Can I claim for spoiled food when freezer breaks down?
You may be able to claim for food lost when a freezer breaks down, either through your home contents insurance, or as a “consequential loss” against the retailer if the appliance failed due to a fault covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 or the manufacturer’s guarantee. To have any realistic chance of success you must act quickly, save what you can, photograph everything, and keep receipts. Letting food spoil without evidence significantly weakens any claim.
When a freezer breaks down, the food inside can be worth hundreds of pounds. Whether you can claim for that loss, and from whom, depends on what caused the failure, how you respond, and what evidence you have. This guide explains your options clearly: consequential loss claims under the Consumer Rights Act, home insurance routes, and what evidence is needed to support either.
What is a consequential loss claim?
When a faulty appliance causes you additional financial loss beyond the cost of the appliance itself, that is known as a consequential loss. Food spoiled because a freezer failed due to a manufacturing defect is a classic example.
If the freezer is under the manufacturer’s guarantee, or has failed in a way that breaches the Consumer Rights Act 2015, you may have grounds to claim the value of the lost food from the retailer, in addition to seeking a repair or replacement of the appliance itself.
Read our guide on how to save food if your freezer stops working before you do anything else. The steps you take in the first few hours matter enormously, both for preserving food and for supporting any future claim.
What is your duty to minimise the loss?
This is the single most important point: you cannot simply let all the food spoil and then claim the full value. UK law requires you to take reasonable steps to reduce your loss. Failing to do so will significantly weaken, or invalidate, any claim you make.
- Transfer food to a neighbour’s or friend’s freezer if possible
- Use cool bags or boxes with ice to preserve perishables
- Cook and consume food that is still safe but beginning to defrost
- Refrigerate anything that cannot be kept frozen but is still edible
- Only dispose of food that is genuinely unsafe or beyond saving
The more you can demonstrate that you acted reasonably to minimise the loss, the stronger your position when making a claim.
What evidence do you need and why does it matter?
Claims for food loss are frequently rejected or reduced because consumers cannot demonstrate what was actually lost or prove its value. Gathering evidence immediately, before disposing of anything, is essential.
Photograph everythingTake clear photographs of the contents of the freezer before throwing anything away. Photograph individual items, open packaging, and the overall state of the freezer. These images are your primary evidence of what was lost and its approximate volume and value.
Keep receipts where possibleReceipts are extremely helpful and may be essential to prove the value of the food. Supermarket loyalty card apps often hold purchase histories. Bank and card statements showing recent food shopping can also support a claim where receipts are unavailable.
Retain packaging where safePackaged foods such as vacuum-sealed items, boxed goods, and unopened products are easier to retain as evidence than fresh food. Keep what you safely can without creating a health hazard. Photograph and then dispose of anything perishable that cannot be safely stored.
Write a detailed listAs you empty the freezer, create a written itemised list of everything discarded, including approximate quantities and estimated values. A contemporary written record is far more credible than a figure recalled weeks later when a claim is being assessed.
Do not retain food that is rotting, smelling, or poses a health or hygiene risk. Photograph it first, then dispose of it safely. No insurer or retailer will expect you to keep genuinely hazardous material as evidence.
What can you realistically claim?
Retailers and insurers will be cautious about claims for a completely full freezer of entirely spoiled food. In most cases, total loss is unlikely because freezers are opened regularly, many have temperature alarms, and a full freezer with the door kept closed can maintain safe temperatures for up to 48 hours after losing power.
Situations where total loss may be realistic
Returning from a holiday to find the freezer has been off for several days. A fault that went unnoticed while the household was away. A failure with no audible alarm and a freezer kept in a utility room or garage. In these circumstances, documenting the specific situation clearly when making your claim is important.
Where total loss claims face scrutiny
A claim for complete loss on a frequently opened freezer in daily use will be questioned. A retailer or insurer may argue that the failure should have been noticed sooner, or that more food could have been saved with reasonable action. Partial claims with clear evidence are more credible than total loss claims without it.
