How Long Does My Landlord Have to Fix My Oven in the UK?

Is your oven broken in your rental unit? Is your landlord also refusing to fix it? Unfortunately, this is a common problem for many tenants. Occasionally, appliances like ovens break down at no fault of the tenant, and it is the responsibility of the landlord to see to it that it gets fixed. However, some landlords will ignore requests to get appliances fixed, which can be a significant inconvenience.

Here at DoNotPay, we believe that tenants' rights should always be protected. If your landlord is refusing to fix your unit's oven or is ignoring your requests to get it fixed, let DoNotPay help. Read on to learn about and how DoNotPay can help you write an effective demand letter to help get your landlord to fix your oven.

What Is the Gas Safety Law?

Many oven appliances run on gas and should . As such, it's important to understand what the gas safety laws are and what responsibilities a landlord may have. With that said, a landlord has the responsibility to do the following:

Provide safe living conditions for their tenants.
According to The Gas Safety Regulations 1988, landlords must ensure that gas appliances, fittings, and flues are safe for tenants.
Landlords are responsible for the maintenance of all gas appliances, fittings, flues, and pipework.
Landlords are responsible for ensuring that annual gas safety is performed within 12 months of the installation of a new appliance or flue.
Records of safety checks must be kept for 2 years and copies must be administered to tenants within 28 days of the check being done.

What Are My Basic Rights as a Tenant?

There are certain basic rights that tenants are entitled to. Understanding these rights will better equip you to fight for any rights that have been violated. Here are some basic rights that are important for tenants to know about:

Living in a Safe Environment

A tenant is entitled to live in a safe and functional facility with the landlord adhering to the terms of the lease. This means that everything in the unit should be working properly, and the unit should be up to code.

Right to Pay the Same Rent

Tenants in the UK have the right to pay the same rent. However, it's important to note that this varies based on the type of contract you signed.

Type of Contract	Details
Fixed-Term Contract	If you signed a fixed-term contract, this means that your landlord cannot go up on rent without asking you first.
Periodic Contract	If you've signed a periodic contract, this means that your landlord can go up on rent without asking you first. However, they are only able to do this once a year.

Right to Not Be Disturbed

Your landlord cannot show up uninvited and enter your unit, even if it is for repairs. The only time your landlord can come abruptly is if it is an emergency.

Right to Have Your Deposit Protected

Your landlord cannot just take your security deposit. Any disputes with security deposits will need to go through a tenancy deposit protection scheme.

How to Ask Your Landlord for Repairs

If you need your landlord to make repairs to your unit, your best option is to write a letter. Writing a letter provides documentation of your request and marks the start of your communication with your landlord. Here are a few tips when communicating with your landlord about repairs:

Write to your landlord as soon as you notice a problem.
When writing to your landlord, send a copy to them along with yourself.
If a letting agent is managing the property, address your letter to them, and they will communicate with your landlord.
Get evidence of the issue.

How Long Does a Landlord Have to Fix an Oven in the UK?

There is no exact time frame in which a landlord must fix an appliance, such as an oven. However, landlords must fix any issues that are not the tenant's fault within a reasonable time frame. But keep in mind that reasonableness will depend on the severity of the situation.

What Actions Can I Take if a Landlord Refuses to Fix the Oven?

If the landlord refuses to respond to your oven repair needs, it's best to still pay your rent to avoid going into arrears. However, the next step may be to complain by filing a formal demand letter.

Get Your Oven Fixed by Writing a Demand Letter With DoNotPay

Is your landlord refusing to fix the oven in your rental unit? Unfortunately, landlords are known for violating tenant rights, which can be quite frustrating for tenants who pay their rent on time. If you can't get your landlord to respond, the next step is to write a demand letter. A demand letter is a formal letter that communicates your concerns to your landlord and can potentially get them to take action.

All you need to do is:

Search for and open the Landlord Protection product on DoNotPay.
Select which issue applies to you.
Answer a simple set of questions so our chatbot can collect the necessary information to create your demand letter.
Choose whether you want DoNotPay to send the demand letter to your landlord or roommate on your behalf. If you already tried sending a demand letter and it didn't work, we can help you start the small claims court process.

What Else Can DoNotPay Do?

DoNotPay provides multiple services to solve a broad range of legal challenges. Besides helping you get your landlord to fix your oven ASAP, DoNotPay can also provide other landlord protection services, including:

DoNotPay can also help you handle other issues:

Join DoNotPay and get the help you need today!