It's ruddy good!
It's ruddy good!
By David Thornton, Home Appliance Specialist
Appliances in rented homes work harder than most people realise. Different tenants, varying usage habits, and the natural wear that comes with high-frequency use all add up — and when something goes wrong, the question of who pays and how quickly it gets sorted can create real friction between landlords and tenants. This guide is written for landlords, tenants, and homeowners who want to understand the risks, know the typical UK repair costs, and make confident decisions about how to protect the appliances in their property.
Appliances in rental properties typically experience heavier use, more variable handling, and less consistent maintenance than those in owner-occupied homes — a combination that significantly increases the likelihood of faults developing before the appliance reaches the end of its expected lifespan.
A washing machine in a family rental might run seven or eight cycles a week. An equivalent machine in a lightly-used owner-occupied home might run three or four. Over five years, that's thousands of extra cycles — well beyond what most domestic machines are rated for under standard use. The same pattern applies to dishwashers, tumble dryers, and ovens.
There's also the transition problem. When a tenancy ends and a new one begins, there is rarely a detailed appliance health check. A degrading fridge door seal, a dishwasher filter that hasn't been cleaned in months, a washing machine drum bearing that's starting to wear — these tend to go unnoticed until they fail completely. For landlords, that typically means an unplanned call-out and an unwelcome bill arriving between lets.
Washing machines, dishwashers, and fridge freezers are the most frequently repaired household appliances in the UK, and each has specific failure points that become more likely with intensive or inconsistent use.
The most common washing machine faults in UK rental properties are drum bearing failure, faulty door seals, pump blockages, and motor or control board issues. Drum bearings are particularly sensitive to overloading — a habit that tends to be more common when tenants aren't invested in the machine's long-term condition. Repair costs typically range from £80 to £300 depending on the fault and the engineer's call-out charge.
Dishwasher faults most commonly trace back to blocked filters, worn spray arms, faulty door latches, or heating element failure. Filter blockages are often avoidable with routine cleaning, but limescale build-up in hard-water areas — across much of the south and east of England — accelerates wear on internal components. A typical dishwasher repair in the UK costs between £70 and £250.
Fridge freezer problems often present as temperature inconsistencies — food not staying cold, or frost building up unexpectedly. Common causes include door seal deterioration, thermostat failure, or a faulty fan motor. Repairs typically cost £80 to £200, though compressor failure — the most serious fault — can make repair uneconomical on an older model.
Oven faults in rental properties most commonly involve failed heating elements, broken igniters on gas hobs, or faulty control boards on modern integrated models. Heating element replacement is one of the more straightforward repairs, typically costing £60 to £150. Control board failure on a built-in electric oven can run to £200 or more.
Most domestic appliance repairs in the UK fall between £70 and £350 all-in, covering parts, labour, and the engineer's call-out — though this varies considerably depending on the appliance, the fault, the engineer's location, and parts availability.
Call-out fees alone — before any repair work begins — typically range from £50 to £100 across the UK. In rural areas or for specialist brands, this can be higher. Where a repair requires an obscure part or a return visit, costs rise accordingly. For landlords managing multiple properties, even one or two unexpected repair bills in a year can make a noticeable dent in rental income for that period.
The repair-versus-replace decision is rarely straightforward. A useful rule of thumb used across the trade: if the repair cost approaches or exceeds 50% of the appliance's current replacement value, replacement often makes more financial sense — particularly if the appliance is already showing signs of broader wear or is approaching the end of its expected service life.
These three forms of protection are frequently confused, but they work quite differently in practice. Understanding the distinctions matters particularly in a rental property context, where flexibility and transferability are often as important as the cover itself.
| Type | What It Covers | Duration | Practical Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer Guarantee | Manufacturing defects only | Usually 1–2 years from purchase | Does not cover accidental damage or wear; may be void in heavy-use or commercial settings |
| Extended Warranty | Mechanical breakdown; sometimes accidental damage | Fixed term (typically 1–5 years) | Often tied to the original retailer; may not be transferable; can be more expensive per year than insurance |
| Appliance Insurance | Accidental damage and mechanical breakdown | Ongoing, cancel anytime | Age limits apply; appliances must be under 6 years old at the start of the policy |
For rental properties, appliance insurance tends to offer more practical flexibility than extended warranties. Cover isn't tied to the original purchase point of sale, policies can be cancelled without penalty when circumstances change, and there's no need to hunt down a retailer's warranty record mid-tenancy when something goes wrong.
