Does the Consumer Rights Act Give You 6 Years to Claim for Faulty Appliances?
Faulty Appliances and the Consumer Rights Act: What Are Your Rights?
It is widely stated that UK consumers have “up to six years” to claim for a faulty appliance. This is broadly true — but frequently misunderstood, and often misrepresented by retailers. Here is a clear, plain-English explanation of what the law actually says and what it means for you.
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 does not give you a six-year guarantee. It gives you up to six years to bring a legal claim if an appliance fails prematurely due to an inherent fault. Your rights are strongest in the first 30 days and first six months. After that, the burden falls on you to show the failure was the product’s fault — not wear and tear or misuse. Your claim is always with the retailer, not the manufacturer.
What Does the Consumer Rights Act Actually Require?
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, all goods sold by a retailer must be:
- ✅Of satisfactory quality — including being durable and lasting a reasonable length of time
- ✅Fit for purpose — the appliance must do what it is designed to do
- ✅As described — the product must match what was stated at point of sale
The most important of these for appliance owners is satisfactory quality — specifically the requirement for durability. The law requires that appliances last a reasonable length of time given their price, type, and normal use. It does not guarantee a specific number of years, but it does mean that an appliance failing well before the end of a reasonable lifespan may be subject to a valid claim.
What Is the “Six-Year Rule” — and What It Is Not?
✅ What it IS
The time limit within which you can bring a legal claim through the courts — six years in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland; five years in Scotland.
❌ What it is NOT
A six-year guarantee or warranty. You cannot simply demand a repair or replacement on any fault that occurs within six years. You must demonstrate the product failed prematurely due to an inherent fault.
Your Rights at Each Stage — A Timeline
First 30 days — Short-term right to reject
If an appliance is faulty, not as described, or unfit for purpose within the first 30 days, you have the right to a full refund. This is a firm right provided the fault is genuine and not caused by misuse. The retailer cannot insist on a repair or replacement instead of a refund during this period.
First 6 months — Presumption of inherent fault
If a fault develops within the first six months, the law presumes it was present at the time of sale — unless the retailer can prove otherwise. During this period, the retailer must offer a repair or replacement. If a satisfactory resolution cannot be achieved, or if a repair would cause significant inconvenience, you may be entitled to a refund or price reduction.
After 6 months — Burden shifts to you
After six months, the burden of proof shifts to the consumer. You will likely need to demonstrate that the fault was inherent — for example, through an independent engineer’s report. This is the most challenging stage of enforcing your rights, and the stage where many valid claims are abandoned unnecessarily.
Up to 6 years — Time limit for legal claims
You have up to six years (five in Scotland) to bring a legal claim through the courts. Valid claims are still possible well beyond the guarantee period — particularly for higher-value appliances that fail significantly earlier than would be reasonable. However, the evidence required and the difficulty of proving an inherent fault increases with time.
What Is a “Reasonable Lifespan” for an Appliance?
There is no fixed legal definition — but courts apply an objective test based on what a reasonable person would expect given the price, type, and circumstances of use. As a general guide:
| Scenario | Likely view |
|---|---|
| £600 washing machine failing beyond repair at 18 months | Strong grounds for a claim — well below reasonable lifespan |
| £200 budget machine failing after 4–5 years of heavy use | Weaker grounds — price and usage are relevant factors |
| £1,000 fridge freezer failing at 3 years | Reasonable expectation of 10+ years — strong grounds for claim |
| Any appliance failing within the first 6 months | Presumed inherent fault — retailer must resolve it |
Key factors that influence what is “reasonable” include: purchase price, brand positioning, frequency of use, and the nature of the failure. A catastrophic failure rendering an appliance beyond economic repair is viewed very differently to a minor component fault.
Who Is Responsible — the Retailer or the Manufacturer?
Under the Consumer Rights Act, your legal contract is with the retailer — not the manufacturer. The retailer is responsible for resolving faults. Manufacturer warranties are separate and additional to your statutory rights — they do not replace them.
