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Question Title: Cookers
| Question: 50 |
| I would like to know whether there is a legal obligation that a landlord is required to supply a cooker to tenants. A colleague mentioned that he thought that this was now a legal requirement.
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| Answer: |
| No, there is no absolute obligation for landlords to supply their tenants with a cooker in a rented property although there are related provisions that landlords need to be aware of in this area. Firstly, the Housing Fitness Standard which is set out in section 604 of the Housing Act 1985 provides rules and guidance when determining whether a house is fit for human habitation. One of the requirements under this Act requires that "there are satisfactory facilities in the house for the preparation and cooking of food, including a sink with a satisfactory supply of hot and cold water;" (para 604(1)f). The guidance does not appear to make an absolute requirement that a cooker is present, merely that there should be "provision for a cooker or cooking appliance .... the cooker or cooker space being located within reasonable proximity in a kitchen or kitchen area ....". Thus, as a minimum, a kitchen should include space for situating a cooker even if the cooker itself is not provided, plus either an electric (30amp) cooker point or a mains gas point (or similar provision as specified in the guidance). Interestingly, the guidance states that; "space and points only suitable for a portable work-top cooker or camping stove would not be acceptable as the only cooking provision in the kitchen". Editor's note - These provisions have been superceded by the requirements of the Housing Act 2004 and the Housing Health and Safety Rating System see Guidance on DCLG website at www.communities.gov.uk.
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References:
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Pages:
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Hyperlinks:
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Letting Update Journal |
April 2005 page 15 |
letting-update-journal.html
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Letting Factsheet No 28 |
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factsheet-28
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For more information, discuss on the Forum
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