What are my rights if something breaks after a year?
Why the manufacturer's warranty expiring does not end your rights, and who to claim from.
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Time
- 20 min
- Read
- 2 min
- Safety
- caution
Short answer
Your rights are against the retailer, not the manufacturer, and they last considerably longer than a typical one-year warranty. Goods must be durable — an expensive appliance failing after 18 months may well not be.
The most costly consumer misunderstanding is that a expired warranty means no rights. The warranty is an extra the manufacturer offers; the legal right is separate, sits with the retailer, and lasts longer.
Safety
Step by step
- Claim from the retailer, not the manufacturer.Your contract is with whoever sold it to you. A retailer who tells you to contact the manufacturer is describing their preference, not your obligation.
- Know that rights outlast the warranty.Goods must be of satisfactory quality and durable. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you generally have six years to bring a claim, and five in Scotland — much longer than a typical warranty.
- Understand what durable means in practice.It depends on price and type. A cheap kettle failing at 18 months may be reasonable; an expensive washing machine failing at 18 months probably is not. Cost and expected lifespan matter.
- Know where the burden of proof sits.In the first six months a fault is generally assumed to have been present from the start. After that, you may need to show it was — an engineer's report or evidence of a known fault helps.
- Expect repair or replacement, not automatically a refund.After the first thirty days the retailer usually gets one opportunity to repair or replace. If that fails, you can generally require a refund, which may be reduced for use you have had.
- Put the claim in writing.Reference the goods being of unsatisfactory quality or not durable, give the purchase date and the fault, and say what you want. Written claims are treated differently from phone calls.
- Escalate if refused.The retailer's complaints process, then an ombudsman or ADR scheme if they belong to one, then the small claims route. Each step is free or low cost.
- Check for parallel routes.Credit card joint liability for purchases over £100, and chargeback for others. Sometimes faster than arguing with the retailer.
Tips
- Keep proof of purchase. A bank statement works if the receipt is gone — you need to show where and when, not necessarily to produce a till receipt.
- "Out of warranty" is not a legal answer. It is worth saying politely that you are claiming under consumer law rather than the warranty.
- For an expensive item, an independent engineer's report is often the thing that resolves a stalemate about whether a fault was inherent.
Questions people ask
Do I have rights after the warranty expires?
Yes. The warranty is an additional promise from the manufacturer. Your legal rights are against the retailer and last considerably longer — generally six years, or five in Scotland.
How long should an appliance last?
There is no fixed figure — durability is judged against price and type. An expensive appliance failing early is much more arguable than a cheap one.