Retailers frequently refer customers to the manufacturer once a warranty has expired. This is often done in the expectation that consumers will not pursue further. It does not remove the retailer’s legal obligations where a valid claim exists.
If a retailer tells you your rights have expired because the manufacturer’s guarantee has ended, this is incorrect. Your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act exist independently of any manufacturer warranty.
What Remedies Can You Claim?
Where a valid claim is established, the retailer is entitled to choose the initial remedy — typically starting with repair or replacement. However, you may be entitled to escalate to a refund or price reduction where:
🔧 Repair not possible
If the appliance cannot be repaired, a replacement or refund must be offered. You cannot be left without a resolution.
⏱️ Unreasonable delay
If a repair takes an unreasonably long time — particularly for essential appliances such as a fridge or washing machine — you may have grounds to escalate.
😤 Significant inconvenience
If the repair process causes you significant inconvenience, you may be entitled to request a refund or replacement rather than a further repair attempt.
💰 Price reduction
Where a full refund is not available — particularly for older appliances — a partial refund reflecting the reduced value or remaining useful life may be appropriate.
Wear and Tear vs Inherent Fault — What Is the Difference?
The Consumer Rights Act does not cover normal wear and tear. All appliances deteriorate over time — this is expected and not claimable. The distinction that matters is:
✅ Claimable — inherent fault
The appliance failed due to a defect present at the time of sale, or lacked the durability that a reasonable person would expect — meaning it was not of satisfactory quality.
❌ Not claimable — wear and tear
Normal deterioration over time, damage caused by misuse, or failure of components that have simply reached the end of their expected life after reasonable use.
This distinction is often the central point of dispute. An independent engineer’s report confirming an inherent design or manufacturing fault significantly strengthens a claim.
How to Make a Claim — Step by Step
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Contact the retailer first — not the manufacturer. State clearly that you are making a claim under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and explain the nature of the fault and when it occurred.
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Get the fault diagnosed. In many cases a retailer will require a diagnosis before agreeing to any remedy — this is reasonable. The diagnosis confirms the nature of the fault before anyone can decide on the appropriate course of action.
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Obtain an independent engineer’s report if needed. After six months, you will likely need independent evidence that the fault is inherent rather than caused by wear or misuse. A written report from a qualified engineer significantly strengthens your case.
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Put your claim in writing. Send a formal letter or email to the retailer clearly stating your claim, the evidence, and the remedy you are seeking. Keep copies of all correspondence.
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Escalate if necessary. If the retailer refuses a valid claim, seek help from Citizens Advice, use a dispute resolution service, or pursue a claim through the small claims court. Many valid claims are resolved at this point without going to court.
Why Are So Many Valid Claims Abandoned?
Despite the clarity of the legislation, enforcement in practice is inconsistent. Retailers may rely on expired manufacturer guarantees as grounds to refuse a claim, require evidence the consumer does not know they need, or delay and dispute claims in the expectation that many will not be pursued further.
Understanding your rights — and being prepared to pursue them in writing — is the most effective way to achieve a fair outcome. Most disputes that reach a formal written stage are resolved without going to court.
What About Extended Warranties?
Extended warranties are separate commercial products — they are not an extension of your statutory rights. Many consumers take out extended warranties without realising that the Consumer Rights Act may already provide protection for premature failures, potentially without the need to pay for additional cover.
Before purchasing an extended warranty, read our detailed guide on whether extended warranties are worth buying. Extended warranties can have significant limitations — particularly for older appliances — that are not always clear at point of sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Consumer Rights Act give me a six-year guarantee on my appliance?
No. The Consumer Rights Act does not provide a six-year guarantee. It gives you up to six years to bring a legal claim if an appliance fails prematurely due to an inherent fault. To succeed in a claim, you must demonstrate that the failure was not due to wear and tear or misuse, and that the appliance did not last a reasonable length of time given its price and type.
The retailer told me my rights have expired because the guarantee has run out — is this correct?
