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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:
LoopyLoo1991 · 01/07/2023 10:30

My sister blew up a cooker by cleaning it a bit too thoroughly. Electric Oven/Microwave combo. Used it a few hours after the clean.
Bang.
Some modern models are ridiculously easy to fry the the electrics on if not careful.
Think some of the older ones than lasted decades were better.

Prettypaisleyslippers · 01/07/2023 10:34

OP for future inspections use a template, I just download one from internet, use the same one each time. Go through room by room and check appliances.

i still don’t understand how it cleaning the cooker has broken it, I would have probably waited until end of tenancy clean was completed, carpets cleaned etc

TeenLifeMum · 01/07/2023 10:37

She used her oven and wore shoes on carpets, what a nightmare!!!
seriously, how cheap was the carpet you put down? This thread is unreal.

ferretface · 01/07/2023 11:02

The undertone of your post is judgey. Why is her wage relevant, she's paying the rent isn't she? It's your choice what to charge. Similarly, it's your choice to rent to her with dogs.

Feels like you are happy to take her money (ideally as much of it as possible including for things like the oven) while judging her and looking down your nose at her tbh.

Re carpets you should put down hard-wearing things in rental properties. Rental properties have to be designed to stand up to lots of use. My husband gutted and renovated a HMO a few years ago and the decisions on what went in there were based on what would provide the best quality over its expected lifespan, recognising it's also someone's home and should look nice and be functional. And of course there is an element of risk that people won't be careful with what you put in there, and that's part and parcel of being in the privileged position of being a landlord. The property can be sold if being one isn't for you.

Blossomtoes · 01/07/2023 11:07

If the carpets are rapidly deteriorating it's not because the tenant's wearing outdoor shoes, it's because they were cheap shite in the first place.

This. My parents bought ridiculously expensive carpet and always wore their shoes indoors. It was as good as new 30 years later. My mum moaned about it because she was sick to death of it and couldn’t justify replacing it.

InTheMiddleOfIt · 01/07/2023 11:11

You could Charge her for cleaning it. It take a good couple of hours to clean so no reason why she shouldn't be charged for that. Leaving things clean is the responsibility of all tenants.

Blossomtoes · 01/07/2023 11:38

You could Charge her for cleaning it.

Not mid tenancy she couldn’t.

zibzibara · 01/07/2023 12:02

The tenant will hopefully challenge her for any deposit deductions she tries to make. Usually landlords take the piss and try to claim for things that are wear and tear. Often also then just pocketing the money and not bothering to actually fix the things they claimed for.

meatbaseddessert · 01/07/2023 12:08

InTheMiddleOfIt · 01/07/2023 11:11

You could Charge her for cleaning it. It take a good couple of hours to clean so no reason why she shouldn't be charged for that. Leaving things clean is the responsibility of all tenants.

OP hasn't even said that not cleaning it is the source of the problem so nothing to 'claim' for.

ReformedWaywardTeen · 01/07/2023 12:11

I've lived in my rented home since 2016 and my cooker looks as new as it did when we moved in.

It's basic decency to clean a cooker, using the relevant cleaning fluids and cloths.

I would expect to have the cost of a ruined cooker taken off my deposit

huntingcunting · 01/07/2023 12:12

Eh??
How does not cleaning an oven break it??
My oven is always clean but the element died about 5 years after I bought the oven, so I got an electrician in to replace it (and thanks to a government scheme, I'm in a different country, I got the money back for the repair!)

She should clean the oven, but if she doesn't YWNBU to charge for a professional oven clean when she moves out (ie. withhold money from the deposit). She is not responsible for it breaking though. I'd love to know how you think she has "abused" the oven.

Good that you are going to replace it - that's what you have to do as landlord.

Also, what sort of crap carpets wear out if people wear shoes indoors?? Sounds like you bought the cheapest crap you could find. People can wear shoes indoors if they like.

Maybe I'm being unfair, but it sounds to me like you wanted to do everything on the cheap and expect the goods to last forever so you don't have to pay out for anything at all for years on end while raking in money from the rent.

huntingcunting · 01/07/2023 12:15

ReformedWaywardTeen · 01/07/2023 12:11

I've lived in my rented home since 2016 and my cooker looks as new as it did when we moved in.

