Washing machine recall is a concern for landlords…

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Appliance Fires:

Most people will be
aware by now that Whirlpool, manufacturer of Hotpoint and Indesit
appliances, has recalled 519,000 washing machines that were sold from
October 2014 up until last year. This comes only months after the
company admitting it needed to recall millions of potentially
dangerous tumble dryers world-wide.

The recall also
follows Whirlpool this month agreeing a settlement with residents who
were left homeless when one of its faulty tumble dryers caused a
large fire. Thirty-seven people made legal claims against the company
following the tower block fire in Shepherd’s Bush Green, west London,
in August 2016.

The manufacturer has
admitted that 42 different Hotpoint and Indesit models could be
affected by an electrical fault that could cause overheating and
possibly catch fire. Washing machines purchased since October 2014
and to date could be affected by this recall.

The situation is
obviously of concern to landlords and they are being advised to carry
our checks to see if any of the appliances in their rental properties
are affected, and if so to arrangement for immediate remedial action.

Most rental
properties include some kinds of white goods even when the property
is let unfurnished, so with lives potentially are risk, regardless of
the risks to property, landlords should act promptly.

The appliances now
identified as at risk are Hotpoint or Indesit washing machines which
potentially have faulty door locking mechanisms; these can overheat
and burst into flames. 519,000 machines are affected in the UK, a
relatively small number compared to the five million tumble dryers
Whirlpool previously had to deal with.

Good practice for
landlords is to keep a property file with all supplied appliances
recorded, purchase invoice, make, model serial number, and any
guarantee etc, so there may be no need to visit if this information
is available.

It should be
possible to check online with Whirlpool to identify at risk
appliances, though demand for this has been heavy and has overloaded
their website, but if in doubt there is also a helpline available –
0800 3161442.

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