Cooker Hood Not Working in Banstead Rental Properties Common Faults and Who Pays

Published October 2026 | Cooker Hood Repair

Landlord Obligations Under Current Regulations

If a cooker hood was installed in the property before the tenancy began and listed in the inventory, the landlord is responsible for keeping it in working order. This falls under the landlord's general duty to maintain appliances and fixtures that form part of the let. The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 sets out obligations around keeping properties fit for habitation, and a kitchen without working extraction - especially in flats - can reasonably be argued to fall short of that standard when ventilation is materially compromised.

Our engineers see this misunderstood regularly across Surrey. Landlords sometimes assume that because a cooker hood is a "minor" appliance, the tenant should sort it. That's not how it works in practice. If the hood was there when the tenant moved in, it's yours to maintain as the landlord.

Specific obligations for landlords include:

• Repairing or replacing a faulty motor or fan that stops working through normal use
• Fixing failed internal lighting that is part of the hood unit
• Replacing a control board or switch assembly that has failed without tenant fault
• Arranging repair within a reasonable timeframe after being notified - typically within 14 days for non-emergency issues

Landlords who own properties fitted with Bosch, Hotpoint, Samsung, or Beko cooker hoods should check whether any active manufacturer warranty applies before commissioning a repair. Some brands offer two to three year warranties, and a repair call-out on a relatively new appliance might be covered at no cost.

What Tenants Are Expected to Handle

Tenants have their own set of responsibilities when it comes to a cooker hood. The basic rule is this: cleaning and routine maintenance sit with the tenant, while mechanical or electrical failure sits with the landlord - provided that failure isn't caused by neglect.

A cooker hood removes cooking smells, smoke, steam, and grease from the kitchen. To do that effectively, the filters need regular attention. Most cooker hoods use either metal mesh grease filters or charcoal filters, and both need cleaning or replacing on a regular schedule.

What tenants should be doing:

1. Clean metal grease filters every four to six weeks - most can go in the dishwasher
2. Replace charcoal or carbon filters every three to six months, as these cannot be washed
3. Wipe down the exterior casing monthly to prevent heavy grease build-up
4. Check that fan speed controls work correctly and report any changes promptly
5. Avoid harsh abrasive cleaners on the hood exterior, which can damage the finish and seals

If a tenant has been ignoring filter maintenance and the motor burns out because it was running against a blocked, clogged filter for months, the landlord has a strong case that the cost of repair or replacement falls on the tenant. Poor extraction is one of the most common cooker hood problems, and it very often traces back to filters that simply haven't been cleaned.

Grey Areas - Where Disputes Happen

Grey areas are where most landlord-tenant cooker hood disputes actually originate. The law is clear in principle, but the facts on the ground are often messier than either side expects.

The blocked filter argument. A tenant reports poor extraction. The landlord sends an engineer. The engineer finds a filter so clogged it's almost solid with grease. Whose fault is that? If the tenancy agreement includes a maintenance checklist and the tenant signed it, the landlord has grounds to charge for the repair. If no guidance was given to the tenant at the start of the tenancy, it's much harder to make that case stick.

Age and wear. Cooker hoods have a typical lifespan of eight to fifteen years depending on usage and brand. If a Hotpoint or LG hood in a Banstead rental property fails at twelve years old, it's difficult for a landlord to argue the tenant caused it. Normal wear and tear applies. Our engineers regularly inspect older units and the conclusion is often the same - it's just reached the end of its working life.

Tenant-installed appliances. If a tenant brought their own cooker hood and fitted it themselves, maintenance and repair is entirely their responsibility. The complication comes when they move out and leave it behind. Get this agreed in writing before they go.

Damage versus failure. A cracked casing, a snapped switch lever, or a shattered light cover points to physical damage. That's different from a failed motor or a blown control board. Engineers can usually tell the difference clearly. If you're a landlord and something looks physically broken rather than worn out, photograph it before any repair work starts.

How to Report This Issue - Tenant Perspective

Reporting a faulty cooker hood correctly matters. If you do it poorly, you risk delays, disputes over liability, and difficulties if you ever want to recover costs or seek compensation.

Here's how to report it properly:

1. Put it in writing. Email or message your landlord or letting agent. Don't rely on a phone call alone. You need a dated paper trail showing when you first reported the fault.
2. Describe the problem specifically. "The cooker hood is broken" won't help anyone. Explain what's happening - is the fan not starting? Are the lights out? Do the controls not respond? The most common faults include the fan stopping working, lights failing, and controls becoming unresponsive. Name the symptom you're seeing.
3. Take photos or video. A short phone video showing that the fan doesn't spin when you press the button is worth more than a paragraph of description.
4. Give a reasonable deadline. For a non-emergency like a cooker hood, 14 days is a fair ask. If you're getting no response, follow up in writing and keep a copy.
5. Check your tenancy agreement. Some agreements specify a maintenance reporting procedure. Follow it if one exists.

