Hire purchase laptop: What to do in case of damage?

Questioner

I have a hire purchase laptop from school that is paid for every month and has insurance. My question is: now it's broken, can I have it repaired at the school's expense?

Lawyer

With hire purchase, the hire seller remains the owner of the laptop until you have paid the last installment. With payment of that last installment, you become the legal owner of the laptop. However, the law also stipulates that the risk of a movable property such as a laptop, is transferred upon delivery thereof, even if the seller remains the owner. The risk of damage, destruction etc. is therefore for the account of the hire purchaser.