Manufacturers are required to repair common household products for EU consumers

European consumers will be given greater rights to have household goods – such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners and smartphones – repaired under new rules agreed by the European Union.

These new rules aim to tackle waste, incentivising consumers to fix rather than throw away faulty or defective goods.

Right to repair laws were introduced in the UK in 2021, with the aim of extending the life cycle of a range of products by up to 10 years. However, these laws omitted a long list of common household products (including cookers, hobs, tumble dryers, microwaves, laptops and smartphones).

Here, we look at how the new EU rules work and explain your repair rights in the UK.

Which products are covered?

Manufacturers selling to EU consumers will be required to repair common household goods like washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and fridges.

The new rules also apply to electronics such as smartphones.

Some smartphone manufacturers have been known to push back on right to repair laws in the past. Apple, for example, uses software practices that prevent independent repairs.

But under the EU's new rules, these practices will be banned, encouraging consumers to repair rather than replace their broken tech.

• Read more: your faulty goods rights explained

Cheap and straightforward repairs

To make repairs more attractive, the new laws seek to ensure repairs are reasonably priced and straightforward to organise.

There are plans to create an online repair platform for consumers, making nearby repair options and prices more transparent and comparable.

EU countries are also required to introduce at least one measure to incentivise repair services, such as repair vouchers, funds or VAT reduction.

Manufacturers will have to provide details on spare parts on their website, as well as offering spare parts to independent repairers at reasonable prices.

Sellers and manufacturers must inform consumers of their right to have products repaired too.

• Find out more: use our faulty goods tool to complain to a retailer

Warranties for repaired products extended

Sellers are required to offer a free repair if a product fails during the legal guarantee period.

If the consumer does opt for a repair, their guarantee will then be extended by a further year.

Companies will have to offer affordable repairs for five to 10 years after a product's sale, even if it's outside the guarantee period.

Sellers must also offer a substitute product (or offer a refurbished replacement) while the repair takes place.

• Read more: are you overpaying for warranty cover?

Repair rights in the UK

Right to repair laws in the UK require manufacturers to make spare parts available for washing machines, washer-dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators and TVs.

Spare parts 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 your faulty products yourself.

Which? previously challenged 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.

• Read more: what the UK's right to repair laws mean for you

Your faulty goods rights explained

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, you have rights to a refund, repair or replacement if you buy a faulty product.

• If you notice a fault with a product within 30 days of owning it, you can ask for a full refund, repair or replacement.
• Or if you notice the fault after 30 days but within six months, you're entitled to a repair or replacement.
• Your faulty goods rights against the retailer last up to six years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (and five years in Scotland). But, after the first six months, the onus is on you to prove a fault was present at the time you took ownership of the goods.
• Most tech products will also come with a free manufacturer warranty, which will have its own policies on repairs and replacements.

If you have a defective appliance or piece of tech, you can start your claim by using our free faulty goods tool.