Does the Consumer Rights Act Give You 6 Years to Claim For Faulty Appliances?
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.
This article provides general guidance on UK consumer rights as they relate to appliances. It is not legal advice. For your specific situation, seek guidance from Citizens Advice, Which?, or a legal professional.
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.
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.
To succeed in a claim outside the first six months, you must show two things: (1) the product did not last a reasonable length of time, and (2) the failure was due to an inherent fault – not normal wear and tear or misuse. As time passes, this becomes progressively harder to demonstrate.
Your Rights at Each Stage
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.
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.
The burden of proof is on the retailer to disprove an inherent fault – not on you to prove one.
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.
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.
| Period | Your right |
|---|---|
| 0 to 30 days | Full refund |
| 0 to 6 months | Repair or replacement (fault presumed inherent) |
| 6 months to 6 years | Claim possible – you must demonstrate the fault |
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 possibleIf the appliance cannot be repaired, a replacement or refund must be offered. You cannot be left without a resolution.
Unreasonable delayIf 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 inconvenienceIf the repair process causes you significant inconvenience, you may be entitled to request a refund or replacement rather than a further repair attempt.
Price reductionWhere 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.
Simply because they are incorrectly told their rights have expired. Your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act exist independently of any manufacturer warranty. If a retailer says otherwise, this is not accurate.
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.
Your claim is always with the retailer – not the manufacturer. A warranty expiring does not remove your statutory rights.
Hello Paul: That’s a lot of money for a Whirlpool. They are supposed to be a budget brand in the UK.
I’m assuming your situation is that your new machine was supplied to replace a previous one that was beyond economical repair and covered under Domestic & General’s insurance policy? I would assume whoever supplied it, and received your money is the one you have the contract with. It’s less clear than a normal purchase but someone must have sold it to you. Please let us know how you get on with this.
Have read the exchange with interest and feel a lot more confident about my consumer rights. I have a £700.00 Whirlpool washing machine which screams like a banshee on spin – something is on its way out after only 15 months use, I am ready to tackle the Retailer but guess what – neither Whirlpool who supplied it nor Domestic and General who I paid for it will own up to being the Retailer – so just wondering if anyone got similar issue/solution
Sparky: No. Is it one of these? Samsung RS21 and RS60 range fridge freezers recall: Potential fire risk
Also, the symptoms you describe are commonly caused by ice forming around the fan which pumps the cold air round. If it’s now stopped it could be because the fan is completely encased in ice and stopped running.
It’s been a problem with Samsung frost free fridge freezers for a long time.
I have one of these RSH1 samsung fridge freezers, nearly 3 years old, two days ago it started making a noise like a fan was catching on something, it has now stopped, but so has my water dispenser and ice maker, I have phoned samsung and they said a local guy will come by soon and do some safety wiring check, is these two problems conected?
On your last comment about the lesson being to buy an extended guarantee. That’s one way of dealing with this problem, but you will pay a lot of money out over the years, thousands probably. All to cover appliances in the first 5 years when they shouldn’t be suffering serious breakdowns anyway, and even if they do the retailers are often responsible for compensating us for it.
The trouble is it’s inconvenient and often hard work to get this compensation so the majority of people never pursue it and will even pay out extra money for the largely unnecessary cover. I understand why so many people do it for an easier life but we should never need to insure all our many products for the first 5 years, they should be good enough quality to last at least 5 years. All consumer groups including Which? advise it’s bad value for money.
Miss J Hunt: You highlight one of the problems with this situation. No retailer will just give us a refund because we say an appliance has broken down. They need to have their engineer or the manufacturer’s engineer check it out first. This is reasonable. As you point out though, with most of our white goods appliances we don’t have time to wait around and let this drawn out process happen.
In your case though, as you have a Hotpoint appliance, you can get the Hotpoint engineer to repair it for £104.97 which includes parts and labour – So you don’t need to buy a new fridge!
Either they will repair it for the £104.97, or they will say it’s not worth repairing (if by any chance it’s something serious). If they repair it, for £104.97 you can put in a claim to Currys for compensation of the cost of the repair under the Sale of Goods Act by claiming it hasn’t lasted a reasonable amount of time.
If the Hotpoint engineer said it wasn’t repairing of course you’d have definite proof that it hasn’t lasted a reasonable time to take to Currys.
The important thing to remember is that it is the retailer who sold it to you that’s responsible for compensation and not the manufacturer although some manufacturers may occasionally offer to replace appliances or do a free repair.
If you decide to buy a new fridge immediately you would need to get Hotpoint or the Currys engineer out to look at the old one as soon as possible but they may well find out it’s easily fixable and you didn’t need a new one after all.
Went down this morning, the manager was very nice, but obviously well versed in the trading laws. He said he was unable to authorise any sort of refund or compensation, and the best chance of me getting anything of that sort would be to write a hand written letter to Customer Services, Currys, the parkway, Sheffield, when I have had an engineer come to look at the appliance and diagnosed the fault. If it was a faulty part that was either faulty from purchase or had become faulty without any sort of mis-use on our part, then Currys ‘may’ pay for the repair and refund the cost of the engineers call-out / labour.
The problem with fridge/freezers is: When one breaks, you need another replacement immediately, and unless you have a garage or large house with enough room to store the old one, theres nowhere to put the broken appliance while the engineer comes. So either way I have had to buy a new one.
I assume the small claims court will also require proof of the fault by an engineers report, in which case I cannot claim as I have nowhere to put the old appliance, and cannot now afford to lay out money for an engineers callout now I have had to purchase a new fridgefreezer (we walked straight OUT of Currys and into Comets !)
Lesson learned for me, I have purchased a 5 year warranty on my new samsung fridgefreezer…..
Thanks, please let us know how you get on.
Thankyou for the information on here. I have a faulty hotpoint fride freezer only 14 months old purchased from currys, and thought I didnt have any rights as the manufacturers guarantee was only 12 months and I couldnt afford extended warranty.
I now intend to go down to currys and argue my case with them.
Many thanks Lilly.
Anyone following this article might be interested to know I’ve added a few paragraphs to the original article quoting advice given by the government to retailers and linking to a business advice site run by the government. It’s down near the bottom under the heading “Here’s what the government advises retailers regarding their obligations”