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AIBU?

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Original poster

To Not Buy Tenants a New Microwave?

248 replies

Applefruitcake · 06/02/2022 18:52

Hi, just trying to figure out what would be 'expected' in this situation. New tenants have asked for the microwave to be replaced because its old. It is honestly old but in full working condition (tenants have confirmed), it had been professionally cleaned but it is used so has some staining.

First of all, would you even expect for a microwave to be provided in a furnished property? Is it a 'standard' appliance? Second, is it expected of landlords to replace items for aesthetic reasons only?

Sorry, I'm new to all this

OP posts:
Realis · 06/02/2022 21:20

In response to your questions OP. I rented in England for 12 years and I’ve been a landlord (shock horror) for 3 years, also England.

At one point in my life I even rented while being a landlord Shock. And nobody was paying my mortgage because I didn’t have one.

I’ve never been provided with or provided a microwave. I’ve rented fully furnished, part furnished and unfurnished.

Booboobibles · 06/02/2022 21:22

Well imagine renting a property yourself and having to put up with rubbish appliances. I’d probably replace it if I was a tenant but then I’d have to store the old one somewhere. You wouldn’t normally expect a microwave but in a furnished property I think you would.

It’s crap renting because (along with many other crap things) some houses have all white goods and some don’t, so you buy a nice new washing machine for one house and then have to move. But that house already has a washing machine which is far inferior to the nice one you own. So you end up selling your nice one for £50 on Facebook and having to use the rubbish one.

EllaB22 · 06/02/2022 21:29

I would get one out of goodwill .. a stained microwave would be quite off-putting.

Bakewelltart987 · 06/02/2022 21:31

@Jedsnewstar

Old microwaves are dangerous as they can leak.

You can also pick them up for £10-£15 in Asda etc.

You can not buy a microwave for a tenner from asda more like £45-50.
Nowayoutonlydown · 06/02/2022 21:32

If in working order but not aesthetically pleasing, I wouldn't expect you to replace if you were my landlord.
However if it didn't work, I'd let my landlord know and they would replace.

It's also a really poor show if they won't just replace a microwave themselves, how far will this attitude go? New toaster? New kettle?....New light bulbs because the ones left in the property have blown?

I think that there has to be some wriggle room from each side for a tenancy to feel like its working well long term.

I've been where I am for just over 5 years, the landlords an angel, he paid for cameras when someone tried to break into our house, offers to pay for 50% of anything I decide I want to do to the house for aesthetic purposes (I never confirm when they're done so he's never had to)
I pay for things like the excess on the homecare cover if I call someone out for boiler issues.
It's a really nice relationship that we have, and I feel like my tenancy is as secure as it could ever be because no one takes the mick.

Theworldisquiethere · 06/02/2022 21:35

@HelloFrostyMorning

I have to agree with a few others here. Not having a microwave in 2022 is very odd IMO. They are not a new thing, they've been popular for 40 to 45 years now!

A number of people I know who are 80 to 90 years old have one. It's soooo handy for quickly cooking something or quickly heating something up.

The gas bills are about to fly through the roof, why on earth would you waste 5 minutes of gas on heating a few beans, when you could do it in 30 seconds in the microwave? OR 40 minutes cooking something in the oven that can be done in 7 minutes in the microwave? Batshit!

I know there are some things you have to put in the oven... pies, pizza, oven chips etc, but LOTS of things can be cooked in the microwave probably 5 or 6 times faster than in the oven. And things like beans and peas and suchlike can be heated in 30-40 seconds in the microwave, instead of 4-5 minutes on the hob.

And as someone said, it's handy for softening butter, defrosting some things you have to cook in the oven so they take a bit less time in the oven, heating milk etc...

As I said, it's very odd to not have a microwave in 2022.

I’ve never owned a microwave and never felt the need to own one! I know many people who don’t have them and none of us are that odd.
jackstini · 06/02/2022 21:35

Is it in the inventory? If so, you definitely should

I'm a landlord and for the sake of £20 I would replace anyway as may be a fire risk

Anything more expensive I would replace when it broke, but not for aesthetic reasons

Bakewelltart987 · 06/02/2022 21:37

@ouch321

You don't own a microwave? What if you want to warm up leftovers or heat up sone baked beans or sonething? You use the hob/oven for every single thing?

