A tenant’s cooker breaks on a Friday night. Whose job is it to fix it? The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 has sharpened that question. It received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025. It’s rolling out in stages through 2026.
Here’s what the Act changes for appliances. And what it doesn’t.
What the Act does and doesn’t require
The Act covers the structure and exterior of a property. It covers water, gas, electricity, space heating and hot water. It does not force landlords to provide white goods. Fridges, washing machines, dishwashers — supplying these is still your choice.
Cooking facilities are the exception. Under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), a property must have a cooker with an oven and hob, or the two separately. This sits inside the new Decent Homes Standard, now extended to private rentals for the first time. If a cooker or hob can’t be repaired, you must replace it without delay.
If you provide appliances, you own the risk
Choose to include white goods, and their safety becomes your responsibility. Every appliance must meet the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994. It must stay free of HHSRS category 1 hazards — faulty wiring, fire risk, a failed unit left in place. The Decent Homes Standard makes this a formal compliance point, not just good practice.
Running multiple properties, or an HMO? You need a clear inventory. What’s provided, its age, its safety and maintenance history — for every unit.
A practical checklist before your next inspection
Confirm which appliances are actually in the tenancy agreement, not just in the property. Check every appliance carries current safety marking, and check for manufacturer recalls. Replace anything near the end of its service life before it fails, not after. Prioritise energy-efficient models — lower running costs mean fewer bill disputes.
Why total cost of ownership matters more now
Section 21 no-fault evictions end from 1 May 2026. Tenancies are now open-ended. Landlords will hold appliances for longer. A cheap appliance that fails in year two costs more than a better one that lasts — in callouts, void periods, and tenant goodwill. Energy efficiency compounds this. An A-rated washing machine or fridge-freezer costs less to run. That matters to tenants paying their own bills, and to landlords fielding fewer complaints.
Sourcing appliances that hold up
Hot & Cold stocks the full range, every category. Value-tier brands like Beko, Grundig, Hisense, Midea and Sensia, through to premium options. Prices are checked daily against AO, Currys, John Lewis and Marks Electrical, so you’re never left wondering if you paid over the odds. Full range in stock means fast delivery when a like-for-like replacement can’t wait.
Get in touch on 020 8960 1300 or visit www.hotandcold.co.uk to talk through what’s right for your properties.
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