Rightmove house with a tortoise room!

[CornedBeef451]

We're thinking of moving to this area and saw this house. It seems to have reasonably sized rooms but one bedroom seems to be a tortoise room. I'm torn between what a lovely idea and WTF.

Will the floor be soaked in tortoise pee? Is there visible mould in the tortoise room or just an unfortunate shadow? Anyway, thought someone might like a look at it, otherwise perfectly normal house.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/120511961#/?channel=RES_BUY

Is that the right house or have they removed the photo?

The floor appears to be covered with rubber matting or something similar, upturned at the edges, with hay and forage on top.
Presumably that is to protect the floor underneath?

The pink walled one

I don’t see any rooms with tortoises in. However I wouldn’t like the mould In the bedrooms and that would put me off

It’s not that different to having a Guinean pig room or rabbit room although people normally use a conservatory/ utility room rather than a proper bedroom. They’re vegetarians and their poo doesn’t smell too much.

@megletthesecond

Is that the right house or have they removed the photo?

Photo 16.

The roof doesn't look great above that room so I wonder if that black mould is due to a leak.

The tortoise room definitely has mould on the ceiling in the corner. The whole house needs a lot of cosmetic work except for perhaps the kitchen. Unless you can be bothered with doing it all I would look for a different house. Can I ask how you know its a tortoise and not a rabbit room or other small animal?

Definitely looks like mould. Think the tortoises are considerably more loved than the house ...

400k for a house that needs totally gutting...

I’m fine with the tortoise room. Not with the damp. The weird orange glass and super dated cloakroom isn’t rocking my world either!

@Hellocatshome

The tortoise room definitely has mould on the ceiling in the corner. The whole house needs a lot of cosmetic work except for perhaps the kitchen. Unless you can be bothered with doing it all I would look for a different house. Can I ask how you know its a tortoise and not a rabbit room or other small animal?

You can see the tortoise under the window in a box

I guess it will need an industrial level clean? Presumably the seller will leave it clean and non smelly.

That fireplace would be more concerning.

You can see the tortoise under the hide

There's a tortoise visible in the photo, under the table.

Under a stool rather, not in a box

Bedroom 1! They’ve given the master bedroom to a tortoise!

Careful about online viewing. That house might be smelly and needs to be verified in person!

The tortoise wouldn't cause issues, but that ceiling is damp. The radiator wall under the window has just been replastered, which suggests possible damp repair?

You can see the tortoise under the hide
Oh yeah I can see it now, I knew as soon as I posted it would be in the photo some where and I was just being as blind as a bat

@Hellocatshome because of the tortoises in the picture? 😉
Wonder why they aren’t outside?
Anyway they are quite clean and non smelly animals. I would think the room would be OK once the matting had been pulled up. Mould notwithstanding.

I’m only interested if they are leaving the tortoise. I’m disappointed TORTOISE ROOM was not listed with the other property highlights when it is surely the most characterful feature of the house.

@PeterPomegranate

Bedroom 1! They’ve given the master bedroom to a tortoise!

Brilliant

Tortoise breeder here. The floor is covered in Lino, this room is for a leopard tortoise ( African species) , they need to be kept warm over winter and a bedroom is perfect. I really wouldn't be worried.

Why is the poor tortoise not hibernating at this time of year? Ours always would be.

Anyway, needless to say I love the idea of a tortoise room. They don’t smell, and the floor looks well protected.

I'd be more concerned about the mould on the ceiling.

Tortoises are vegetarian so their poo is a bit like cow-dung - not exactly pleasant but nowhere near as smelly as carnivore poo. Their wee is like bird wee - white and mucusy - it's not going to soak in and smell like, say, cat wee.

It looks as though they've taken the decision to over-winter their tortoises in a heated room, rather than hibernating them - not sure why - possibly they are tropical tortoises rather than mediterranean tortoises. Most people nowadays hibernate their mediterraneans in a fridge.