I have always provided a cooker, but can anyone confirm if this is actually a definite requirement?
Below act suggests it is a requirement, but inconclusive?
Landlord and Tenant Act 1985
In determining for the purposes of this Act whether a house is unfit for human habitation, regard shall be had to its condition in respect of the following matters—
repair,
stability,
freedom from damp,
internal arrangement,
natural lighting,
ventilation,
water supply,
drainage and sanitary conveniences,
facilities for preparation and cooking of food and for the disposal of waste water;
and the house shall be regarded as unfit for human habitation if, and only if, it is so far defective in one or more of those matters that it is not reasonably suitable for occupation in that condition.
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 also stipulates that tenants must have the means to prepare food safely.
Until the Fitness for Habitation Act came into being, I believe that the HHSRS requirement for facilities for the prepararion and cooking of food was generally interpreted as meaning at a minimum a counter-top and electric or gas point for a cooker. Although the 2018 Act didnt really change the law, it did seem to change the interpretation for many lawyers, although I have no idea whether there have been actual court cases to establish the principle.
Will the legality of the issue change your stance though @Mark10 ? If I was looking for a place to rent and saw one without a cooker and the LL told me he doesn’t supply them, that would speak volumes to me about where the LL’s priorities lie.
All my properties have built in ovens/hobs now. But before refurbing them, two didn’t and we supplied a cooker. While people moving in tended to have their own white goods, they didn’t typically have a cooker. I’d think that’s even less likely these days as it was 15 years ago.
When it comes down to it, probably not. Partially because there’s some conflict if a gas cooker, IE my gas engineer would be testing their appliance which in itself could lead to problems.
What prompted it was I keep hearing people say that they never use their oven since having an air fryer, and everyone seems to have one. Would clearly need a hob of some kind though.
Even with those items I think not having the choice of an oven is too restrictive.
Council houses don’t supply carpets either - in fact many rip them after between tenants regardless of their condition - but its much less common in the PRS.
I think the PRS has always operated on a more ‘temporary home’ basis, with people moving on more frequently, so tenants buying their own cookers & carpets is much less common. Other white goods seem to depend on the. local market.
I meant the interpretation changed to having to provide a cooker, although this is only really anecdotal and I dont believe there is any legal compulsion, just lawyers covering themselves in case there is ever a test case in court. If the property is licensed though you would probably have to provide one.