Can I dispose of landlords fridge

[legalfun]

England

Appreciate this is not necessarily a big issue.

I have a fridge from the landlord that was a replacement for a previous fridge but not the correct capacity. It's also not functioning correctly.

I received the fridge start of Jan. I made several enquiries about getting the correct sized fridge but it went ignored so I raised a complaint in march.

By end of April, I received a stage 1 response saying they acknowledge and will sort a the fridge with the original capacity and gave a small compensation. I was told I'd be contacted within 5 working days.

As I was not contacted, I raised the complaint to stage 2 in May. They took quite longer than the 20 working days to respond - I got a response last week.

They again acknowledged the lack of communications and issues with replacing the fridge. This time they gave substantial compensation and said my housing officer would contact within 5 days. Again this has not happened.

I got my own fridge a while ago as my wife has stage 4 lung cancer and we need capacity (and a properly working fridge). The old fridge is still taking up space. I have asked them to collect it which they said they will in the email chain that followed from the stage 2 findings but nothing.

Would I be allowed to just dispose of it? It's taking up space in my limited space and they have had plenty of time to resolve this.

White goods are included in my AST.

[PallasAthena]

The old fridge is still their property, so no, you can't rid of it without their permission.

Depending on the situation of your housing is it possible to put it outside your front door and leave it there for them to collect? Somewhere that it's safe (not where it will be stolen by the people who cruise the streets looking for metal waste) and not blocking anyone's access? If so you could give them 7 days notice of your intention to do that, then do it if still uncollected.

[echat11]

Is it in saleable condition?

Give them notice, sell it, return the monies to them.

Just a suggestion.

[legalfun]

Unfortunately if I left it outside my front door, it might get picked up. I also think it'll get damaged due to weather

I don't think it's in a saleable condition, it was having issues for which I raised a repair request (which went ignored) and led me to getting my own.

[echat11]

Unfortunately if I left it outside my front door, it might get picked up. I also think it'll get damaged due to weather

I don't think it's in a saleable condition, it was having issues for which I raised a repair request (which went ignored) and led me to getting my own.

Check to see if the Council has a disposal service, some do.

[legalfun]

The question is if I am allowed to even dispose of it. I can drop it off to the recycling centre myself maybe.

So if I can, I will happily do so. I may just get a cover for it and stick it in the garden but keen to get rid of it.

[PallasAthena]

Because it is the property of your landlord you aren't entitled to simply chuck it out.

However, as a practical matter it is probably worth next to nothing in £££ terms and would cost them money to dispose of it. So in your position I would give them 7 days notice that if they don't collect it by then you will take it to the dump and get rid of it. Add something about why it is causing so much inconvenience having it left in your property and remind them they already said once they would collect by date xx/xx/xxxx but failed to do so.

[legalfun]

Thank you for the advice, totally understand that I would need to give notice. I will go this route.

[islandgirl]

GIve it in writing. Cert of postage from 2 post offices. Also by email if you usually use that method. The LL is almost certain at some point to say you owe them the cost of the fridge you "disposed of" so you will have to prove that you gave this notice. I also agree however it is the way to go.

[des8]

Schedule 1 of the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 deals with uncollected goods, specifically addressing the situation where a bailee (someone holding goods for another) needs to return them to the bailor (the owner) but the bailor has not collected them.