No. This is one of the most common and misleading responses from retailers. Your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act exist independently of any manufacturer or retailer guarantee. A guarantee period ending does not remove your right to make a claim for a fault that constitutes a breach of the Act. The six-year limitation period for bringing a legal claim is separate from any warranty.
My appliance is 2 years old and has broken down — do I have a claim?
Possibly — it depends on the nature of the fault, the purchase price, and whether the failure represents a reasonable lifespan. After six months, the burden of proof shifts to you to demonstrate an inherent fault. An independent engineer’s report confirming the nature of the fault is valuable evidence. Contact the retailer in writing, citing the Consumer Rights Act, before pursuing further steps.
Should I contact the retailer or the manufacturer?
Always contact the retailer. Under the Consumer Rights Act, your legal contract is with the retailer — not the manufacturer. The retailer is legally responsible for resolving faults under the Act. Manufacturer warranties are separate and additional. A retailer directing you to the manufacturer after a warranty has expired does not remove their statutory obligations.
What evidence do I need to make a claim after six months?
After six months, the burden of proof shifts to you. The most useful evidence is an independent engineer’s report confirming that the fault is inherent — i.e. due to a design or manufacturing defect rather than wear, tear, or misuse. Keep all purchase receipts, correspondence with the retailer, and any engineering reports. Put your claim in writing so there is a clear record.
Can I take the retailer to court if they refuse my claim?
Yes. If a retailer refuses a valid claim, you can pursue it through the small claims court. Many disputes are resolved without actually going to court once a formal letter before action is sent. Citizens Advice can help you understand the process and draft a letter. The cost of using the small claims court is relatively modest and can be recovered if your claim succeeds.
Is an extended warranty worth buying given my statutory rights?
In many cases, no — particularly for higher-value appliances, which are more likely to attract protection under the Consumer Rights Act for premature failures. Extended warranties also carry significant limitations, particularly as appliances age. Read our full guide on whether an extended warranty is worth buying before making a decision.
Need help with a faulty appliance?
Whether you need a repair engineer, spare parts, or guidance on your next steps, Whitegoods Help can point you in the right direction.
Last reviewed: April 2025. This article provides general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. For your specific circumstances, seek guidance from Citizens Advice or a legal professional.
COMMENTS NOW CLOSED
This article is now closed to new comments. The comprehensive article and the 256 comments it contains cover just about every scenario you can think of. Ironically, the length of the article and the sheer amount of comments is probably putting off many people from reading, and causing them to just add their question instead.
If you have an issue, I strongly recommend that you put some time aside to carefully read all the article, and then read through the comments. It’s very likely you will work out what the answer is from them.
I purchased a dishwasher 30th April 22 it has stopped working 20 May 23 I was told I would have to pay a minimum of £119 to have it accessed from currys because it is out of warranty
Hi Emma. Yes, I do mention this in my article. Until the cause of the fault is discovered, no one will do anything. Imagine if they sent you a new dishwasher and that didn’t work either, because the fault turned out to be a faulty wall socket.
It’s only when the exact nature of the fault is known that both the retailer and indeed yourself can decide what the next step is.
Hi Andy
Appreciate the quick response, ill speak to the retailer again tomorrow. I suspect it may be fruitless though and may have to pursue a claim.
Thanks again
HI Henry,
I purchased a fridge freezer for £1000 in Feb 2020. It stopped working in April 2023. I purchased it with a 3 year warranty. I got an independent engineer who has deemed that the fridge is beyond repair due to internal wiring issues.
I have spoke with both Blomberg and the retailer who are both stating that they cant or wont do anything further. Blomberg stated that it only had a 1 year warranty, whilst the retailer could not confirm the warranty period.
Would we have anywhere to go with this in terms of small claims etc.
Its looking like I will have to but a replacement and hopefully recover some of these costs
Hi Paul. If you pay £1000 for a fridge and it only lasts 3 years that’s nowhere near a reasonable amount of time. A product must last a reasonable amount of time or it breaches the consumer rights act.
The retailer must know this. You may need to enlist the help of Citizens Advice or Resolver or Which?
I believe a £1000 fridge should last at least 10 years, so you may be entitled to the equivalent of 7 years compensation which would be around £700.
