Fridge Freezer Not Cold Enough in Your Yeovil Rental Property - What Landlords and Tenants Need to Know

Published September 2026 | Fridge Freezer Not Cold Enough

A fridge freezer that's not keeping things cold is more than an inconvenience. It puts food at risk, costs tenants money in spoiled groceries, and if left unresolved, can become a genuine health hazard. In a rental property, that raises an immediate question: whose problem is it to fix?

The answer depends on what caused the fault and who provided the appliance. But in most cases, it falls squarely with the landlord. Here's what both sides need to understand.

Landlord Obligations Under Current Regulations

Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, specifically Section 11, landlords are legally required to keep installations and appliances they provide in good working order. If a fridge freezer came with the property at the start of the tenancy, its maintenance and repair is the landlord's responsibility - not the tenant's.

This obligation extends beyond just heating and hot water. Any appliance supplied as part of the let - whether that's a Hotpoint fridge freezer built into the kitchen or a freestanding Beko unit left by the previous occupier - must be kept in a safe and functional state throughout the tenancy.

The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) also plays a role here. If a broken fridge freezer leads to food spoilage or inadequate refrigeration of medicines or infant formula, it can be assessed as a Category 1 hazard - and councils have the power to require landlords to address those promptly.

In practical terms, this means:

• Landlords cannot ignore a reported fault simply because the appliance is old.
• Repairs should be carried out within a reasonable timeframe - typically within 24 to 48 hours for faults affecting food safety, and within seven days for less urgent issues.
• If the appliance is beyond economical repair, the landlord is expected to replace it.
• Landlords cannot charge tenants for repair costs unless the tenant caused the damage.

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 has also strengthened tenant protections around habitability. Local authorities are increasingly active about investigating complaints where landlords are slow to respond to reported defects, so keeping on top of these issues isn't just the right thing to do - it's increasingly the only sensible option.

What Tenants Are Expected to Handle

Tenant responsibility for a fridge freezer is limited to basic, everyday care. That's a short list, but it matters. If a fault is traced back to tenant neglect or misuse, the landlord is within their rights to pass the repair cost on.

What tenants are typically expected to do:

1. Defrost the freezer regularly. If your freezer doesn't have an auto-defrost function (common in older models), allowing ice to build up and block the internal vents can restrict airflow and cause the fridge compartment to stop cooling properly. A manual defrost every few months is reasonable upkeep.
2. Check and clean door seals. The rubber gasket around the fridge and freezer doors degrades over time, but keeping it clean is down to the tenant. A dirty or sticky seal can fail to close properly, letting warm air in. You can check yours by closing the door on a piece of paper - if it slips out easily, the seal may need attention.
3. Set the correct temperature. Fridge temperature should sit between 1 and 4 degrees Celsius. Freezers should be set to minus 18 degrees or below. If someone has turned the dial to minimum, that's a tenant issue to correct before calling a repair out.
4. Keep internal vents clear. Most fridge freezers have vents between the freezer and fridge compartments to allow cold air to circulate. Packing food tightly against these vents can block airflow and leave the fridge section warmer than it should be.
5. Allow clearance at the back. Pushing the appliance too close to the wall can cause the condenser coils to overheat. Manufacturers typically recommend a few centimetres of clearance behind the unit.

If a tenant runs through these checks and the fridge is still not cold enough, the fault is almost certainly mechanical - and responsibility shifts firmly to the landlord.

Grey Areas - Where Disputes Happen

Most fridge freezer disputes in rental properties don't involve clear-cut negligence. They sit in murkier territory, and that's where disagreements tend to flare up.

Age of the appliance. A 12-year-old Hotpoint or Beko that develops a compressor fault isn't the tenant's doing. But some landlords still try to argue that because the appliance was old, the replacement cost should be shared. In most cases, that argument won't hold up - if it was working at the start of the tenancy, the landlord is on the hook for replacing it.

Who bought the appliance. If a tenant purchased their own fridge freezer and brought it with them, the landlord has no responsibility for it. Conversely, if a landlord left an old unit in the property informally - without including it in the inventory - ownership and responsibility can become contested. Always check what the tenancy agreement and inventory say.

Power surges and external faults. A power cut or surge that damaged the compressor or control board sits in a grey area. Buildings insurance and contents insurance may both have a role to play, and it's worth checking both policies before assuming one party is liable.

Cosmetic damage versus functional failure. A cracked fridge shelf or broken drawer is often treated as tenant damage. A failed thermostat or faulty fan motor is clearly a mechanical defect. Most reputable appliance engineers in Yeovil can provide a written diagnosis to confirm which category a fault falls into - and that written report can be invaluable when resolving a dispute.

How to Report This Issue as a Tenant

If your fridge freezer isn't cold enough and you've already run through the basic checks, here's how to escalate it properly and protect yourself in the process.

1. Report it in writing. Email your landlord or letting agent, stating clearly that the fridge freezer is not maintaining safe temperatures. Include the date, describe what you've already checked, and explain any impact - spoiled food, medication concerns, young children in the property. Avoid relying only on a phone call; written records protect you if this goes further.
2. Photograph the issue. If you have a thermometer, photograph the temperature reading. Also photograph any obvious signs of fault - excessive ice build-up in the freezer, damaged seals, or water pooling under the unit. These images can be critical if a dispute arises later.
3. State the urgency clearly. If you have young children, are storing prescription medication, or are otherwise particularly vulnerable, make this explicit in your written report. It can influence how quickly the landlord is expected to respond and strengthens your case if they're slow to act.
4. Set a reasonable deadline. Give the landlord or agent 24 to 48 hours to confirm they're arranging a repair. For non-urgent issues, seven days is more typical, but a fridge freezer that's not cooling should be treated as urgent.
5. Escalate if there's no response. If your landlord doesn't respond or refuses to act, you can contact Somerset Council or seek advice from Citizens Advice. In some circumstances, tenants have the right to arrange a repair and deduct the cost from rent - but take legal advice before going down that route.

