In rental situations, the oven is one of the appliances that generates the most disagreements between tenant and landlord when a breakdown or replacement occurs. The distribution of costs depends on specific criteria: the type of lease (unfurnished or furnished), the nature of the failure (normal wear or misuse), and what is mentioned in the move-in inspection report.
Depreciation Schedule and Move-In Inspection: The Two Documents That Resolve the Dispute
Before determining who pays, it is essential to understand the role of two often-overlooked documents at the time of signing the lease. The first is the move-in inspection report. This document describes the condition of each appliance at the time the keys are handed over. If the oven is listed as functional and in good condition, the tenant must return it in a comparable state, taking into account normal wear.
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The second document is the depreciation schedule. Attached to the lease or established by agreement between the parties, it sets an annual depreciation rate for each category of equipment. An oven used for eight years under normal conditions will have lost most of its value. The tenant cannot be charged the price of a new appliance for a worn-out device.
When the move-in inspection report does not explicitly mention the age or condition of the oven, case law protects the tenant. According to the 2025 rental dispute barometer from ANIL, tenants win more than 70% of cases for the replacement of worn-out ovens in this situation. Understanding the replacement costs of an oven in rental thus begins with a careful reading of these documents.
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Landlord’s Obligation: Replacement of the Oven in Unfurnished and Furnished Rentals
The legal framework differs depending on whether the property is rented unfurnished or furnished, and this distinction radically changes the financial responsibility.
Furnished Rental
In furnished rentals, the landlord provides an equipped apartment. The oven (or microwave) is included in the list of mandatory appliances set by decree. The landlord must replace any faulty appliance due to normal wear or obsolescence at their own expense. The tenant cannot be charged for the cost of a replacement related to the aging of the appliance.
The ordinance of October 20, 2023, strengthened this protection by prohibiting abusive clauses that systematically shift the replacement of appliances like the oven onto the tenant, including in furnished rentals.
Unfurnished Rental
In unfurnished rentals, the landlord has no obligation to provide an oven. If they voluntarily install one and the lease mentions it as part of the property, they must ensure its replacement in case of a breakdown due to obsolescence. If the oven was brought in by the tenant, the responsibility lies entirely with them.
Regular Maintenance of the Oven: What Remains the Tenant’s Responsibility
The decree of August 26, 1987, lists tenant repairs, which are the routine maintenance and minor repairs that the tenant must undertake. For an oven, this covers specific interventions:
- Regular cleaning of the cavity, racks, glass, and door seals to prevent dirt buildup and overheating
- Replacement of common wear parts: oven bulb, door seals, control knobs
- Descaling and maintenance of accessible heating elements, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations
Regular maintenance never includes the complete replacement of the appliance. When the breakdown affects a structural component (electronic board, main heating element, internal thermostat), the repair cost falls to the landlord if the appliance belongs to them.
Breakdown Due to Tenant’s Fault: A Situation That Shifts the Burden
The principle changes when the oven breaks down due to abnormal use or a clear lack of maintenance. An oven whose cavity has never been cleaned and whose heating element has burned out due to the accumulation of carbonized grease is a classic case of negligence.
In this scenario, the tenant bears the cost of repair or replacement, regardless of the type of lease. However, the landlord must prove the fault. Photos from the move-out inspection, compared to those from the move-in, serve as the basis for this demonstration.
In practice, departmental conciliation commissions have noted an increase in disputes on this subject since 2024, often related to ambiguous lease clauses regarding obsolescence. Before initiating a procedure, contacting the local commission remains the quickest and least expensive recourse.
Concrete Reflexes to Avoid Conflict Over Oven Replacement
Some practices reduce the risk of disputes at the time of breakdown:
- Photograph the oven from all angles during the move-in inspection, noting the brand, model, and year of manufacture if visible
- Keep invoices for maintenance or replacement of wear parts (seals, bulbs) to prove proper use
- Check if the lease includes an attached depreciation schedule and, if not, request its addition by amendment
- Report any breakdown in writing (registered letter or email with acknowledgment of receipt) to establish the date of notification
A written notification protects the tenant against the worsening of the breakdown. If the landlord delays in intervening and the damage extends, their responsibility may be engaged for the additional damages.
The distribution of costs for an oven in rental relies on three verifiable elements: the type of lease, the move-in inspection report, and the cause of the breakdown. Keeping a written record of every exchange and maintenance performed remains the most reliable way to assert one’s rights, whether one is a tenant or a landlord.