How do you claim against the retailer?
If the freezer failed due to a manufacturing defect, whether under guarantee or as a breach of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the retailer is legally responsible for the appliance failure and may also be responsible for the consequential food loss it caused.
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Get the fault professionally diagnosed. A retailer will not consider a consequential loss claim without first establishing the cause of the appliance failure. You will typically need a refrigeration engineer, ideally one authorised by the manufacturer, to confirm the fault. If the failure was caused by something other than the appliance itself (for example, a faulty wall socket), the retailer is not responsible.
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Make a written claim to the retailer. Put your claim in writing, citing the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and stating that the freezer failure caused consequential food loss. Include your itemised list, photographs, and any available receipts. Set out clearly what you are seeking.
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Do not accept a refusal without challenge. Retailers sometimes refuse consequential loss claims. If the underlying appliance failure is covered by your consumer rights, a consequential loss claim is legally supportable. Seek advice from Citizens Advice if a retailer refuses a valid claim. See our guide: Consumer Rights Act and faulty appliances.
What if the freezer is out of guarantee?
An expired manufacturer’s guarantee does not automatically end your rights. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, you have up to six years from the date of purchase (five years in Scotland) to make a claim against the retailer for an appliance that has failed prematurely due to an inherent fault.
The newer the appliance and the more expensive the failure, the stronger your claim is likely to be. Retailers often try to redirect consumers to the manufacturer once a guarantee has expired, but the legal obligation remains with the retailer, not the manufacturer.
See our full guide: out of guarantee does not always mean you should pay for repairs.
Should you claim on home contents insurance?
Some home contents insurance policies cover food loss from a freezer breakdown. This cover is sometimes included as standard, but is more often an optional add-on. Check your policy documents carefully.
Claiming through insurance is usually simpler than claiming against a retailer, but there are trade-offs to consider:
- Your premium may increase at renewal
- You will usually need to pay an excess, which may reduce or eliminate the payout on smaller claims
- Making a claim affects your no-claims history
- The insurer may apply limits on what they will pay per item or in total
For larger losses, insurance may still be the most practical route, particularly if the appliance failure is not covered by the Consumer Rights Act (for example, because it is very old). For smaller losses, it may not be worth claiming once the excess is taken into account.
If the appliance failure also gives you grounds for a Consumer Rights Act claim against the retailer, pursuing that route means you are not left out of pocket due to a faulty product, and does not affect your insurance record. Both routes can be explored in parallel, but you cannot be compensated twice for the same loss.
Need help with a faulty freezer?
Whether you need an engineer to diagnose the fault, spare parts, or guidance on your rights, Whitegoods Help can point you in the right direction.
Frequently asked questions about claiming for spoiled freezer food
Can I claim for food lost when my freezer breaks down?
Yes, in some circumstances. If the freezer failed due to a manufacturing defect covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 or a manufacturer’s guarantee, you may be able to claim the value of lost food as a consequential loss from the retailer. You can also check whether your home contents insurance covers freezer food loss. In either case, you must be able to demonstrate what was lost and show that you took reasonable steps to minimise the damage.
Who do I claim against – the retailer or the manufacturer?
Your legal claim under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 is always with the retailer who sold you the appliance, not the manufacturer. The manufacturer’s guarantee runs separately and can be claimed against directly during the guarantee period, but your statutory rights sit with the retailer. Do not be redirected to the manufacturer as a substitute for the retailer’s legal obligations. See our guide: Consumer Rights Act and faulty appliances.
What evidence do I need to make a claim?
At minimum: photographs of the freezer contents before disposal, an itemised written list of what was lost with estimated values, and receipts where available. Bank and card statements showing recent grocery purchases can support your claim where receipts are missing. You will also need an engineer’s report confirming the cause of the appliance failure before most retailers will consider a consequential loss claim.
