Worktops either side of cooker?

[Glyn1959]

Hi I'm looking to rent out a house and local council have advised I need a worktop either side of the cooker. I have asked if the cooker can be put in the corner with a worktop on one side. Seems a reasonable request but they have said no! Are they being unreasonable. Surely it would be ok from a safety point of view! What are the regs anyone?

 

[EFLImpudence]

I would say they are being unreasonable - but I suppose councils can impose any conditions they have passed.

I was going to say make up.

Ask to see their rules.

 

[davelx]

Cooker up against wall is a problem as you have nowhere for the handles of the pans on the back ring next to the wall so ir has to be on the middle of the hob, where is is likely to get hot and be a burn risk. I think the council are totally correct eith this requirement.

 

[flameport]

What are the regs anyone?

There are none that specifically refer to worktops either side of a cooker or anything else.
However from a common sense point of view, a worktop either side would be necessary to allow pan handles to overhang the cooker.

 

[Glyn1959]

I can see the common sense in this now. I was blinkered thinking they were just being awkward! Thanks for the replies!

 

[Doggit]

But the local council have only advised that you should have a worktop either side, but there are no regulations to stop you renting it out as it is. Unless you can reposition the cooker, then you're stuck with it, so as long as you advise your tenants that they need to be carefull as to how they position the pots on the cooker, then you've covered yourself.

Sometimes you have to trust people not to as stupid as they possibly can, and to take responsibility for themselves.

 

[stillp]

Buy the tenants a set of saucepans with removable handles: https://www.tesco.com/direct/tefal-...VyrftCh2iIg3NEAQYBCABEgIHQ_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[John D v2.0]

For gas you need strict spacings and plenty of space on at least one side. For electric it is mostly common sense. But I guess the council are working to some kind of decent kitchens standard rather then legal minimums.

 

[ericmark]

think 300 mm is a gas rule but I know when mother kitchen was done by council they insisted same rule for electric.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

But the local council have only advised that you should have a worktop either side, but there are no regulations to stop you renting it out as it is.

Unless, for whatever reason, he is subject to council licensing.

 

[Doggit]

I know what you're getting at BAS, but a licencing scheme normally tells you what you have to comply with; advisory comments aren't normally enforceable.

Let's wait and see what the answer is.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I think it is possible that when he said "advised" he meant "told me".

 

[EFLImpudence]

It clearly cannot be a regulation that a cooker must have worktops both sides as that would mean it is not allowed to have one with no worktop either side - i.e. free-standing on its own.

Too close to a wall may be unwise but a space between wall and cooker would be alright,

 

[Hot&Cold]

Are they being unreasonable.

On this occasion i dont think they are being unreasonable,a few years ago councils and housing associations had to improve their their properties under the decent homes programme.
Just mentioning kitchens only. The layout of kitchens if required was altered to provide work surfaces adjacent to both sides of the sink and both sides of cooker/hobs.something to do with avoiding hazards,ease of use for tenants of ALL ages and abilities.
Renting to a council/housing association long term is a good return on investment,if the sums add up its worth the effort.
Got 2 properties rented to a housing association,into year 7 of a 10 year contract

 

[SUNRAY]

Many of the conditions imposed by local authorities are made up as they go along.
We have 2 identical flats in adjacent buildings, when one tenant lost his job and went on benefits the flat was inspected and a list of alterations [one of which was to provide a 100mm gap each side of the freestanding gas cooker] was presented which had to be completed before they would pay us [landlords] directly. Less than a week later a different inspector produced a totally different list for the other flat before they would accept it for our new tenant on benefits.
Those tenants were escorted off the premises [apparently for their own safety] by the police and the next inspector [within 2 months] insisted some of the previous alterations were changed again. I complained and was given funding to make the second set of changes.
Very little of this was to do with regulations, in fact they required the light and shower pull switches be removed from the bathroom as they constitute a choking/hanging hazard.