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??

It is his responsibility.

I let out out a house I used to live in, and on the letting agent’s advice I removed anything which could break - blinds, fridge/freezer, etc so I didn’t have responsibilities of repairs. The washing machine was old, but worked, and I sold it to my tenant for £1, so up to her to have it repaired or replaced when it finally breaks.

Thanks @Seeingadistance that's helpful.

If you decide to get rid of it then I’d want something officially in writing where the LL give permission to throw the old one away (as it’s not his) That way he can’t suddenly change his mind at the end of your contract and try to keep yours!

Ooh, missed your update. Fab news (same applies though if you chuck it)

If the dishwasher is in the inventory then he’s responsible for fixing or replacing it .
The only thing we provide in our houses are cookers . All other electrical appliances are owned and maintained by the tenants . This is mentioned in the tenancy agreements .

I'm a landlord and a tenant.

In the UK, if you let it with white goods, the landlord is responsible for them.

I have in the past, both as a tenant and as a landlord, found myself with an excess tumble dryer/washer, which as a tenant I paid a tenner for, so it was mine, and as a landlord, I offered to the tenant, for free, on the understanding that it wasn't part of the rental, I wasn't going to fix or replace it, and they could take it with them at the end when they went (or I could get rid of it now if they preferred) - ie. it wasn't on the inventory, but it was there if they wanted it.

Your landlord can't have it all ways round - if it's on the inventory, and he expects it to still be there at the end of the tenancy, he needs to keep it in working order. Do you have an agent to go through? The people I use as a landlord are excellent and would get this sorted, but the people I rent through haven't even got my landlord to fix a leaking toilet (!) so it's very variable.

Thanks again all. I've messaged him saying that he is responsible with photos of the Tenancy agreement and inventory, as well as the highlighted paragraph about dishwashers. He's read it but not replied for about 3 hours now.

Your landlord is taking the piss. If it’s integrated I very much doubt it was just left by another tenant.

I'm hoping he's sorting something out for you, as he's not yet replied, but given his previous refusal, I'm betting he doesn't want to spend money on fixing it and is trying to find a way out.

@LakieLady

Buy a bottle of Fairy and some Marigolds?

Groundbreaking advice with specific brand level recommendations. It’s this level of insight that makes forums like these invaluable.

@ThePawtriarchy

So he's finally replied asking what make the dishwasher is, nothing else, just that. I replied with the make and model and he replied 'Thanks' so I guess he's sorting it.

So looks like he's sorting it, but probably was looking for a way out for a good few hours first. I just don't get it. We're good tenants, both professionals, good references from our previous landlords. This whole thing was just unnecessary.

Gaaahhh hate renting sometimes.

If it's in the inventory then it's the landlords responsibility to fix.

OP, fingers crossed he fixes it.

So looks like he's sorting it, but probably was looking for a way out for a good few hours first. I just don't get it
Probably down to a misunderstanding between himself and the agency. He might have said to them that the dishwasher needed to be out but they forgot.

I always check the inventory that agencies do. They often send their most junior people to do. I had one that came back with a number of parts recorded as 'adequate' when they were brand new and listen the extractor as not working, when he failed to work out how to turn it on. It was new and working perfectly. Could have led to some issues if disputed at the end.

Always i.porrsbt for both parties to review I centuries in detail. Good news for you.

I really feel for you on this as we are in a similar situation.
My advice would be to check your contract and inventory.
Contact shelter they are great at helping with this situation - but be warned you will be waiting a long time for an answer as they are showed under.
Also contact citizens advice and environmental team at council.
Finally, start a 'statement of facts' - who did what and when, keep documenting proof, DON'T DO ANYTHING VERBALLY!
This will help you because IF (very big if) your landlord decided to serve you with a section notice to leave the property you can prove to the court it's a retaliatory eviction and these are a big no no in the eyes of the court. And believe me, the courts come down hard on landlords who try to do this!
FInally, dO NOT withhold the rent, again this is a no no with the courts. But what you could do is everytime you pay your rent, send an email detailing the problem.
The landlord then has 28 days to respond and repair. Failure to do so means that you can then inform the landlord that you intend to do the repairs and send him the bill or take it off the rent. Again keep proof, send letters recorded delivery. The more proof you have of your actions the better it will be in court.
Finally, good luck and stay strong.

@NowSissyThatWalk

He could buy a dishwasher for £200. I am a LL and don't get why other LL's act like this. Decent tenants are worth their weight in gold and I would have just sorted it right away.

What a prat! Sometimes LL see what they can get away with! (and sometimes tenants do!) Glad he seems to have seen the light. I had a similar issue with my dishwasher in rented property. LL was dragging his heels about getting it fixed for a few days until I reminded him it was in the advert as 'furnished property including dishwasher, washing machine, etc' and what sort of rent reduction could I expect as the property is missing something from the advert. There was a repairman in that afternoon....

@NowSissyThatWalk has he sorted it now?

Have you googled the make of dishwasher and error code ? Our integrated dishwasher had one and when I googled it, the fix was to just press a sequence of buttons.

The wording in the contract is just standard for a tenancy agreement and actually doesn't mean anything without the dishwasher being listed in the inventory.

It seems like it’s sorted now. But honestly, why make such a big deal about it? My dishwasher broke 10 years ago and my hands haven’t fallen off yet!

It’s not an essential appliance and I expect your rent would be the same without it in situ.

@osirus

Because it seems that the OPs LL is the type to then try and claim the cost of a new dishwasher from her deposit if she leaves.

It's unlikely a plumber can fix it ime. Most will charge more than £60, so not really worth it. If I were the landlord, I would just replace it with another one for around £200, happy tenants and working dishwasher.

'type' or not, claiming for a brand new item from the deposit comes under the 'it doesn't work like that' department.

landlord sounds careless at best. It isn't hard to check the info regarding what was provided.