My freezer is out of its guarantee. Can I still claim?
Possibly. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, you have up to six years (five in Scotland) to bring a claim against the retailer for a freezer that has failed prematurely due to an inherent fault. The newer and more expensive the appliance, the stronger your case. An expired manufacturer’s guarantee does not end your statutory rights. Read more: out of guarantee does not always mean you should pay.
How long does a freezer keep food frozen after it stops working?
A full freezer with the door kept closed can maintain safe temperatures for approximately 48 hours after losing power. A half-full freezer typically keeps food safe for around 24 hours. Opening the door accelerates temperature loss significantly. If you discover the failure early, keep the door closed and transfer contents as quickly as possible to another freezer or cool storage. See our guide: how to save food if your freezer stops working.
Is it worth claiming on home insurance for food loss?
It depends on the value of the loss and the terms of your policy. If your policy includes freezer food cover, claiming is usually simpler than pursuing a retailer. However, you will typically pay an excess, and a claim may increase your future premiums. For smaller losses the excess alone may make a claim uneconomical. If you also have grounds for a Consumer Rights Act claim against the retailer, that route does not affect your insurance record and may be preferable.
How long do I have to make a consequential loss claim?
The Limitation Act 1980 sets the general contract claim limitation period at six years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (five years in Scotland). In practice you should make any consequential loss claim as soon as possible after the event. Retailers and insurers are far more receptive to claims made promptly, with fresh evidence, than to claims made months later. Acting within weeks of the failure, not months, is the realistic working timeframe regardless of the longer statutory limitation period.
The Right to Repair – White Goods
Right to Repair legislation requires manufacturers to make spare parts available and design appliances so they can be repaired. While this is a positive step, it does not address the main reasons appliances are scrapped: repairs are simply too expensive relative to buying new, labour costs are prohibitive, and appliances are increasingly designed as unrepairable assemblies. Spare parts availability is the least significant barrier to repair. Until the cost of repair becomes economically viable, the legislation is unlikely to make a meaningful difference to appliance lifespans.
The EU adopted a major Right to Repair Directive in 2024 that goes well beyond the spare parts requirements the UK implemented in 2021. UK consumers currently have weaker repair rights than EU consumers, and the gap is widening. This article covers both, clearly distinguishing what applies where.
What does UK Right to Repair law actually require?
In the UK, Right to Repair requirements for white goods appliances come from the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/745), which came into force in July 2021. These regulations implemented, into domestic UK law, the EU Ecodesign requirements that were in force at the time of Brexit.
Under these UK regulations, manufacturers of washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers, fridges, and TVs must:
- Make spare parts available for up to 10 years after a product model is placed on the market (7 years for fridges)
- Design appliances so they can be repaired using readily available tools
- Supply spare parts to professional repairers, with a more limited list available to consumers directly
- Make certain technical information, including wiring diagrams and spare parts lists, available to professional repairers
These requirements apply only to new product models placed on the UK market after the regulations came into force. They do not apply retroactively to products already in use, nor to new products sold after the regulations if the model design was already on the market before them. The majority of appliances currently in UK homes are not covered.
What has the EU done that the UK has not?
Since Brexit, the EU has moved substantially further on Right to Repair. The most significant development is the adoption of the Common Rules to Promote the Repair of Goods (EU 2024/1799), known as the Right to Repair Directive, adopted in 2024 with most provisions applying from 31 July 2026.