Most retailers would go bust if they paid out all valid claims, so they don’t.
Thanks for this, really helpful. John Lewis replaced my previous washer in late October 2017 and upgraded it to a 12Kg Samsung model as a comparative model wasn’t available at the time.
The new machine’s RRP was £1200, and we’re a 2 person household, I think I may have a case for a repair.
We had the motor and pump replaced in 2018, and now there is an error somewhere between the motor and PCB.
Does the fact that this was a warranty replacement of a prior washer and not a purchase change anything?
Hello Henry. If an appliance is replaced for any reason, the guarantee, and presumably any consumer rights do not get increased as far as I’m aware. In other words, if you bought a washing machine with a 12 month guarantee, and by any chance they replaced it with a brand-new one after 10 months, you would not get a fresh 12 month guarantee, you would still have two months guarantee left. This is something that as far as I’m aware has always been done, and presumably to prevent perpetual guarantees. I wouldn’t be too surprised if it could be challenged, though I don’t know anyone who has.
Likewise, if the consumer rights act 2015 gives us up to 6 years to claim compensation for any breaches, I expect that this six year period starts from the date of purchase, and is not extended if an appliance is replaced. Replacing an appliance is essentially just a much more comprehensive form of repair. And we would not normally expect any extension of guarantees after repairs.
Having said all that, this is just my personal understanding and experience. I am not a consumer expert per se. So you may want to seek clarification from somewhere like citizens advice, or Which?
From what I can tell, I think the 6 year clock starts the day you take ownership of the machine. So when John Lewis provided me with a different machine as a replacement, the 6 year clock started anew when I took ownership.
I have since spoken with John Lewis and they agree I have a claim, so long as I can provide evidence of the fault.
Hi Andy, yes, it is 16 years old
Many Thanks Julie
Hello Julie, I’m assuming that you are talking about the extended warranty and not the original retailer as the appliance is 10 years over the maximum of six years covered by the consumer rights act 2015. I have written a full article here which explains a lot more about how they work, especially regarding when an appliance is no longer repairable – should I buy an extended warranty?. It talks about washing machines but the principles are exactly the same for any appliance or product.
So it is normal for such extended warranties to only pay out a small amount of the purchasing cost of a new appliance. They start to do this after as little as five years. This is one of the things that I warn against. You could take out an extended warranty, and after five or six years they can just tell you it’s too expensive to repair and just give you a contribution towards a new one. Once an appliance is over six years old they commonly will only pay you about 40% of the cost of a new one. So in all honesty, if your appliance is 16 years old, and they are offering you 50% of the cost of a new one that seems pretty good.
My main problems with extended warranties is that they almost never work out cheaper than paying for repairs. If they did, then the company’s selling them would go out of business. They are very big business, and people make a lot of money out of them, but they can only be profitable if they are set up in such a way that most people pay way more in premiums than they ever get back repairs, or even contributions to a replacement.
If you have been paying annually for this cover for around 15 years you presumably have paid a lot out. But £600 is presumably a decent chunk of your payments back. The only thing I can suggest is to double check the terms and conditions on your policy to make sure that they are honouring them. I would be amazed if they had a policy that paid for the full replacement of an appliance after such a long time. Such a policy would be madness for them.
Many thanks for your prompt reply Andy
Hi
I bought a Samsung American fridge freezer in 2006 and have been paying breakdown cover on it monthly ever since purchased
At the beginning of April 2023, the ice making compartment stopped working. A Currys engineer visited 5 times to try to rectify the fault. On last visit I was told it was not repairable and that I would receive a gift card to purchase a new fridge freezer of same spec that is now available as original model. I have been offered an e gift card for £699. The cheapest new model I can see on the website is in excess of £1100. Do you think this is an acceptable offer from Currys as the engineer indicated I would be offered gift card to enable me to purchase a similar model at 2023 price. Hope this makes sense
Thank you
Hello Julie. Have you made a mistake on the date? If you bought it in 2006 that makes it 16 years old.