Would you challenge a landlord replacing Miele with a cheaper dishwasher?

[sermat]

We rent a pretty expensive flat in London. The yield is very low and the landlord struggles to break even. That said, the flat has appreciated over the £1m in the 25 years the landlord has owned it.

The flat is a little bit dated but the rental price is commensurate. The kitchen would have been pretty high spec when it was put in around 2012. This includes a (not built in) dishwasher, fridge, oven, washing machine etc all from Miele.

The dishwasher broke and the landlord joked to me how expensive Miele ones were. So I joked back that the Miele appliances were why we rented this place (partly true).

Landlord fits new dishwasher and it’s a £250 one from China. I was expecting a Miele one or something of similarly high quality. Would you argue about this? DP thinks I’m precious.

Actually this just reminded me that we once rented a house with a red SMEG fridge. It died about 6 months into our tenancy (they tried to fix it but it was going to cost more to fix than it was worth. They replaced it with a bog standard Beko or something similar. Didn’t occur to me to complain, it kept my food cold 🤷🏻‍♀️

Is it in the tenancy agreement that you have Miele appliances? Otherwise no you have no argument.

It does remind me of my mum who had a very high spec beige flat in London to rent. The neutral sofa was getting a bit worn after 3/4 years so the tenant living there asked for a new one. My mum inexplicably got brightest vermillion orange sofa ever from Argos - it was probably on a deal and she didn’t give a shit about the colour. She said the tenant was not happy. 😂

They will be soon. Only being kept going by people like OP that buy a logo rather than concerning themselves with the actual usability,

A brand new dishwasher is going to be a lot nicer than a 12 year old milele that’s probably built up a load of nastiness over that time. I wouldn’t give two hoots as long as a replacement was provided.

You never part based your decision to rent an expensive flat in London on the brand of appliances? Surely not? You are pulling out legs right? Because nobody, well what, maybe you did

I couldn’t get worked up about this. Whether it’s Miele or Beko, neither are owned by you, unless guests open said dishwasher to see what brand it is, no one will ever know.

Is Miele some sort of posh desirable brand? Doesn't mean anything to me.

You are being very precious!

Blimey, OP, you are being incredibly precious. I wouldn't even buy a Miele dishwasher for myself let alone my entitled tenant.

Tenant could have bought a cover for it thats what i would have done and spoiled your mums fun 😂

Another Beko fan here, had good experience. Used to have a Miele and can’t say it was any better than any other brand have had. Did try to get it fixed when it broke cos “Miele” but couldn’t get the parts.

YABVU. It will clean your dishes, what’s the issue? My Miele fridge was shit. I bought a cheaper Chinese one and it’s great.

This - and no idea what business of yours it is whether the property has appreciated or depreciated in value or what his property yield is - given you do not have access to his mortgage/loan/banking or financial accounts to understand what costs he incurs in relation to your specific property.

No

HTH

We bought a White knight tumble dryer in sheer desperation- we usually bought 'better' brands. Twenty years later I'm fed up with it - it's still going strong.

No. You can't tell a landlord the brand they should buy, particularly when there's at least £1000 difference. By all means bring up potential safety issues, if the landlord wants to replace the old dishwasher with a brand that's had several incidents of catching fire, for example, but, other than that, no.

Just leave and find another flat, if it’s that important to you (which I highly doubt)

YABVU

Strange how the OP seems to have disappeared (possibly up her own arse)....

Unless you don't believe in private property and are a genuine Communist (perfectly fine position to take in my view) I don't think the amount that it has appreciated has anything to do with you, or this.

He might have put it into stocks and shares instead, or a pension, whatever.

The only question is whether your contract says like for like. If it doesn't, you've had a good innings on a cheaper flat in an expensive area and you have to decide whether that's no longer working in your favour any longer.

We had a Miele and it lasted the same length of time as other dishwashers. We now have a Bosch which I much prefer. We had a Miele fridge freezer which caused no end of trouble. Replaced with a Bosch fridge freezer which has been great.

Used to work in Lettings and sorry to say that as long as he’s replaced it with another washing machine he’s fulfilled his responsibilities.

Honestly I decided to pay more for a decent dishwasher recently and got a Bosch, so ok not a Miele but still meant to be better. And it doesn’t get stuff clean very well. My cheaper Hotpoint was much better.

i do think you’re being precious. As long as it works then the brand doesn’t matter.

If having a kitchen with all Miele appliances is your no 1 priority then just give notice and rent somewhere else that has all Miele appliances, since your current place doesn't meet that criteria anymore. If you aren't prepared to do that, it probably isn't that big a deal and life will go on just fine.

You're renting. The landlord pays for the upkeep and replacement of the white goods. They've replaced your dishwasher. As a renter, you don't get a say in the make unless you pay for it. I know that might be frustrating but that's the price of not having the responsibility of the white goods.

Any landlord that bought a property 25 years ago that has gone up in value by 1mill and is struggling to break even has made some bad financial choices.