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AIBU?

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Original poster

Ask tenant to replace cooker she's ruined?

249 replies

MacarenaMacarena · 30/06/2023 09:16

4 years ago tenant moved into my flat. I provided a new cooker for her. It's now not working. On closer inspection, she has used it a lot (fair!) but never cleaned it (disappointing), damage from her treatment of it is what has damaged it.
She needs another one.
But I don't really think this is reasonable wear and tear - more neglect and abuse.
Reasonable inspections and checks have been carried out regularly, compulsive gas safety checks have been done.
If she moved out tomorrow I could deduct at least part of the replacement cost from her deposit, but as she's staying, what would be a fair way forward?

OP posts:
GasPanic · 30/06/2023 09:54

How does not cleaning it break it ?

Unless there is a massive build up of dirt and fat that causes the whole thing to catch fire its hard to see how.

Ovens are pretty cheap in general.

Solmum1964 · 30/06/2023 09:56

milveycrohn · 30/06/2023 09:37

All white goods should definitely last more than 4 years.
I understand that 10 years is a sort of standard; ie if it was 8 years, then that would not be too bad, but 15 years is good (such as mine).
Not sure why the absence of cleaning stops it working, and I would probably give it a clean myself.

I think you've been very lucky if all your white goods last that long!
Our oven is probably 20 years old and I don't clean it that regularly. We've probably replaced the element about four times.
Our first washing machine also lasted quite a long time - maybe 18 years - but subsequent ones have been replaced after about 7 years.

meatbaseddessert · 30/06/2023 10:02

How has not cleaning it damaged it? We rented for 15 years. Rarely cleaned the oven and the fan stopped working. Got one of those deep cleans and it was right as rain again. I can't work out how not cleaning an oven means its damaged?

ladyofshertonabbas · 30/06/2023 10:03

How does diet break an oven?

ladyofshertonabbas · 30/06/2023 10:04

Dirt. Aghhh.

Tinkerbyebye · 30/06/2023 10:04

What exactly is not working? All of it? Oven? Hob?

get a repairman out to take a look. If it’s unrepairable buy a cheap one second hand

Bonjovispjs · 30/06/2023 10:10

I've been in my flat nearly 11 years and rarely clean my oven and its still working fine. It wasn't new when I moved in either, so the oven breaking because tenant didn't clean it is very unlikely.

Babsexxx · 30/06/2023 10:17

So your trying to fob a broken oven off as “because it hasn’t been cleaned?!” Op behave we all know that’s definitely not a reason why a oven would stop working grim but wouldn’t break it!

I clean mine monthly! And I have had to send a few back that have conked out! I find newer brand new models definitely are not made like they used to be! YABU

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 30/06/2023 10:18

Not cleaning a cooker doesn’t break it.

and if it was so poorly looked after it’s her fault it’s broken why have inspections not picked it up?

If you provide white goods as a LL then replacing them or having them repaired is just par for the course.

Its definitely a claim on your insurance or suck up the cost moment, and just part of being a LL.

35965a · 30/06/2023 10:19

God in our student house years ago we had an old cooker that probably hadn’t been cleaned properly in at least 10-15 years. Still worked though. So I think you should replace it.

EllaRaines · 30/06/2023 10:21

We have previously rented out properties and once or twice a year we have paid for a professional oven clean for our benefit as well as the tenants.

You have to suck up the cost of the oven in this instance and if her cleaning isn't up to much, insist that she allows a six month or annual clean paid for by you.

TheCatterall · 30/06/2023 10:22

We no longer provide white goods etc @MacarenaMacarena due to tenants not taking care of them. We will leave one in if a previous tenant has left one but it’s made clear in contract that we will not replace them and it’s on them to take care of it or provide one themselves.

so when the fridge or washing machine etc left behind breaks - the tenant has to source another.

what’s in your tenancy agreement?

Badbudgeter · 30/06/2023 10:23

White goods don’t last nowadays. Dishwasher 3 years, washing machine 18 months and I own. I’ve never heard of an oven not working because it’s grubby tbh.

Betterlatethanontime · 30/06/2023 10:24

I would just replace it with the cheapest thing possible, like an electric cooktop you plug in.