Why is it strange not to have one? I don't have one I heat my food on hob or I eat it once cooked no need to warm it then. Just as quick to put beans in a pan on hob as it is to put beans in bowl and in microwave. what a silly comment.

Original poster
Applefruitcake · 06/02/2022 21:37

I'm not against buying the microwave itself as I want to keep them happy, I'm more worried that it will set a precedent for the future...

I have been a tenant myself for many years (always furnished) and I've always expected furnishings to have been used by others and would have expected reasonable wear and tear.

OP posts:
HollowTalk · 06/02/2022 21:39

Think of it this way. You are harassed about this microwave. It's very very cheap to replace. You can pay 30 quid or something and have an end to your problems. Why would you not do that?

2Finallypregnant · 06/02/2022 21:39

As a long term renter, I wouldn't expect you to replace it, just remove it. Like you said, you accepting this request might open a can of worms.

doublemonkey · 06/02/2022 21:39

Has the microwave been PAT tested?

Bakewelltart987 · 06/02/2022 21:39

Buy them a kettle and toaster aswell hey throw in a coffee machine aswell there popular and everyone has one off them nowadays.

FluffyRabbitGal · 06/02/2022 21:40

@ouch321

You don't own a microwave? What if you want to warm up leftovers or heat up sone baked beans or sonething? You use the hob/oven for every single thing?
I don’t own a microwave. I briefly owned one which my MIL bought as an “early Christmas gift”, whilst she was house sitting. It was promptly canned 6 months later when we moved house, having not been used by anyone but her.
JustBlethering · 06/02/2022 21:40

@doublemonkey

Has the microwave been PAT tested?
Ops avoiding the question which means it hasn't been
Summerfun54321 · 06/02/2022 21:42

I’m a landlord. If I wouldn’t use it myself then it gets replaced. That microwave sounds gross.

Original poster
Applefruitcake · 06/02/2022 21:42

@nowayoutonlydown
"It's also a really poor show if they won't just replace a microwave themselves, how far will this attitude go? New toaster? New kettle?....New light bulbs because the ones left in the property have blown?"

Well, this is exactly what I'm worried about, not really the microwave itself

OP posts:
tigger1001 · 06/02/2022 21:42

Just because you replace one item you aren't setting a precedent. You could say you are replacing as worried it may leak.

For all the cost of it and it's an allowable deduction for your tax anyway I think it's worth it if they are good tenants. If the staining was there before they moved in, you should have replaced it before they moved in or removed it at that time.

bindud · 06/02/2022 21:42

How bad is the staining & old is it?

C152 · 06/02/2022 21:43

Personally, I wouldn't expect a microwave, but that's only because I never use them. It seems many other people do, so I think it would generally be expected to have one in a rental property. I don't think your tenant's request for the old, stained microwave to be replaced is unreasonable. Would you want to use it, not knowing what these stains are and perhaps even worry that it may catch fire at some point, due to its age?

cheekychaplin · 06/02/2022 21:45

I have to agree with a few others here. Not having a microwave in 2022 is very odd IMO. They are not a new thing, they've been popular for 40 to 45 years now!

They may have been around for many years but they serve no purpose in my house, so I don't have one. The last time I had one was about 1993. It's more odd that in 2022 people think others should own something simply because the item has been around for 40/45 years.

tigger1001 · 06/02/2022 21:47

As it's in your inventory it's irrelevant whether the tenant should expect it or not. You stated, via the inventory that you were providing one.

Has it been tested as part of the yearly check?

adriftabroad · 06/02/2022 21:49

If you provide a microwave, toaster, kettle or whatever. They have to be up to scratch.

Also, of course you should have had it painted before you rented.

Every month you will have at least a few issues OP, it is hard work, a JOB renting property. This is nothing...

Sarcobaleno · 06/02/2022 21:53

Very curious as to what constitutes an old microwave? Our microwave is about 20 years old and my mum's is about 35. Too old?

hannahbanana2007 · 06/02/2022 21:54

I can't believe that out of all the replies so far only about 2 have mentioned how wasteful this would be and how bad for the environment?! If an appliance works, why on earth would you get a new one just to make up for it being stained or to prove you aren't a stingy landlord - it's madness and really depressing tbh Sad

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