Do I have to provide a cooker and hob?

Reply to the comment left by SteveFowkes at 14/04/2022 - 10:45
err.. as someome else has already pointed out I don't believe it is 'law' actually which is why I posed the question....

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homes-fitness-for-human-habitation-act-2018/guide-for-tenants-homes-fitness-for-human-habitation-act-2018

There is nothing in here that says an appliance HAS to be fitted at the start of a tenancy - in fact if you rent an 'unfurnished and no white goods property' the fact that the inventory will show no cooker only confirms this - and so a LL would not be responsible for one a tenant brings in (the same as any other electrical appliance)

The Fitness for Human Habitation Act 2018 itself comes off the back of the LTA which states in Section 10 _
Fitness for human habitation.
[F9(1)]In determining for the purposes of this Act whether a house [F10or dwelling] 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;
[F11in relation to a dwelling in England, any prescribed hazard;]
and the house [F10or dwelling] 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.
[F12(2)In subsection (1) “prescribed hazard” means any matter or circumstance amounting to a hazard for the time being prescribed in regulations made by the Secretary of State under section 2 of the Housing Act 2004.

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I take this to read that a property would only be regarded as unfit for human habitation IF a hazardous circumstance (prescribed hazard) meant the property would be regarded as 'defective' by not having the FACILITIES for food preparation and cooking. EG no gas or electric supply for the specific purposes of cooking.
That would make total sense when applied to the categories of ventilation, water supply, natural lighting etc.

Interesting to note - the LTA applies to all rental properties including social housing.... in those properties cookers are NEVER provided for tenants when they move on. They are supposed to buy their own AND fit is at their own cost.

Apologies to the OP for my judgemental reaction. I just found the concept of not providing a means for a tenant to cook food quite extraordinary. Perhaps that is based on my area and tenant demographic. It just never even crossed my mind that someone would present a property to let without it. Clearly this isn’t the norm in every case and I’ve learned something also.

Reply to the comment left by Crossed_Swords at 14/04/2022 - 12:05
agree Crossed Swords - I herd about this yesterday when my agent said I need to include a cooker/hob in a flat that a tenant has just vacated. I have never done this before - all out flats are unfurnished and devoid of all white goods including cookers (gas or electric)
I have been looking this up as a result and have come to the conclusion that no I do not have to provide one. The FfHH follows on from the LTA but I see nothing that states cookers have to be fitted only the facilities (I take this to read an electric /gas supply specifically) to enable food prep to take place.
As cookers are not fixed items and would not be listed in an inventory if it were let unfurnished, I fail to see how not having one you would be in breach of the FfHH act.
I see it as the omission to provide the facilities (ie supply of gas/electric in which a tenant can plug in an appliance to cook with) as the 'hazard' and therefore the omission of THAT to be why a property would be deemed as 'unfit for human habitation'

Reply to the comment left by Kate Mellor at 14/04/2022 - 13:03
fair enough - I only posted as I was flabbergasted by this 'revelation'!
I deal at the other end of the rental spectrum clearly 😉 so for me its a 'standard' of no white goods/cookers etc rather than the inclusive side of the same.

Reply to the comment left by SteveFowkes at 14/04/2022 - 10:45
Unhelpful and unpleasant remark. I am an experienced landlord with a medium sized portfolio, and I didn't know this. But I am glad that I now do know it as I have a couple of properties becoming vacant soon.

Reply to the comment left by Kate Mellor at 14/04/2022 - 13:03
Many of our tenants have their own free-standing cookers (gas or electric) which they like to bring with them when they rent one of our properties. We stipulate they must use a qualified/registered plumber or electrician to install their own appliances (washing machines and dishwashers included in this requirement as well).

Reply to the comment left by Crossed_Swords at 14/04/2022 - 12:25
lots of benefit tenants cant afford a cooker - true.... and yet social housing/council does not provide one either or any flooring or carpeting in rooms other than bathroom and kitchen before they let to tenants!

They get told to apply for a grant for cookers, fridges carpets etc - and that's usually only AFTER they have moved in. Once they have been given social housing and a date agreed for them to move they have to move on that date even if they have beds/white goods or not.

I took on a care leaver who was in a hostel. The contract start date was three weeks before she had to leave the hostel. She clearly had nothing other than what she stood up in. She applied for a grant immediately so she could have a bed/cooker/fridge. Nothing happened. The contract start date she was told to leave the hostel and pick up the flat keys. She moved in with nothing. Out of pity (and anger) I tried to get her a mattress for the first night. The Council were nowhere to be seen. The housing officer even offered to drop a blow up bed round on her way home. The grant didnt come till 6 weeks later. I found out she was sleeping on a mates floor until the money arrived and she could buy things.

I am sure if it were law that cookers had to be provided in all rental properties there would have been a case before now - guaranteed from a benefit tenant claiming full legal aid against a council for such omissions!

i bought a B2L last oct . and the tenant said she didn't want a cooker as she had an air fryer. so for 3 mths all was good then after christmas she asked me to buy a small hob as the property has an oven and she had problems cooking vegetables on christmas day.
after a bit of research she agreed not to have a hob, but as she lives on her own a halogen oven the size of a micowave is all she required as it was more economical for her to use,
this was purchased and installed to sit on her work top. the inventory was amended.
i have been a landlord indirectly as executor of my late parents estates and more recently on my own properties, and i too was not aware of the law. i am now so thank you for asking and we are never too old to learn something. in fact i hope to learn something new every day.
regards
a young 70 year old.

Reply to the comment left by Annabel Blake at 14/04/2022 - 13:10
read the other comments - like me now you are aware is fine, but I dont think this necessarily means you have to provide one unless you want to.

My son and his partner recently moved into an unfurnished flat provided by a housing association and there was no cooker, hob, white goods or carpets and they were told that they had to get all these themselves. If there was a law that cooking facilities had to be provided surely a housing association would be obliged to provide these also. Maybe the fact that there was a fitted kitchen with sink and hot and cold water available counts as suitable for cooking (but provide your own cooker).