Appliance insurance from Row.co.uk covers both accidental damage and mechanical breakdown, with the cost of parts, labour, and call-out all included — so there are no hidden engineer fees to factor in when a fault occurs.
Cover starts from £1.49 per month, with protection available on appliances valued up to £2,000. For landlords or homeowners looking to insure more than one item, a multi-item discount of up to 20% is available, with a 5% discount on a second appliance. Policies can be cancelled at any time — there's no long-term commitment or lock-in period.
Row.co.uk has a national repair network across the UK, and all claims are managed online through the customer service centre. Row.co.uk has insured over 200,000 items since 2009, holds a rating of 4.72 out of 5 on reviews.io, and is an Insurance Choice Awards winner.
Cover from £1.49/month. Accidental damage and mechanical breakdown included. Parts, labour, and call-out all covered. Cancel anytime — no lock-in, no long-term commitment. Multi-item discounts available.
Get a Quote from Row.co.ukTo be eligible for appliance insurance through Row.co.uk, an appliance must be under 6 years old at the start of the policy. For gadgets — such as mobile phones, tablets, or laptops — the item must be under 12 months old at the start of cover.
This is a practical consideration for landlords reviewing the appliances currently in their rental properties. An appliance that's already five years old is still within the eligibility window, but that window is closing. If appliances are approaching the six-year mark, it's worth weighing up whether taking out cover now makes sense — or whether the more practical course of action is planning for replacement.
When purchasing new appliances for a rental property, arranging cover close to the time of purchase makes the most of the eligibility period. Faults most commonly emerge between years two and five — after the manufacturer guarantee has lapsed but before the appliance has reached the end of its expected service life. That's the period where having cover in place typically makes the biggest practical difference.
A large proportion of the appliance faults seen in rental properties are avoidable with straightforward, low-effort maintenance — the kind that takes a few minutes each month rather than specialist knowledge or tools. Landlords carrying out basic checks between tenancies, and tenants following simple upkeep habits, can meaningfully extend appliance life.
Yes. Landlords can take out appliance insurance on white goods and other appliances they own within a rental property. The key eligibility requirement is that the appliance must be under 6 years old at the start of the policy. Cover can be arranged regardless of whether the property is currently tenanted.
In most tenancy arrangements, the landlord is responsible for maintaining appliances they have provided as part of the let — this is a widely held expectation under English and Scottish tenancy law, though the specifics always depend on what the tenancy agreement states. Tenants are generally expected to report faults promptly and use appliances in a reasonable way. If you are unsure of your obligations, seek guidance from a letting agent or Citizens Advice.
To make a claim, log in to the customer service centre at row.co.uk. All claims are handled online — there is no need to make a phone call or post any paperwork. The UK-based claims team will guide you through the process from there.
Row.co.uk appliance insurance includes accidental damage cover alongside mechanical breakdown. For the specific details of what is covered under your policy, refer to the policy documentation provided when you take out cover.
Yes. Row.co.uk offers a multi-item discount of up to 20% when insuring more than one item, with a 5% discount available on a second appliance. This makes it practical for landlords who need to protect several appliances across one or more properties.
If an appliance covered by Row.co.uk cannot be economically repaired, a replacement may be provided subject to the terms of your policy. Where possible, Row.co.uk aims to match the brand and specification of the original item.
No. Row.co.uk policies can be cancelled at any time with no lock-in period. This makes the cover particularly practical for landlords whose appliance needs change as tenancies begin and end, or when appliances are upgraded or replaced.