If you're in Banstead and your landlord is unresponsive after repeated written requests, your local authority's environmental health or private renting team can sometimes assist if the condition of the property is affecting habitability. It's rarely the first step you want to take, but knowing it exists is useful leverage.

Getting It Fixed Quickly in Banstead Rental Properties

Speed matters. A kitchen without working extraction isn't just inconvenient - grease and moisture accumulate, condensation follows, and you can end up with damp problems that are far more expensive to fix than the original cooker hood repair ever would have been.

Common cooker hood faults include the fan stopping, lights failing, or controls becoming unresponsive. Our engineers use the Voltrade GoFIX diagnostic tool to quickly identify which component has failed before ordering parts - this cuts turnaround time significantly compared to a traditional strip-down-and-see approach.

Typical repair costs for cooker hoods in Surrey and the wider South East:

• Grease filter replacement: typically 10 to 30 pounds per filter, depending on the model
• Charcoal or carbon filter replacement: typically 15 to 40 pounds
• Fan motor replacement: typically 80 to 150 pounds including labour
• Control board replacement: typically 90 to 180 pounds depending on the brand
• Internal lighting repair or bulb replacement: typically 40 to 80 pounds
• Full unit replacement, supplied and fitted: typically 200 to 500 pounds depending on specification

For landlords managing multiple properties in Banstead, it's worth building an ongoing relationship with a local appliance repair service rather than making one-off calls. Faster response times and better visibility of repair histories across your portfolio make a real difference when disputes arise later.

Noisy fans are another common fault our engineers encounter in rental properties. This is often a worn bearing in the motor rather than a full motor failure, which typically means a lower repair cost - but it needs attention before it develops further.

Documentation You Should Keep

Documentation is what separates a resolved dispute from an expensive one. Both landlords and tenants should be keeping records, and the time to start is before something goes wrong, not after.

For landlords:

• A full inventory with photographs taken at the start of each tenancy, showing the cooker hood in working condition
• Copies of any appliance warranties, including the brand, model number, and purchase date
• Records of any repairs or maintenance carried out, with dates and engineer invoices
• Written confirmation of any maintenance responsibilities communicated to tenants at the start of the tenancy
• A check-out inventory with photographs when tenants leave

For tenants:

• Your tenancy agreement and any supplemental maintenance guidance given to you at the start
• Copies of all written fault reports, including the date and method of sending
• Photos or video of the fault as first discovered
• Any responses from your landlord or letting agent, with dates clearly visible
• Receipts if you've purchased replacement filters as part of routine maintenance - this demonstrates you were keeping up your side of the bargain

In Surrey and across the South East, deposit disputes involving appliances are not uncommon at the end of a tenancy. A timestamped photograph of a working cooker hood taken on move-in day takes seconds and can save significant money later.

Landlord and Tenant Questions

My cooker hood fan has stopped working - is this always the landlord's responsibility?

Not automatically. If the fan motor has failed through normal use and the appliance has been properly maintained, that's typically the landlord's responsibility to fix. But if filters were never cleaned and the motor seized from sustained overheating, the tenant's lack of maintenance is likely a contributing factor. An engineer inspection will usually identify the cause clearly, and that finding is the evidence that matters in any dispute. Our engineers document this as part of every job report.

Can I deduct cooker hood repair costs from my rent if my landlord won't fix it?

You should not unilaterally deduct repair costs from rent without specific legal advice, as this can put you in breach of your tenancy agreement. The correct route is to document your reports in writing, allow a reasonable response period, and if still unresolved, seek guidance from Citizens Advice or a housing solicitor. A "repair and deduct" route is possible in some limited circumstances in England, but the procedure must be followed carefully to avoid being in default on your rent.

How often do cooker hood filters need replacing in a Banstead rental property?

Metal grease filters should be cleaned every four to six weeks and typically last the life of the appliance if maintained properly. Charcoal filters - used in recirculating models that don't vent to the outside - need replacing every three to six months and can't be washed. Landlords of rental properties with recirculating hoods should clarify in the tenancy agreement who is responsible for buying replacement charcoal filters, as this is a running consumable cost that sits in a genuinely ambiguous area if left unaddressed.

My landlord says the cooker hood is too old to repair and is refusing to replace it. What are my options?

If the cooker hood was included in the tenancy agreement, your landlord has an obligation to keep it in working order or replace it if repair isn't viable. "Too old to repair" is not a legal excuse for leaving you without a functioning appliance that was part of the let. Put your request in writing, reference the tenancy agreement, and allow 14 days for a response. If you get nothing, Citizens Advice or your local council's private renting team can advise on formal next steps.

What are the most common cooker hood faults engineers find in rental properties?

The most common cooker hood faults include fans that won't start, failed internal lighting, controls that don't respond, and poor extraction. In rental properties specifically, our engineers also frequently find blocked or saturated grease filters that have never been replaced, and charcoal filters that are years beyond their service life. Brands like Beko, Hotpoint, and Bosch all show these same patterns when maintained poorly - it's rarely a brand-specific issue. It's a maintenance issue.