Fitted wardrobes

A fitted wardrobe is made for one room and fixed in place there. Buying one often means agreeing a price with a firm and letting a fitter into your home. The law across the UK gives you rights over the wardrobe, over the fitting and over the deal itself.

The wardrobe and the fitting

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 treats goods and services separately. Where a firm supplies the wardrobe, section 9 says the goods must be of satisfactory quality. The Act lists appearance and finish, freedom from minor defects, safety and durability among the points that count.

Section 11 says goods supplied by description must match the description.

Section 15 covers installation. If the contract includes fitting, and the trader or someone working for them fits the wardrobe incorrectly, the wardrobe does not conform to the contract.

The fitter's work

Section 49 of the Act says a trader must perform a service "with reasonable care and skill".

Where the contract sets no date for the work, section 52 says the trader must do it within a reasonable time.

What the fitter tells you

Section 50 makes what a trader says or writes part of the contract. It covers anything said or written to you about the trader or the service, where you took it into account when deciding to go ahead. It also covers anything you took into account in a later decision about the service.

A trader can qualify a statement at the same time as making it, and you and the trader can agree a change. Section 50 says that agreement must be express.

Citizens Advice gives a window fitter as its example. The fitter said he would install a new window and paint the frame, then only installed the window and left. Citizens Advice says you can ask the trader to do whatever is needed to get the work done properly.

When the work is not right

Section 54 gives you two remedies when a service falls short of the contract. You can require the trader to do the work again, or you can claim a price reduction. The Act keeps other remedies open too, such as claiming damages.

Citizens Advice says to take the problem up with the trader who arranged the work, even if they passed some of it to another business. It suggests gathering your paperwork and receipts first, taking photos, and noting dates and times.

Changing your mind after agreeing at home

The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 call a contract agreed with a trader away from their business premises, such as in your home, an off-premises contract. Regulation 29 says you may cancel one in the cancellation period without giving any reason.

Where a firm both supplies and fits the wardrobe, the Regulations treat the deal as a sales contract. Regulation 30 says the cancellation period for a sales contract usually ends 14 days after the day the goods come into your possession. Where a firm only fits a wardrobe you already have, the deal is a service contract, and the period ends 14 days after the day you entered into it.

Regulation 28 leaves out goods made to your specifications or clearly personalised. Citizens Advice says that when you have something specially made, you do not automatically get a cooling-off period. It names made to measure curtains, windows and conservatories as examples.

Under regulation 36, the trader must not start the work during the cancellation period unless you expressly ask them to. For a contract agreed at home, you have to make that request on paper or by email, or in another lasting form. Citizens Advice says that if the work starts during the cooling-off period without your approval, you can cancel and get a full refund.

Lights inside the wardrobe

Citizens Advice says building regulations usually apply to work on a "controlled service or fitting". It gives most plumbing, electrical and heating work as examples. Its advice is for England, and it has separate pages for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

A trader registered with a competent person scheme can do some types of work without building regulations approval. GOV.UK lists the current schemes.

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