The UK has not adopted any equivalent to this Directive. As a result, UK consumers currently have weaker repair rights than EU consumers, and from mid-2026, that gap will widen further.
| Right to Repair provision | UK law | EU law (from 31 July 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Spare parts availability (10 years for washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers) | Yes, in force since 2021 | Yes, in force since 2021 |
| Repairable design (common tools, component access) | Yes, in force since 2021 | Yes, in force since 2021 |
| Manufacturers must offer out-of-guarantee repairs | No | Yes, from July 2026 |
| Spare parts must be available at a reasonable price | No | Yes, from July 2026 (definition unclear) |
| Ban on anti-repair practices (parts pairing, software blocks) | No | Yes, from July 2026 (with loopholes) |
| Guarantee extended by one year if repaired rather than replaced | No | Yes, already adopted |
| Mandatory repairability score at point of sale (smartphones) | No | Yes, from June 2025 |
| Consumer can choose repair over replacement during guarantee period | Limited | Strengthened, repair preferred |
It is worth noting that even the EU’s expanded framework has significant limitations and loopholes, which are covered below. But the direction of travel in the EU is clearly more ambitious than in the UK, and UK consumers are not benefiting from it.
What is the real problem? Why are appliances actually scrapped?
White goods appliances used to last between 10 and 20 years as a matter of course. That is no longer the typical experience. A Whitegoods Help reader poll found that 22% of respondents said their washing machine lasted 3 years or less. The current average lifespan has fallen to an estimated 6 to 7 years. Read the full analysis: how long should a washing machine last?
The environmental and financial consequences are enormous. Millions of large, heavy appliances are scrapped every year, most of which could theoretically have been repaired. But why are they being scrapped rather than repaired? The honest answer is not “because spare parts are unavailable.” That is the least significant reason.
A 2024 report by the Open Repair Alliance, analysing over 200,000 documented repairs conducted at community repair events in recent years, found that only 4% of those repairs would have been covered if all current EU Ecodesign regulations had been in place at the time. Source: Open Repair Alliance, 2024 report, cited in Right to Repair Europe policy paper, November 2024. This figure covers EU regulations only. The proportion covered by UK law is similarly small.
What are the nine real reasons appliances are scrapped?
Right to Repair legislation, in both the UK and EU, addresses only one item on this list. That is the core problem with its current form.
1. Repairs cost too much relative to buying new
The fundamental economics of appliance repair are broken. When a basic washing machine costs £250 to £350, and a repair including an engineer visit costs £150 or more before parts, the decision to scrap and replace is understandable. Making spare parts available for longer does not change this arithmetic at all.
2. The cost of sending an engineer to the home is prohibitive
Labour costs, van operating costs, and business overheads mean an engineer visit starts at around £100 before any diagnosis or repair work begins. This floor price makes even simple repairs uneconomical on budget appliances. The cost of labour has become structurally incompatible with the cost of the appliances being repaired.
3. Spare parts prices are often excessive
The price of spare parts for appliances more than a few years old frequently becomes disproportionate to the value of the appliance. A drum bearing assembly, door seal, or control board can cost more than a third of the price of a new machine. Even where parts are technically available, their price makes using them economically irrational. Research by the Right to Repair Europe coalition found that spare parts price is the most frequently cited barrier to repair among both consumers and independent engineers. In France, independent appliance repairers have reported that manufacturers mark up parts prices by three times or more over cost.
4. Appliances are increasingly designed to be unrepairable
Components that were once serviceable individually, including pumps, motors, bearings, and valves, are now supplied only as complete assemblies. The outer drum of a washing machine, which once comprised many individually replaceable parts, is now typically supplied as a single welded unit including drum, bearings, seal, and spider. This design approach dramatically increases repair costs and eliminates partial repair as an option. Right to Repair legislation requires appliances to be repairable using common tools, but it does not require modular or individually serviceable design.
5. Parts pairing and software locks prevent independent repair
Some manufacturers use a technique called parts pairing, in which replacement components are locked to a specific device via software and must be authorised by the manufacturer before the repair restores full functionality. This practice, originally highlighted in relation to smartphones but increasingly relevant across connected appliances, effectively prevents independent repair even where parts are technically available. The EU’s 2024 Right to Repair Directive bans this practice for covered products, with a significant loophole allowing it where “justified by legitimate and objective factors.” The UK has no equivalent ban.
