deposit at the end.

So much misinformation on this thread: if it's listed on the inventory then it's the landlord's responsibility to repair or replace it. If it isn't then if you choose to repair or replace it theoretically you can take it with you when you move!

Thanks all! I've been on Shelter website already before I posted here and going to call them in the morning.

To be clear, this house was never let before and has always been owned, if that makes sense. LL bought it as a buy to let and will live here when he retires.

@wowfudge thank you. I feel he's being a bit petty to be honest.

To be clear, this house was never let before and has always been owned, if that makes sense. LL bought it as a buy to let and will live here when he retires.

Then he owns the dishwasher. It doesn’t matter that he didn’t pick and install it. He bought the house and everything that was left in it. He didn’t install the kitchen units either but they’re still his!

I think it boils down to the inventory if it's on there he should fix it. To take it out for a look you'll need to pull off the baseboards it'll be on legs and you can wiggle it forwards.

yes totally petty, you need to stand up for yourselves and get him to fix it or take it off next month's rent. Put the options to him in a reasonably worded email, needs to be in writing, ask him if he's ok with you getting rid of it and making the kitchen look 'inconsistent' or leave a gaping hole there, ask him when he would like to arrange removal, generally make it clear that its his problem and that a gaping hole in the kitchen results in a rent reduction as youre not renting what you orgonally saw ie a fitted kitchen
and alarm bells will start ringing for his future let's etc.

He sounds like a shit landlord who buys a house to rent out and isn't prepared to spend a penny maintaining it. He just wants the rental income but no responsibility.

Thanks all, glad my instinct doesn't seem wildly off the mark at least.
Will be interesting to see what the inventory says.
Just seems a bit unnecessary for the sake of happy tenants and probably no more than £60 for a call out. We're paying over 1200 a month ffs.

Did the house come with a fridge? Freezer? He'd have to repair these if they broke. Unfurnished properties often come with appliances that are the landlord's responsibility.

There's a greater argument that the dishwasher is his responsibility to repair as it is integrated and obviously part of the fixtures and fittings.

If it was there when you rented it then surely the landlord is responsible. He bought the property and everything in it - he can't say he doesn't own it. The kitchen was put in by the previous owner so by his example then he doesn't own that either!
I'm a landlord and I've always repaired or replaced faulty white goods, with the exception if it was bought by a tenant.

So, it's established that the dishwasher is the responsibility of the Landlord.

As stated previously, this will not be covered under any of the Housing Acts or the Landlord and Tenant Act. Repairing or replacing the dishwasher will be considered an improvement and not a repair so is not enforceable under any Housing Law.

This will fall under contract law (of which I am no expert) so your only options will be to negotiate a repair/replacement/reduction in rent with the Landlord and if they refuse and you still want to pursue any of the above options, you would need to take the matter to court.

Did the house come with a fridge? Freezer? He'd have to repair these if they broke.

Not true I'm afraid- depends on the contract wording.

and that a gaping hole in the kitchen results in a rent reduction as youre not renting what you orgonally saw ie a fitted kitchen

Also not true. Tenancy agreements are contracts that fall under Housing Law and "are a legal interest in land" they do not cover the items in the property at all.

It's all down to the contractual terms - which will be enforceable but only through the courts.

Is there a letting agent involved or is it direct landlord? If there's an agent, contact them for advice. The should be able to clarify who the responsibility belongs to.

It's tricky, to my mind a fitted dishwasher in a rented house would come under the landlords responsibility to fix should it break but clearly I'm wrong and it's all down to how the contract is worded. This is handy to know.

What I can be sure of however is that the very last thing you should do is remove or get rid of it. Leave it where it is, get it fixed if you want to/can afford to but don't just get rid without his express, written, permission and on that note, keep a record of EVERYTHING. Screenshot texts/emails to do with the dishwasher so he can't turn round at the end and demand it's fixed or replaced etc you'll need this if he tries to make a claim on the deposit.

Just do your washing up in a bowl

As already mentioned, it is not complicated at all, it will come down to whether it is on the inventory or not. If not, your responsibity, if it is, its theirs.

Yes thank you for that helpful insight @Carrie7469

It was initially with a letting agent but when we moved in it was handed over to the LL and all dealings have been with him.

Found the inventory, it's in there!