FOI Request - Durability and Performance of Appliances in Council Properties

Request 101003621743

I am writing to request information regarding the durability and performance of household appliances purchased and maintained by Moray Council for council properties.

Specifically, I request the following information:

Purchase Records:

1.  Details of all household appliances purchased for council properties from 2012-2024, including:
o  Date of purchase
o  Brand and model of the appliance
o  Type of appliance (e.g., refrigerator, washing machine)
o  Quantity purchased
o  Cost per unit and total expenditure

Maintenance and Repair Records:

2. Records of all maintenance and repair activities carried out on household appliances from 2015, including:

o  Appliance type, brand, and model
o  Date of each repair or maintenance instance
o  Nature of the repair or maintenance
o  Cost of each repair or maintenance instance
o  Frequency of repairs per appliance type/model

Appliance Replacement Records:

3. Data on the replacement of household appliances within council properties, including:

o  Date of replacement
o  Reason for replacement (e.g., end of life, breakdown, inefficiency)
o  Lifespan (duration between purchase and replacement)
o  Any warranties used for replacement

Resident Feedback and Complaints:

4. Summaries of any resident complaints or feedback regarding household appliances from 2012, including:
o  Number and nature of complaints per appliance type/brand/model
o  Any surveys or reports on tenant satisfaction with appliances

Energy Efficiency and Performance Evaluations:

5. Any reports, assessments, or evaluations conducted by the council on the energy efficiency, performance, and durability of household appliances in council properties from 2012-2024.

Response 05-09-2024

1. We have a rolling figure of 100 properties in the community that we use as temporary homeless accommodation. Within these properties, we do provide furnishings including domestic appliances. As these properties have a high turnover of applicants (in the last financial year each property turned over an average of 3.4 times), we also have to regularly replace the appliances.

To provide the information over the timescale requested (2012-2024), this would require us to do a manual checks of the records for each property over the 12 year period and this would take us over the 40 hour (£600 of staff time) threshold. In accordance with section 12 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (excessive cost), we are therefore unable to comply with this part of the request. 

2. We do not repair appliances. We would routinely buy the cheapest available type of appliance and in the event that it fails/breaks we would replace rather than repair.

3. As above in question 1., exempt under Section 12 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - excessive cost

4. Not held. We do not request feedback from residents/customers specifically around appliances. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.

5. As above in question 1., exempt under Section 12 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - excessive cost.