The Gift That Keeps On Inducting
In 2005, the housing company I work for renovated a couple of houses. The people who lived there did not get a raise in rent, didn’t have to pay anything, and even got paid for living accommodations when certain things could not be done with tenants present. Part of the renovation was that gas would no longer be possible as a cooking solution, only electricity or induction. If people selected induction, my housing company would arrange that, free of extra charge. They wouldn’t even have to pay for the shiny new cooking hob, and got 50 euros extra to buy new pots and pans. Sure, the renovation did not go smoothly, and mistakes were made, but everything was solved, and no complaints at the end.
In Social Housing, appliances that are not nailed to the walls and ceilings from the start are the responsibility of the tenant. Mechanical ventilation and heating = Housing. Refrigerator, dishwasher, and cooking hob = Tenant. This has been decided in the Social Housing Law, though you can make exceptions in your contract.
And now, in 2025:
Client: “Hello, my induction hob broke down.”
Me: “I’m so sorry to hear that. According to my system, the hob was placed in 2005 and was a gift, so I am afraid we can’t place a new one for you. But you can pick out whatever hob fancies you.”
Client: “No, you placed that hob, not me.”
Me: “That is true, but I see the letter you got and signed, which states this is a one-time gift, to replace your old system.”
Client: “Correct. But it’s broken now.”
Me: “And I’m sorry to hear that. However, we will not be replacing it. I’m afraid you have to buy one yourself.”
Client: “What?! How dare you! You should replace this thing, you bought it!”
Me: “We did, and then we gifted it to you.”
Client: “But it broke!”
Me: “Yes, after twenty years of use.”
Client: “So you should replace it. You gifted it to me and now it’s broken.”
Me: “We don’t have to replace a gift after twenty years of use.”
Client: “But now I don’t have any means to cook! This is a basic living condition!”
Me: “I apologize, but I can’t help you. You need to buy a new one yourself.”
Client: “But it was a gift!”
Me: “A gift, indeed. Could you imagine giving something… for example… an electric kettle to your neighbour. That would make them very happy, right?”
Client: “Of course!”
Me: “Now, ten years later, your neighbour knocks on your door. The electric kettle is broken.”
Client: “Yeah, so? That happens!”
Me: “Would you replace that electric kettle for them?”
Client: “Of course not!”
Me: “Why wouldn’t you?”
Client: “Because it was a gift! I didn’t break it! It’s not my responsibility.”
Me: “That’s exactly the reason why we can’t replace your hob.”
Client: “What?! But have you seen how expensive a new hob is?!”
Me: “I am well aware, but maybe you can find a nice deal somewhere?”
Client: “I can’t pay that!”
Me: “Maybe you can get a smaller hob while you save up for a big one? You have these two-pit sets for a decent price.”
Client: “How rude! How can you suggest such an embarrassingly small thing?! Seriously, why can’t [Housing Company] pay for it? They have plenty of money!”
Me: “We are Social Housing, ma’am, we don’t make any profit. I’m sorry, but we can’t help you.”
Client: “I’ll go to the Social Housing Commission!”
Me: “You are free to do so. If you don’t have any other questions, I wish you… oh, she hung up already.”
We’re still waiting on that e-mail from the Housing Commission telling us to replace a twenty-year-old gift.
