935. Currently repairing products can be costly; we need to change this dynamic so that repairing products is cost-effective. Often people want to repair products:
"Rates of repair vary across product types, being most common for clothing and footwear (11% of people said they had repaired an item in the past year) and least common for digital products (6%). 25% of people tried to repair a large household appliance the last time one broke, but only about half of these managed it successfully. " - Which?657
936. However, people face barriers to doing this:
"People were deterred by the cost of repair relative to replacement (39%), the hassle of getting it repaired (13%) and the difficulty of finding a repairer (10%)." - Which?658
937. Repairing products should be affordable. Often it is cheaper to buy a replacement product rather than to repair an existing one. The Review has heard calls for VAT on repairs to be cut for individuals. The Aldersgate Group, for example, has argued "a priority tax reform should be to zero-rate VAT on all repairs."659
938. Accessing repairs should be easy. For electronics, consumers have a legal right to have access to repairs; Right to Repair Regulations require manufacturers to provide spare parts to consumers or third parties. However, this excludes certain products, like phones and laptops. Which? have called on the government to expand these rules to cover more products and to require spare parts to be made available immediately and for longer, rather than just within two years and for just ten.660 Even when regulations are in place, it can be hard for people to find professionals with the skills needed to fix their products. Innovative models are helping to fill this gap. For example, Sojo is an app which connects users to local tailoring businesses who can repair damaged clothing. Local repair hubs are also springing up across the country.
939. The Review has heard of the importance of people knowing "that they can trust the professionals and tradespeople who advise them and where needed refit, repair or install. If things should go wrong, they must have a simple, but reliable route to effective redress."661 The Aldersgate Group has argued for warranties and safety guarantees to be applicable to remanufactured and refurbished goods, to promote trust.662 Government should consider how repairs can be made more affordable and accessible to consumers.