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Manufacturers will now have to make spare parts available for washing machines, washer-dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators and TVs for the first time. Repairs also need to be possible using everyday tools.
According to the UK government, this will reduce the 1.5 million tonnes of electrical waste generated each year.
Spare parts will have to be available within two years of an appliance going on sale, and up until either seven or 10 years after the product has been discontinued, depending on the part.
Some parts will only be available to professional repairers, while others will be available to everyone, so you can fix it yourself.
Read on for more on what these new rights mean for you and what Which? wants the government to do.
Repair advice: what to do when common appliance faults happen
In March, the EU introduced measures to promote the repairability of products, and this month the UK government is planning on introducing matching standards in Great Britain, as was agreed before leaving the EU.
Due to the Northern Ireland protocol, EU Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Regulations will continue to apply there.
For now, the right to repair laws only cover:
They also cover non-consumer electronics, such as light sources, electric motors, refrigerators with a direct sales function (eg fridges in supermarkets, vending machines for cold drinks), power transformers and welding equipment.
Cookers, hobs, tumble dryers, microwaves or tech such as laptops or smartphones aren't covered.
In the market for a new laptop? Check out our guide on how to buy a second-hand or refurbished laptop.
The spare parts are divided into those that are for trickier repairs, so only available to professionals, and those for easier fixes, so are available to everyone.
For example, a tricky repair such as replacing a dishwasher's drain pump will be available to the pros, while an easier and safer fix, such as fitting new drain filters,will be available to everyone.
This follows a change in the official energy label, removing the A+++ ratings and resetting the scale to run from A to G. For more on this change, find out what the new energy label means for you and your home.
These measures will not only contribute to reducing waste and carbon emissions but also give you more freedom when faults inevitably happen, saving money and hassle. As such, we welcome them.
But Which? is also challenging the government to expand these rules to cover more appliances and to make sure manufacturers supply spare parts immediately, rather than having the option of waiting up to two years.
We'd also like the government to ensure parts are affordable and available for longer, closer to the lifespan of each product.
For example, we've found that the average lifetime of refrigeration appliances is between 20 and 25 years, well beyond the 10 years that parts will be available for.
Join the Which? Conversation on the Right to Repair rules and let us know your thoughts
Dishwashers
To everyone for a minimum period of 10 years, after the the model has been discontinued:
To professional repairers, for a minimum period of seven years:
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To everyone for a minimum period of 10 years:
To professional repairers for a minimum period of 10 years:
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To everyone for a minimum period of 10 years:
To professional repairers for a minimum period of seven years:
To everyone for seven years:
To professional repairers for a minimum of seven years:
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