Induction hobs in HMOs?

You've pretty much summed up all the pros and cons yourself.
Making sure your new unit has the same footprint as the old gas hob and making sure it will run from the 13a outlet that your gas hob was plugged into (for the ignition) could help keep the installation costs down greatly.
They are considerably easier to keep clean which will encourage tenants to do so but it must be said that the glass will eventually get burn marks on it, it is easily scratched using the wrong cleaning product and if there is the remotest chance of a tenant kneeling or standing on it (eg. reaching for something on a top shelf) then it will almost certainly crack and require replacement.

Ceramic hobs come as non induction hobs or induction hobs. All ceramic hobs are easy to break (dropping a saucepan for example) also if not cleaned properly and regularly they stain and scratch. If switching to Ceramic, I would go for the cheaper non induction type that can be used with any type of saucepan. Also, consider the negative impact switching from gas to electric cooking will have on your EPC.

Induction hobs will also crack if something is left on it like the lid on the hob - I've had it happen.

I never leave gas in for tenants, we all know that tenants manage things that others can't - burnt t towels a favourite so I would go with a regular electric hob. Glass will scratch, will mark with baked on food, an annual clean will not deal with that, a nice looking but cheap one is easy to remove and replace for a new tenant.

The picture illustrated is not an induction hob. A true induction hob does not get really hot and never glows red but remains black. I would never use anything else now, as they are as responsive as gas, but don't get hot enough to burn anyone or cause foodspills to burn on, so they are really easy to keep clean. However they do need a 7kW cooker connection, so can't just be connected to a nearby socket. You can buy 4 ring induction hobs that plug in, but their total capacity is restricted to around 3kW. That means you can't have four rings on full, as they will automatically turn down if you try. They can be worked with but tenants might find it a nuisance. On the whole, I think they are great, not necessarily expensive, and relatively easy to install. Induction saucepans can be bought cheaply from the likes of Ikea. I would recommend.

Induction hobs use less electric than a standard hob, so in my view its worth the value. They are a lot easier to use and keep clean, however I would take out additional warranty cover for them (especially the cheap ones) as we’ve had to replace 2 out of 6 in last 2 years.

Thank you all very much for that feedback! We will fit induction on this first one to try it and see how it goes (and yes, that image above is an "artist's impression", not mine) 🙂

Reply to the comment left by Rob Crawford at 06/07/2022 - 08:50
Not aware gas hob for electric makes any difference to EPC

I wouldn't install an induction hob, they are expensive, and more expensive as you need to also purchase pots, pans that work on these. Wrong pan and it won't work and could damage the hob. Stick with cheaper ceramic hobs that are easy to clean. If tenants damage it, claim it on building insurance. Remember gas hobs also have issues if tenants dont regularly clean them

After a very nasty accident involving a gas hob where a tenant managed to get a towel tangled round the pan support prongs and pull a huge pan off boiling water off the hob and all over her legs I replaced all of mine with either induction or ceramic.
Induction are quicker, more controllable and easier to keep clean but tenants may whinge about not being able to use their favourite pans. The plug in ones are fine and I have never had a situation where everyone wants to use all 4 rings on full power. Some of touch control buttons can be a bit temperamental.
Ceramic is cheaper to buy but harder to clean. All pans will work but ceramic hobs are far less controllable so if tenants are used to gas they may not be at all impressed with ceramic.

Reply to the comment left by David Judd at 06/07/2022 - 12:44Thanks David and Jo. In the meantime I discovered lots of different "induction adapters" on Amazon and even Ikea sells their own too. I would provide a couple of those per property, not the actual pots and pans.