It's basic decency to clean a cooker, using the relevant cleaning fluids and cloths.

I would expect to have the cost of a ruined cooker taken off my deposit

There's no evidence she "ruined" it - ie. broke it - because she didn't clean it. She should expect to have the costs of a clean taken off the deposit when she moves out, but not the cost of a cooker. The cooker is broken and needs to be replaced or repaired. These things happen - even in our own homes.

EasterBreak · 01/07/2023 12:16

Yabvu op replace the cooker. How tight are you trying to get out of your responsibility.

thecatneuterer · 01/07/2023 12:26

Suprima · 30/06/2023 09:19

It’s a cooker….used daily. Maybe twice daily for four years.

do you have anything in your contract about maintenance to white goods?

a basic oven is like £140 on Screwfix. Basically the cost of a professional oven clean.

let it go

(I’m a landlord too)

Agree with this (I'm also a landlord)

ReachForTheMars · 01/07/2023 12:55

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 30/06/2023 13:02

The OP can’t “throw out” her tenant because the cooker stopped working

Show quote history

That's exactly my point.

LuvSmallDogs · 01/07/2023 12:56

Blossomtoes · 01/07/2023 11:07

If the carpets are rapidly deteriorating it's not because the tenant's wearing outdoor shoes, it's because they were cheap shite in the first place.

This. My parents bought ridiculously expensive carpet and always wore their shoes indoors. It was as good as new 30 years later. My mum moaned about it because she was sick to death of it and couldn’t justify replacing it.

Lmao, our childhood home had carpets meant for hotels put down by the previous owner. The pattern was vile (salmon pink with brown dots making diamond shapes and a blue dot in the centre of each diamond), but it took decades of abuse from kids and a menagerie of pets while looking pristine!

Maybe LLs who want things to be like new through multiple tenants should look to forking out the big bucks for stuff like that instead of buying cheap? You can't have it both ways!

Mummyoflittledragon · 01/07/2023 15:27

a lesson to all landlords perhaps to be more careful indeed

??
It is essential to carry out regular inspections in a professional manner. As for the choice of tenant, I’m struggling to understand the issue with this lady. The carpets will need professionally cleaning if not changing when she leaves.

As for the rent, increasing the monthly amount is in your hands.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 01/07/2023 16:36

Maybe LLs who want things to be like new through multiple tenants should look to forking out the big bucks for stuff like that instead of buying cheap? You can't have it both ways!

They should.

The one thing that baffles me from here and landlord forums is how many tenants “ruin” cheap carpets that are inevitably a very very pale colour. Usually beige.

Adam1630 · 01/07/2023 17:51

How long do you expect a cooker to last? Unless you fitted a Miele or something of that sort of quality, breaking after 4 years isn’t really that unreasonable. Do you want a good relationship with a tenant who reliably pays their rent, or do you want to cause disquiet for the sake of a few quid

riceuten · 01/07/2023 18:07

What is it that your tenant has done that has made it cease functioning? Because rarely cleaning it tends not to be a reason

Desperatetomotivate · 01/07/2023 18:50

If you have done regular inspections and have raised the issues plus noted gradual damage maybe you have a point to deduct oven cleaning. But a full cooker no way. If you have never specifically mentioned anything about the oven you don’t stand a chance of claiming damages

NoSquirrels · 01/07/2023 19:03

BOOTS52PollyPrissyPants · 01/07/2023 06:36

You can tell who are the landlords on here, most do not give a damn about their tenants and just price gouging for the highest possible rents but yet do not want to spend a penny on the property.

Nearly every reply I saw that said ‘I’m a landlord’ followed it up with ‘and I’d just replace it’.

SparkyBrad78 · 01/07/2023 19:10

Buy yourself a nice new one and give the dirty tenant your old one!

jenkel1979 · 01/07/2023 19:22

You've had four years of rent out of her and I assume this is the only issue? Just buy another cheap oven.

CantFindMyMarbles · 01/07/2023 19:33

Those suggesting you buy a second hand one are wrong. As a landlord you will need to ensure it is safe before it is installed so would need to employ someone to sign it off. So, just a buy a new one and do better inspections to ensure stuff is being well looked after - although I doubt bad cleaning has ruined it