6. Fixed-price repair models have removed the incentive for efficiency
Major manufacturers and repair companies have largely moved from time-based labour charges to fixed-price repair packages, often tied to insurance products. The result is that a minor fault attracts the same charge as a major one, typically £150 or more. This eliminates the economic case for repairing simple faults, which historically were cheap to fix.
7. Technical information is increasingly restricted
Manufacturers have progressively restricted access to technical documentation, service manuals, and diagnostic tools. Error codes are a particular example: many modern appliances use proprietary fault codes that are not made public, making it impossible for independent repairers or competent consumers to diagnose or resolve faults. Read our analysis: appliance error codes, friend or foe?
8. The local independent repair sector has largely disappeared
A once-thriving network of small, local appliance repairers, which provided affordable, accessible repair at reasonable cost, has almost entirely gone. The economics that sustained it no longer exist. Without this infrastructure, even consumers willing to pay for a repair have limited options outside expensive manufacturer service networks.
9. Spare parts become unavailable too quickly
This is the problem that Right to Repair legislation directly targets, and it is a real issue. Parts becoming unavailable after five or six years is unreasonable when appliances are supposed to last significantly longer. However, it is worth noting that by the time parts availability becomes the limiting factor, most consumers have already decided to replace rather than repair, because of the eight reasons above.
Where does the legislation fall short?
Even taken at its best, the current legislative framework on both sides of the Channel has specific weaknesses that limit its real-world effectiveness.
No effective price controls on parts (UK and EU)
Manufacturers must make parts available, but in the UK there is no restriction on what they can charge. The EU’s 2024 Directive requires “reasonable” pricing, but “reasonable” is not defined. Parts can be priced so high that using them is economically irrational, technically complying while defeating the legislation’s purpose entirely.
Limited consumer access to parts
The legislation requires parts to be available to professional repairers. Consumers have access to only a limited list of mostly external parts: doors, handles, hinges, seals, filters, detergent dispensers, and similar accessories. No key internal components are accessible to consumers as a legal right. This eliminates DIY repair as a protected route.
Anti-repair loopholes (EU)
The EU’s ban on parts pairing and software blocks includes an exception where practices are “justified by legitimate and objective factors including the protection of intellectual property rights.” This broad loophole significantly undermines the prohibition. The UK has no ban at all.
Narrow product scope
Both UK and EU Right to Repair legislation covers only a small fraction of household appliances. Ovens, microwaves, coffee machines, kettles, toasters, hairdryers, and most small appliances are entirely unregulated. The Open Repair Alliance’s finding that only 4% of community repairs would be covered illustrates how limited the scope remains in practice.
No repairability standards (UK)
Manufacturers must make appliances repairable using common tools, but there are no requirements for modular or individually serviceable design. The shift to unrepairable component assemblies continues unchallenged.
No retroactive application
Requirements apply only to new product models placed on the market after the legislation came into force. The overwhelming majority of appliances currently in UK and EU homes are not covered by any of these requirements.
If a washing machine is 12 years old and a door seal replacement costs £130 in parts and labour, and a new washing machine costs £300, most consumers will replace. Extending spare parts availability does not change this calculation. Neither does requiring manufacturers to offer a repair service, if the price of that service is not controlled. The economic structure of appliance repair in the UK is incompatible with the cost of the appliances being repaired, and legislation has not yet addressed this.
What is the EU doing that the UK could learn from?
While the EU’s approach is far from perfect, it offers several elements that would strengthen UK consumer rights if adopted here.
France introduced a mandatory repairability index in 2021, displayed on appliances at point of sale, scoring products on the availability and cost of spare parts, technical documentation, and ease of disassembly. An EU-wide repair score for smartphones is mandatory from June 2025, with similar scores for other product categories in development. Research shows 88% of consumers expect a repairability score to include spare parts prices. The UK has no equivalent scheme.
