Reviewed against official England guidance on 29 October 2026. A landlord supplying a cooker, fridge, washing machine or other appliance takes on safety duties, but the rules differ by fuel type, electrical safety and the terms of the tenancy. There is no single rule that makes every white or brown good a landlord must provide. The home must still meet the applicable standards for safe occupation and adequate facilities, including a suitable place to prepare and cook food. Local HMO standards and the tenancy agreement may add requirements.
Before a tenancy begins, record which appliances belong to the landlord and their condition. Keep manuals and safety records available, explain how faults should be reported, and make clear which items are included. An inventory with dated photographs can help distinguish fair wear from damage, but it does not remove a landlord’s legal obligations.
For electrical safety in England, landlords must ensure appliances they provide are safe. The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations require electrical equipment supplied under the tenancy to be checked by a qualified person at least every five years. Government guidance gives cookers, fridges and microwaves as examples. This is not the same as a blanket requirement for annual portable-appliance testing. Keep the report and act on any safety defects identified. Tenants are responsible for the safety of their own electrical items.
Gas appliances have separate duties. The landlord must ensure gas equipment supplied is safely installed and maintained by a Gas Safe registered engineer, arrange a gas-safety check of each relevant appliance and flue at least every 12 months, and provide the required record to the tenant. If an engineer identifies an unsafe appliance, it must not be used until the problem is resolved.
Repair responsibility depends on the type of item and the agreement. Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 covers the structure and specified installations, but it does not automatically treat every removable appliance as part of those installations. The tenancy may promise that supplied appliances will be maintained; fitness, safety and HMO duties may also be relevant. Where the contract says the landlord provides an appliance, a tenant should report a fault promptly and the landlord should check the applicable duty and terms rather than assume the tenant must replace it. A tenant may be responsible for damage they caused, subject to the facts and the law.
For landlords, the practical approach is to supply only equipment that can be kept safe, retain the relevant electrical and gas records, respond to faults, and review the written agreement before deciding who arranges a repair. Rules differ across the UK and can vary for HMOs, resident landlords and other arrangements. This overview is not a legal determination for an individual tenancy; check current official guidance or obtain housing-law advice where the facts are disputed.