Living with owner question

Conrad83

Hello,

I live in an owner occupied house with the lady who owns it and was just wondering who is responsible for replacing fixtures and fittings? For example bulbs etc? A bulb has been broken now in the overhead light of our cooker for 6 months now and I am going to buy a new one myself as thats the only way it will get replaces. Should I ask for the money back? (They are expensive bulbs at over €12 a pop).

From talking to a few friends the general consensus seems to be that the landlord or owner is responisble for all repair and replacement to fixtures and fittings?

bmwguy

Conrad83 wrote: »

Hello,

I live in an owner occupied house with the lady who owns it and was just wondering who is responsible for replacing fixtures and fittings? For example bulbs etc? A bulb has been broken now in the overhead light of our cooker for 6 months now and I am going to buy a new one myself as thats the only way it will get replaces. Should I ask for the money back? (They are expensive bulbs at over €12 a pop).

From talking to a few friends the general consensus seems to be that the landlord or owner is responisble for all repair and replacement to fixtures and fittings?

Yes, she is responsible for the upkeep of the house. However, there are no real laws regarding you living there, you have very few rights and very few obligations. However, I wouldn't go asking for money for replacing bulbs to be honest. Its only 12 euro and if you want it fixed that bad, just buy it and say nothing. No bulb may not annoy her as much as you and she may not want it replaced. I know the bulb you are talking about, my cooker would be perfectly easy to use even without it, although there is a large kitchen window nearby.
Don't rock the boat if it is an otherwise harmonious place to live.

James Bond Junior

What I used to do when in that situation was say, the bulb needs to be replaced, do you want me to pick one up and I'll just knock it off the rent?

Connavar

I would have thought bulbs are a consumable therefore its not the landlords responsibility(as a landlord) though if they are living there too I would expect them to chip in

Conrad83

Thanks for the replies. It's not about the money whatsoever, I just wanted to get a feel for people's thoughts on the situation. Whenever something breaks or needs replacing it is generally me who ends up having to do it as she won't or will take a long time to. I only replaced the bulb in the fridge recently and a few other kitchen utensils/dishes that needs replacing (which I have no issue with) and I feel I am being taken advantage of.

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

Hombre Lobo

Ideally the owner should be fixing it, it is their house after all but unfortunately you have very little say in an owner occupied house.

If you mentioned to the owner something like "If I were to get a new bulb for the cooker would you willing to split the cost of it, as they're about €12 to replace"

antoinolachtnai

A bulb? Check the lease but that sounds like a tenant item to me. If you are living with LL it does not really seem essential and it is really up to LL

L'prof

As she lives there, I'd be asking her to split the cost. If she didn't live there, I'd just replace it myself.

Arbiter of Good Taste

You are a lodger, not a tenant. So I see no reason for you to be replacing anything. A bulb in your bedroom maybe, but that's as far as I would go.

But, if you are otherwise happy, or think you are getting a good rent, for the sake of harmony I would just do it, and then innocently mention it to her. Maybe she would get the hint then.

anthony4335

Been on the other side of this argument I would have always replaced them myself. I did however not replace the ones in the extractor when they blew ,I was not asked either, not really essential. Blubs could be seen as the occupiers responsibility. In you situation I would say it to her give her the option of going halves on the bulb and see what she says.

The owner is probably just not bothered. The lights over the cooker are not used by a lot of people. I would never pay to replace them in the places I've been living as they are never used.

BabySlam

I got a bulb for my oven in Dealz for 1.49 euro - have a look there first.