Tenants rights - white goods

[Nanny0gg]

My friend has moved into a rented place with supplied white goods. The washing machine is at present, unusable due to mould and smell. She has cleaned it out (the filter was disgusting!) as best she can, and the letting agents have supplied some cleaning stuff and instructions. After numerous cycles some of the mould in the drawer is going, but the smell is still offensive and my friend has no intention of washing her own clothes in it yet. (It's been two weeks).
Does she have any rights for the goods to be 'fit for purpose' and if so, who decides whether they are fit or not? I don't know if the landlord knows about this, so far it's just the agents trying to sort it out.

[ImperialSantaKnickers]

I think she has the right to insist appliances supplied on the inventory are in good working order. My inclination would be to speak to agents, perfectly nicely, just to say it was worth trying the cleaning products etc but they haven't had the desired effect and meanwhile it's getting rather expensive on launderettes, also running the washing machine empty to try and clean it, so could they arrange a replacement please?

[WeAreEternal]

It should say in her tennancy agreement what the agents/landlords responsabilities are towards the white goods.
Sometimes they say "items in the property (such as furniture and white goods) are supplied by the landlord for use by the tennant(s), however, mantanence and any required repares are not the responsability of the landlord and any costs to maintain the items is to be the responsability of the tenant."

Or it will say "items such as white goods that are supplied by the landlord are for use of the tenant but will at all times remain the property of the landlord, any required repares will be the responsability of the landlord and if repars are required the tennant must contact the landlord to arange a mutually convenient time to carry out the required repares."

It will almost always say something like "the tenant is responsible for ensuring that the items are kept in good clean condition at all times and in the event of damage through in proper use the tenant will be responsible for the cost of the repares/replacement of the items"

Unfortunatly though most of the time they will often argue that if the item is working sufficiently than it is fit for use, and that the tenant is responsible for anything else.

Tell your friend to get a few bottles of white vinegar and run a few long cycles on the hottest temperature with a draw and a drum full of vinigar.
That usually cleans washers better than any products I have known.

[Nanny0gg]

Thanks for your replies. I'll get her to re-read the agreement.
What is annoying is that she has a perfectly good washing machine herself that she had to buy for her last place. She's more than willing to put it in, but the manky one is integrated, so the landlord would have to agree to the kitchen (temporarily) losing the washing machine cover door and the kick panel along the bottom. That would also give the landlord a couple of years probably to save up for a new integrated one!
Friend is trying really hard not to antagonise agents (who I don't think have spoken to LL yet), but it's getting difficult...

[Nanny0gg]

Oh yes, tried the white vinegar and washing soda - you wouldn't believe how truly unpleasant this machine is - was nearly sick cleaning out the slime in the filter! The Good Housekeeping forum was very helpful!

[SoupDragon]

Has she done her 95deg "maintenance wash" as advised by MN>

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Has she pulled the draw out and given it a good scrub and then soaked in bleach? I do this two or three times a year to keep draw nice.

[Nanny0gg]

Yep. All of the above. Also, as she is on a water meter, all this isn't going to be free, not to mention the time doing (she has little spare time) and the inconvenience of laundrette/friend's (my) washing for her.
So I just wondered when she could start being more demanding.

Trouble is, she really likes the new place and really doesn't want to be on bad terms with the agents or the landlord.