Nicecow · 30/06/2023 10:25

Comedycook · 30/06/2023 09:19

How does not cleaning an oven make it stop working? Do you actually have proof that it's broken because it hasn't been cleaned?

This, I never cleaned mine it still worked fine

viques · 30/06/2023 10:25

I would check that all the windows are still working too OP, I bet your damn tenant has been wearing them out by opening and closing them. Cheeky cow.

Bearpawk · 30/06/2023 10:26

Another one confused about how lack of cleaning breaks an oven.
What exactly was broken?
By all means take a cleaning fee out of the deposit if you have proof it was perfect upon moving in, but how can you tell that's why it's not working?

Clymene · 30/06/2023 10:27

TheCatterall · 30/06/2023 10:22

We no longer provide white goods etc @MacarenaMacarena due to tenants not taking care of them. We will leave one in if a previous tenant has left one but it’s made clear in contract that we will not replace them and it’s on them to take care of it or provide one themselves.

so when the fridge or washing machine etc left behind breaks - the tenant has to source another.

what’s in your tenancy agreement?

Fucking tenants washing their clothes and putting food in the fridge AngryAngryAngry

Grimbelina · 30/06/2023 10:29

I don't believe not cleaning it has broken the oven. You can ask her to get it professionally cleaned as part of her end of tenancy clean (if you have this in the contract) and then you can take it up with whoever you bought it from. Even if it is out of warranty you could argue that it should last longer than 4 years.

MidnightMeltdown · 30/06/2023 10:33

YABVU

Not cleaning an oven isn't 'abuse' and doesn't cause it to break. ConfusedSounds like you bought a crappy cheap oven.

Badbadbunny · 30/06/2023 10:33

What does the contract say about the extent to which the tenant has to clean/maintain the equipment?

Cookers don't last as long as they used to do. 4 years is a little on the quick side, granted. But did the tenant's lack of cleaning actually cause the failure? Could you prove it? Have you had it properly inspected by a cooker repair firm to find out exactly what the fault is? Is it not covered by the extended warranty?

I think, on balance, you have to replace it, especially if a working cooker is stipulated in the contract, unless you can actually prove she caused whatever damage renders it unrepairable, beyond normal usage.

MidnightMeltdown · 30/06/2023 10:36

TheCatterall · 30/06/2023 10:22

We no longer provide white goods etc @MacarenaMacarena due to tenants not taking care of them. We will leave one in if a previous tenant has left one but it’s made clear in contract that we will not replace them and it’s on them to take care of it or provide one themselves.

so when the fridge or washing machine etc left behind breaks - the tenant has to source another.

what’s in your tenancy agreement?

Fucking hell I'm surprised that you manage to find any tenants. Who wants to lug white goods from house to house while renting?

No wonder landlords have such a bad reputation

Badbadbunny · 30/06/2023 10:39

milveycrohn · 30/06/2023 09:37

All white goods should definitely last more than 4 years.
I understand that 10 years is a sort of standard; ie if it was 8 years, then that would not be too bad, but 15 years is good (such as mine).
Not sure why the absence of cleaning stops it working, and I would probably give it a clean myself.

White goods don't last 10 years anymore. We work on the basis of them lasting 5 years. Some last longer, some don't make it. Washing machines, dishwashers, etc are pretty notorious for short lives, usually 2-3 years. Fridges/freezers/cookers maybe 7-8 years on average. Our first cooker lasted 15 years, but it's replacement only managed 5. And, no, we don't abuse them, over-use them - we look after them, clean them, etc., but you can't "clean" the bits that actually matter - the inner workings. It's usually circuit boards that go which aren't "user-maintainable" and usually because of design/manufacture/component faults.

If the landlord is providing white goods, that means they're charging a higher rent than they'd get if it was fully unfurnished. So they need to accept that in return for a higher rent, they have to pay to repair/replace the white goods occasionally.

MissTrip82 · 30/06/2023 10:40

An oven so filthy it’s broken should have been picked up during inspections.

If the problem is dirt surely it just needs cleaning?

poetryandwine · 30/06/2023 10:41

We keep our fancy Neff oven pretty clean and after about three years it stopped maintaining the proper temperature on obe of the settings. Stuff happens