Whirlpool washing machine recall – Tenant compensation?

Widely reported in the press, Whirlpool have announced a major problem over the door mechanism on some Hotpoint and Indesit washers posing a major fire hazard and are recalling affected washers in the new year.

In common with many landlords, I supply white goods in my BTLs and have contacted my tenants to see which properties have Hotpoint or Indesit washers in order to check them out on the Whirlpool website and see if any are affected. One of my properties I know already is.

Obviously the tenants there are very concerned, and as it is a family with young children they are not prepared to wait for what maybe weeks before they can do any washing unless they use the cold water settings recommended by Whirlpool as the only ones that are safe.

They are insisting on compensation if they have to use a local launderette and I’m wondering who’s responsibility is this? Mine or Whirlpool? What are other landlords doing about this problem?

Barbara