Renting - Oven fire

Matt_Hirst

Matt_Hirst

Matt_Hirst

Associate
Joined
27 Jan 2005
Posts
1,416
Location
S. Yorks
Hi,

We rent out our old house and today the tenant put some sausages in the oven, went in the garden and came back to find the oven on fire, firebrigade called etc etc. Everyone is ok thankgod , kitchen just has a burnt out oven and burnt worktop (worktop is not bad if I am honest).

Anyway my question is about liability, am I liable to replace the oven at my expense or at the persons renting expense? I know it'll only be a couple hundred quid to replace the oven but this is the first issue we have had and it got me thinking about who is liable in these circumstances?

Matt
 
I would suggest looking at the state of the oven, was it reasonably clean or cleaned on a regular basis? I would think that the property owner needs to replace if it was supplied with the property!
 
Ovens rarely magically go up in smoke therefore it was probably the grease that caught and sent the rest of it up. If that was the case then it's their problem for not bothering to clean the oven/trays.
 
Its all burnt out so difficult to know the state of it before it caught fire.

We did supply it with the property, this was two years ago.

Matt
 
On inventory, electric and we do have smoke alarm and I assume it went off (don't know as yet as I am at work - wife went round to look at the damage) and I need to check insurance - we have damages insurance.

But my question is more about liability, no problem if I am liable I'll stump up for a new one, just wondered for future reference.

Matt
 
Unless you can prove negligence from the tenant then as it's on the inventory it's your responsibility to replace it as far as I know.
 
We have pulled them up previously for cleanliness, once was for the oven as well.

However its probably not worth the hassle as generally they are good tenants.

Matt
 
I'm pretty sure that failing an electrical fault that caused the fire its the tenant's fault and (possibly) should be claimed on their tenants liability insurance.

We rented between house sale and purchase and had to take out insurance that covered our liability for accidental damage to the property.
 
+1 tenants liability insurance - rental contracts I have seen, demand tenant has it though, and he provides proof at rental outset.

Did fire brigade provide report suggesting whether poor cleanliness/fat build up was contributory, I cannot believe that without fat build-up could ever have a self-sustaining fire ?
 
Replace the oven and move on. They won't make the same mistake again after that drama (probably) and good tenants that pay in full and on time are worth their weight in gold in the long term.

Consider the cost of replacing the oven vs. the time and hassle of finding new tenants / them starting to play up, if you play hard ball with liability. They might pay you now then play silly buggers down the line just to annoy you.
 
Participant said:
Replace the oven and move on. They won't make the same mistake again after that drama (probably) and good tenants that pay in full and on time are worth their weight in gold in the long term.

Consider the cost of replacing the oven vs. the time and hassle of finding new tenants / them starting to play up, if you play hard ball with liability. They might pay you now then play silly buggers down the line just to annoy you.
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this
 
xb8browney said:
As someone who rents I'd expect the oven to be replaced by the landlord.
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As a renter if it was my incompetence/negligence that caused it I would take responsibility and replace it.....

Keeps you in the landlords good books so they don't start looking for excuses to replace you.
 
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