Getting It Fixed Quickly in Yeovil Rental Properties

Speed matters when food is at risk. For landlords managing properties in Yeovil and the surrounding area, having a reliable appliance engineer on call can make a real difference to response times and tenant satisfaction - and it reduces the risk of a complaint escalating to the council.

Our engineers use the Voltrade GoFIX diagnostic tool to assess fridge freezer faults before the visit. That means they typically arrive knowing what they're looking at, with the right parts, which cuts down on return trips and shortens the time a tenant is without a working appliance.

Common faults our team encounters in Yeovil properties include:

• Faulty thermostat - typically costs between 80 and 150 pounds to repair, depending on the model and brand.
• Failed evaporator fan motor - the fan that circulates cold air from the freezer into the fridge compartment. Repair costs commonly run between 100 and 200 pounds.
• Blocked or failed defrost system - can sometimes be cleared without parts, but if the defrost heater has failed, expect to pay between 120 and 180 pounds.
• Compressor failure - the most costly repair. On brands like Bosch, Samsung, or LG, compressor replacement can run from 200 to 400 pounds. On older or budget appliances, replacement is usually the more sensible option.
• Refrigerant leak - requires an F-Gas certified engineer and can cost between 150 and 350 pounds. Not all domestic appliance engineers hold this certification, so check before booking.

As a rough guide, if a repair costs more than 50 to 60 per cent of a replacement unit's value, replacement is often the better financial choice - particularly where the appliance is more than eight years old. Mid-range replacements for rental properties currently include models from Hotpoint, Beko, and Indesit, typically priced between 350 and 600 pounds for a freestanding fridge freezer. Built-in units from Bosch or Samsung tend to sit in the 500 to 900 pound range.

Documentation You Should Keep

Whether you're a landlord or a tenant, good paperwork protects you if a dispute escalates to a deposit scheme adjudicator or small claims court.

For landlords:

• Keep a copy of the original tenancy inventory listing the fridge freezer and its condition at the start of the let.
• Retain all engineer reports and invoices. Previous repair records demonstrate that you've been maintaining the appliance.
• Document all correspondence with tenants about the fault and the steps you took to resolve it.
• Keep any warranty documentation for appliances you've purchased for the property.

For tenants:

• Screenshot or print all written communications with your landlord or letting agent.
• Keep a brief log with dates and times of when you reported the fault and any responses you received.
• Photograph the fridge freezer at the start of your tenancy to establish a clear baseline of its condition.
• If you're forced to throw away spoiled food because of the fault, photograph it and keep any receipts if you intend to claim reimbursement.

Contemporaneous records - notes made at the time, with dates - carry far more weight in any formal dispute than recollections made months later. This is one area where a small habit of documentation can save both sides a significant amount of trouble.

Landlord and Tenant Questions

Is a landlord legally required to provide a fridge freezer in a rental property?

No, there's no legal requirement for a landlord to provide a fridge freezer as standard. However, if one is included in the tenancy agreement and listed on the inventory, the landlord is then legally obliged to maintain it in working order for the duration of the tenancy. If a landlord wants to remove an appliance from their obligations, that needs to be agreed before the tenancy begins - not partway through an existing let.

How long does a landlord have to fix a fridge freezer that's not working?

There's no fixed statutory timescale, but the general expectation is that faults affecting food safety are treated as urgent. In practice, most letting standards guidance and tenancy agreements point to 24 to 48 hours for urgent repairs. If a landlord takes more than seven days to arrange a repair without good reason, the tenant may have grounds to escalate through Somerset Council's environmental health team or seek independent legal advice.

Can a tenant be charged for a fridge freezer repair if they caused the fault?

Yes, in certain circumstances. If an engineer's report confirms the fault was caused by tenant misuse - repeatedly slamming the door and damaging the hinges, or consistently blocking condenser vents over a long period - the landlord can seek to recover repair or replacement costs from the deposit or through a dispute resolution scheme. The burden of proof sits with the landlord, and a written engineer's diagnosis is essential. Without that, it's very difficult to make the case stick.

My freezer is working fine but the fridge section is warm - is that a tenant or landlord issue?

This is almost always a mechanical fault rather than something caused by the tenant. The most common culprits are a failed evaporator fan motor, blocked air vents between the freezer and fridge compartments, or a defrost system that's stopped working. These are not repairs a tenant should attempt themselves. Report it in writing to your landlord, and if they're based in Yeovil or elsewhere in the region, our engineers can typically diagnose this kind of fault on the same day using GoFIX - often arriving with the right parts already on the van.

What happens if a landlord in Yeovil refuses to repair a faulty fridge freezer?

If a landlord refuses to act after being notified in writing, tenants have several options. You can report the issue to your local council's housing team, who have powers to inspect and issue improvement notices. Citizens Advice can help you understand your rights around rent withholding or repair-and-deduct arrangements, though legal advice is strongly recommended before taking those steps. In persistent cases, tenants can also apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) for a Rent Repayment Order.