The French repairability index includes a scoring grid for spare parts price, with scores ranging from 0/10 for parts costing more than 30% of the product price, to 10/10 for parts costing no more than 10%. Research shows price is the most cited barrier to repair. The EU’s own repair scores do not yet include this criterion, and the UK has nothing comparable.
From July 2026, EU manufacturers of washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers, fridges, TVs, and other covered products must offer repair services for the covered parts, for the full duration of the parts availability period. This means a washing machine manufacturer must be able to repair the appliance for up to 10 years. The UK has no equivalent requirement.
Under the EU’s 2024 Directive, if a faulty appliance is repaired in response to a guarantee claim rather than replaced, the guarantee period is automatically extended by one additional year. This creates a regulatory incentive for repair over replacement. The UK has no equivalent provision.
The EU’s 2024 Directive requires every EU member state to introduce at least one financial incentive for repair. France funds consumer repair vouchers through eco-modulated producer fees. Germany and Austria have repair subsidy schemes. Sweden makes 50% of household appliance repair labour tax-deductible, deducted directly from the invoice. The UK has no national repair subsidy or financial incentive for appliance repair.
The EU’s 2024 Directive prohibits manufacturers from using hardware or software techniques that impede repair, including parts pairing. While the loopholes are significant and the prohibition is weaker than campaigners wanted, it establishes the principle in law. The UK has no equivalent ban, leaving manufacturers free to use these techniques without restriction.
What would actually make a difference in the UK?
Genuinely extending appliance lifespans would require changes that go substantially beyond current UK Right to Repair legislation. Based on industry analysis and the direction of EU policy, the most impactful measures would be:
- Mandated modular design. Requiring manufacturers to design appliances with individually serviceable components – motors, pumps, bearings, and valves – rather than irreplaceable assemblies. This is technically achievable but would increase manufacturing costs.
- Parts price controls. Without controls on parts pricing, availability requirements are easily circumvented. Genuine access requires parts to be available at proportionate prices, not at costs that make repair economically irrational. Consumer research indicates people are unwilling to pay more than 30% of the new product price for a repair.
- Open access to technical information. Requiring manufacturers to publish service manuals, wiring diagrams, and error code documentation for all appliances, accessible to repairers and consumers alike. This would dramatically increase the scope of viable independent and DIY repair.
- Consumer access to spare parts. Restricting supply to professional repairers excludes the significant number of consumers capable of carrying out their own repairs. Consumer access to internal parts is the cheapest and most accessible form of appliance repair.
- Repairability ratings at point of sale. A UK repairability index displayed at point of sale, scoring products on spare parts availability, parts cost, technical documentation, and design for repair, would give consumers the information to make informed choices and incentivise manufacturers to improve.
- A repair financial incentive. The EU now requires member states to introduce repair incentives. A UK equivalent, whether a subsidy, voucher scheme, or tax reduction on repair labour similar to Sweden’s model, would address the fundamental economics that make repair unviable for many consumers.
- Minimum lifespan requirements. Rather than only regulating what happens when things go wrong, minimum design lifespan requirements would set a baseline manufacturers must meet, creating a commercial incentive to build more durable appliances from the outset.
What can UK consumers do right now?
While legislation catches up, there are practical steps consumers can take to extend appliance life and reduce unnecessary waste.
Consider repairability when buyingResearch spare parts availability and cost before purchasing. Some brands, particularly established European manufacturers, have better parts ecosystems than others. Our washing machine buying guide covers what to look for.
Maintain your appliances regularlyClean pump filters, descale heating elements in hard water areas, and run maintenance washes. Preventative maintenance extends life significantly and prevents many of the faults that lead to premature scrappage. See our using washing machines guide.
Get a diagnosis before scrappingBefore replacing a faulty appliance, find out what is actually wrong. Many faults are minor and inexpensive to fix. Our appliance repair section and error code guides can help identify the problem.
