Ovenless apartment

I’ve found an apartment I want to buy but it doesn’t have an oven (but it does have a gas stovetop).

Is it a straightforward process to buy and install an oven, or is it possible that the apartment can’t have an oven installed because it doesn’t have the required specifications for that?

The REA said I can install my own but I don’t trust them.

 

If space is an issue you can now buy microwave/oven hybrid things.

 

@hammer - Not really (to your previous amended post). A full sized oven needs a 20 amp dedicated circuit unless it's a small K-Mart special.

 

You might have to spend a bit on updating the circuit board with a 20amp stove circuit breaker etc if there isn't one

 

There might be a chance to use the existing wiring with the stovetop and dishwasher. Best to get an electrician to assess. If you're not after a big oven, I've seen a half-size oven. I was tempted to get one for our apartment because the current one is too big. Or just use a bench one, even a AirFryer!

 

@jinx77 - is this apartment a studio/bedsit/short-stay accommodation? It probably didn't warrant an oven being installed. A benchtop solution (toaster/oven) with a plug is probably sufficient.

As @Archaon notes, it may require a new circuit which may require major power upgrades to achieve both at the unit's switchboard, new cabling to the main board and possibly a mains upgrade. Many older units were designed with efficiency in mind (they had gas for hws/range & only 2 circuits for power/lighting), anything beyond this became too expensive to build or run.

 

Thanks so much for your input everyone, it’s for PPOR so I really want an oven. I used to rely on a toaster oven when I lived in Japan but it was depressing because I couldn’t bake cakes.

The apartment was built in the 60s so I’m scared that it the wiring isn’t set up for an oven. There’s plenty of space for one. Currently there’s a DW and stovetop, it’s strange that they’ve installed a DW before an oven.

Would a building inspector address this sort of thing on the report? If not would a random sparkie check it out or are there special sparkies who do inspections for buyers?

 

I'm pretty sure you can buy 10amp ovens too. Not sure how good they are though...

 

Best to get a sparkie to have a look and give you a quote. Any regular sparkie should be able to tell you what's involved and how much it will cost.

It will all depend on the specific property. I had a dedicated oven circuit installed in a 60s era apartment, and it was easy as it was on the ground floor and had subfloor access.

In my current PPOR with no ceiling cavity and no subfloor access, masonry walls - was much more complex and expensive.

 

You may need BC approval for alterations to the wiring if you need extra capacity.

 

No oven is apparently an Asian thing - they often just don't use them so replace with a cupboard. Most likely if this unit was built in the 1960s you will have the wiring capacity to have one, it's just been disconnected. Get a sparky to confirm at the meter board.

 

Its quite possible that their was an oven there at some stage but was removed during a reno, by someone with very limited cooking skills and saw no need for one .
Many early types were free standing all gas oven and cooktop.
They are still around to buy , our mother still has one that is over 30 years old and still working.

 

You can still buy new freestanding all gas oven and cooktop models.

 

May also have to run a 6mm+ cable from the oven back as well and depending on distance to the circuit board could sting you.