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Original poster

What useful things have you been left by previous occupant?

84 replies

wowfudge · 04/08/2015 20:03

I'm adding this thread as I have just finished coat number three on a ceiling with the help of a roller extension pole the vendor left in the first house I bought. They never reclaimed it.

There are frequent threads about how rank people have left places and we had to hire to skip to get rid of the crap left by the previous occupants of our current house so I thought a positive alternative would be good.

OP posts:
Etak15 · 04/08/2015 20:06

One of those dustpan and brushes with the long handles - I love it!!

MrsNuckyThompson · 04/08/2015 20:10

Two wardrobes. We were moving from a small flat to a big family home which needed tons of work. The wardrobes have taken a battering while we've been doing up the house but saved us money at the time when cash flow was an issue!!

themagicamulet · 04/08/2015 20:12

A huge Victorian kitchen dresser which was varnished in monstrous 70s orange knotty pine and looked ready for the skip but actually looks fab painted cream.

An endlessly useful and indestructible oven dish which I use every day

2 mahogany chests of drawers which we have had for a decade in exactly the same positions as the previous (sadly deceased) owner

Polyethyl · 04/08/2015 20:15

Our sellers left a fridge, kettle, two mugs, 2 tea bags, tea spoon and a pot of sugar all laid out for us to have an immediate cup of tea when we collected the keys.

MsDragons · 04/08/2015 20:15

2 wardrobes, a bookcase and a chest of drawers.

We were really glad of them, but if we'd had more furniture of our own then it would have been a pain to have to get rid of them.

Stylingwax · 04/08/2015 20:15

Washing machine and tumble dryer. We sold after 3 years and left them for the buyer. It felt like they came with the flat!

ShootTheMoon · 04/08/2015 20:17

All sorts! Our vendor (who was moving into a care home) kindly left us a vacuum cleaner (which is useful for DIY clean up as we have a lot of work to do), some cleaning products, loads of old but sturdy gardening tools, an airer, two single beds & nearly new mattresses, and two roller cleaner thingies.

We were chuffed and agreed to look after his 70 year old hydrangeas in return Smile.

themagicamulet · 04/08/2015 20:18

that reminds me - 1970s Phillips washer and dryer plumbed in in the shed which were still going strong and must have been state of the art at the time. We used them for 2 years while house renovations were going on

HarlettOScara · 04/08/2015 20:19

In my last house, the previous owner left bedroom furniture in that 80s black ash or whatever it was called. We were skint so I painted them cream and they served us well for the years we lived there. We sold to an investor who was going to rent it out and he asked if we were leaving the bedroom furniture so was obviously planning to use it for tenants. It's probably still in use now!

In this house, the previous owner had died and the son was selling. He couldn't be arsed to clear it out properly so we inherited piles of shit. However, I love the 2 old dial telephones that were left and still use one. We're moving soon and I'm taking them with me.

cathcustard · 04/08/2015 20:20

A beautiful, enormous stone urn in the garden.
It was too heavy to move apparently.
We admire it daily.

ReadtheSmallPrint · 04/08/2015 20:27

A solid pine refectory table was left dismantled in the garden shed of our first house in 1994.

We still use it as our dining table (although it is past its best now).

LizLemonsGlasses · 04/08/2015 20:28

A huge wooden mid-century dresser, complete with drinks cabinet Smile We love it and use it for dishes, glasses - and drinks obviously!

But my favourite thing they left was the three little bottles of holy water from Lourdes at the back of the wardrobe. I'm Presbyterian Grin

FishWithABicycle · 04/08/2015 20:29

We had a welding mask and a machete left for us by our house's previous owner.

MehsMum · 04/08/2015 20:29

Some homemade toy wooden farm buildings, shoved in a loft, very dusty and possibly dating back to long before our vendors. Not useful exactly, but the DC got a lot of fun out of them.

Archfarchnad · 04/08/2015 20:30

An axe.

Nothing but an axe.

Covered in splashes of red paint (yes, it was definitely gloss paint).

Methe · 04/08/2015 20:31

An enamel oven tray that I've used everyday for ten and a half years!

FenellaFellorick · 04/08/2015 20:31

Best - a washing machine, fridge freezer, microwave, full length mirror and clothes rail.

(One for the worst things thread - a dead dog in a bin liner in the back garden Sad

SunnyL · 04/08/2015 20:32

8 demi johns that DH uses to brew beer in and give as Christmas presents to people.

ohidoliketobe · 04/08/2015 20:34

A set of ladders hung up down the drive and a 7ft artificial christmas tree in the loft! We put it up the first Christmas. I was petrified they were going to come back for it ha.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 04/08/2015 20:34

Loads of really nice pairs of expensive looking curtains. We stil have some of them up now.

Quietlifenotonyournelly · 04/08/2015 20:36

Two wardrobes and a chest of drawers, our other house had all fitted so was grateful as meant didn't have to buy new and they were in the style I like too, bonus. We left a large table, dishwasher, chest freezer, dresser and large full length mirror and the kettle.

SeraOfeliaFalfurrias · 04/08/2015 20:36

I once lived a shared house with friends and in the (fully carpeted?!?!) loft there were bags and bags of really nice clothes. We were poor students so whenever we needed a nice new outfit for an interview or something we would pop up there, and we always found something perfect.

I'm not sure why we never just brought it all down and sorted it out though. I blame the drugs. Blush

lostindubai · 04/08/2015 20:38

Two wardrobes. Didn't make up for the number of botch jobs we've found since though Hmm

Are there rules about what you can leave behind? Surely there must be a limit?

FreeButtonBee · 04/08/2015 20:46

3 Edwardian dining chairs. Just needed the cushion pads recovered and they are perfect for the spare room/computer desk. Also a pick axe...

nothanksbyenow · 04/08/2015 20:50

A sledge, replacement (ugly) tiles for the kitchen, tea towel and a few tools. Best of all though, the place was spotless was when we moved in- you could've eaten off the floor! dd2 probably did