Consider DIY repair for accessible faultsPump blockages, door seal replacements, filter cleaning, and drive belt replacements are accessible to competent home repairers. Read our DIY repair safety guide before attempting any work.
Need help with a faulty appliance?
Before replacing, it is always worth diagnosing the actual fault. Many faults are simpler and cheaper to fix than consumers expect.
Frequently asked questions about Right to Repair and white goods
Does UK Right to Repair law mean I can get my appliance repaired for free?
No. UK Right to Repair legislation does not entitle consumers to free repairs, subsidised labour, or price-controlled parts. It requires manufacturers to make spare parts available for longer, but places no obligation on the cost of those parts or the labour involved in fitting them. Your rights to a remedy for a faulty appliance come from the Consumer Rights Act, not Right to Repair legislation. See our Consumer Rights Act guide.
Do UK consumers have the same Right to Repair rights as EU consumers?
No, and the gap is growing. The UK implemented Ecodesign spare parts requirements in 2021, matching what the EU had at the time of Brexit. However, the EU adopted a major Right to Repair Directive in 2024 that the UK has not matched. From July 2026, EU consumers will have rights to out-of-guarantee repairs, stronger parts pricing protections, a ban on anti-repair software practices, and an automatic guarantee extension when products are repaired. UK consumers have none of these.
Will Right to Repair make appliances last longer?
In its current UK form, the legislation is unlikely to significantly extend average appliance lifespans. Making spare parts available for longer does not address the fundamental economics of repair. For most UK consumers, replacing an appliance remains cheaper than repairing it, and that calculation will not change because parts are available. The legislation would need to be substantially extended to tackle parts pricing, design for repairability, access to technical information, and the economics of repair labour to make a real difference.
Can I access spare parts directly as a consumer under Right to Repair?
In the UK, manufacturers must supply spare parts to professional repairers. Consumers have access only to a limited list of mostly external components: doors, handles, hinges, seals, filters, and similar accessories. Key internal components such as motors, pumps, and control boards are not legally required to be made available to consumers. Many parts remain available through third-party spare parts suppliers regardless of the legislation. See our spare parts guide.
What is parts pairing and why does it matter?
Parts pairing is a technique where replacement components are linked to a specific device via software, and must be remotely authorised by the manufacturer before the repaired device regains full functionality. This can prevent independent repair even where the physical part is available. It is most widely discussed in relation to smartphones but is increasingly relevant across connected appliances. The EU’s 2024 Right to Repair Directive prohibits this practice for covered products, with some loopholes. The UK has no equivalent ban.
Why are spare parts for older appliances so expensive?
Spare parts for appliances more than a few years old often become disproportionately expensive relative to both the cost of the appliance and the cost of a new machine. The causes include reduced production volumes, supply chain costs, and in some cases deliberate pricing decisions by manufacturers. Independent appliance repairers have reported manufacturers marking up parts prices by three times or more. In France, the mandatory repairability index scores parts pricing directly. The UK has no equivalent transparency requirement.
Is it worth repairing an older appliance rather than replacing it?
It depends on the age, cost, and nature of the fault. As a general principle, getting a diagnosis before replacing is always worthwhile. Many faults are minor and inexpensive to fix. For older appliances where a major component such as a drum assembly or motor has failed, the economics of repair become more difficult. Our appliance repair section can help you assess the options.
Will UK law eventually catch up with the EU’s 2024 Right to Repair Directive?
There is no current commitment from the UK government to introduce equivalent legislation, and post-Brexit alignment with EU consumer protection rules is a political question that depends on the priorities of the government of the day. Campaign groups including Right to Repair UK, the Restart Project, and the Open Repair Alliance have called for the UK to match or exceed the EU’s framework. Until any such commitment is made, UK consumers should expect the divergence to widen from July 2026 onwards. The most reliable way to stay current is to follow these campaign organisations directly.