Right to repair law will help your fridge last longer

ANEW law known as “the right to repair” came into force this month. It should be good news for consumers buying some electrical appliances and “white” goods. However, I have already seen various incorrect reports, misapprehensions and confusion surrounding the rules. There are also some exclusions it is important to be aware of, as the legislation does not apply to all appliances. Here are the key things you need to know: The purpose of the new rules: Manufacturers of electrical goods have historically sold electrical appliances with so-called “premature obsolescence” – a short lifespan – deliberately built in to the likes of fridges, washing machines, toasters, televisions and the like. It leads to unnecessary and costly replacements for consumers.

The law has been introduced to make such appliances easier to repair and last longer under new energy efficiency rules.

They are predicted to save every family around £75 a year on white goods – if anything breaks outside its warranty, spare parts will be available to get the appliance repaired.

The change also helps tackle the 1.5 million tons of electrical waste generated in the UK every year, by extending the lifespan of products by up to 10 years.

What do the new rules say? Manufacturers of certain electrical appliances are now mandated to ensure they are more energy efficient – and therefore cheaper to run – and that spare parts are available within two years of all model launches, and then for between seven and 10 years after the model is discontinued, depending on the type of appliance.

Appliances do not need to be under warranty for customers to access spare parts and repair information. However, in some cases, parts will only be made available to tradespeople who are qualified to give repair services, for health and safety reasons.

Will this apply to all electrical appliances? No, in relation to consumer appliances it will only apply to: refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers and electronic displays (including TVs).

There are important exclusions:

the new rules do not apply to laptops, tablets or smartphones;

the rules will only apply to appliances put on sale on or after July 1, 2021, (though they can have been made before this date).

My advice: The July 1 cut-off date is likely to be abused by manufacturers and retailers so my advice is to specifically ask, at the point of purchase, if the right to repair rules apply to your appliance. If the answer is yes, ask the retailer to confirm this in writing.