How can I turn this water off?

[addler]

Trying to replace very corroded toilet bolts that have been making the toilet leak. One has now fallen out completely.

I'm struggling to turn the water supply to the toilet off however, there only seems to be this coming out of the toilet- is this how I'm meant to turn it off, or is the actual stop valve located underneath this stupid box that's at the bottom and is sealed tight?

I tried to locate the main water supply tap, the only thing I can find in our flat that looks like it could be it is this tap inside a cupboard in the hallway outside the bathroom. Is this it? I can't turn it regardless, it's stuck fast both ways and didn't want to force it.

It's a rented flat inside a converted building, the water meter is outside the flat in a locked cupboard in the building hallway.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! I know it's a pretty easy job replacing the bolts so it's annoying that I can't even get to that part yet. Unless anyone knows some magic way I can do it without turning the water off?

I've done more googling and I think the flat head bit might be an isolation valve! Off to try if I can turn it off. Hopefully it's as simple as that!

Still no luck, it won't turn. Guess I need some wd40?

@PigletJohn might be able to help?

Yes, that might help
but...what has the landlord said?

I mean yes re the valve and WD40, sorry, should have quoted!

We have property managers and they have to speak to the landlord instead of us, currently waiting on hearing back from them but it's already been two days without a response and I'd quite like to use the toilet. We have another one so it's not classes as an emergency, it's just handy as I'm heavily pregnant and it's the closest one to the bed!

Those valves rapidly fur up and then can't be turned. Ideally they should be opened and closed every few months and WD Silicon is good to maintain.

If it won't turn, don't force it as it will need replacing. Turn the supply off at the mains water tap coming into the house

yes it is. you turn it only a quarter of a turn, so the slot is (in your case) horizontal on the vertical pipe.

the slot indicates the direction of the little orifice inside through which water flows.

you need a large screwdriver that is a proper fit and has a good handle.

also, there is (should be) a stopcock inside your home that will turn off the water supply. It is most likely under the sink, or in the place where the sink used to be when the house was built. sometimes it is hidden in the bathroom. there will also be one outside the home, in the ground.

Stopcocks are (almost) invariably brass and have a "T" handle. They have a unique shape. The flat side in the "in" side and the sloping side is the "out" side.

p.s.

the little valve is, as Marie says, likely to be jammed. Very likely it is one of the very cheap ones costing about ten pounds a dozen, which sometimes leak for no reason, and sometimes leak if you touch them. Better ones are available but if you are at the mercy of a landlord's agent you may have little influence.

if a plumber turns the main stopcock for you, the thing to rememember is that it never needs to be turned hard to open. Turn it fully open, then back half a turn. when they are opened tightly, they are prone to jam, as you have found. they are often not turned again for 20 years or more.

Thanks all for your help everyone!

Under the sink is just these two, nothing with a t handle. The only one I can find inside the flat like that is inside the hallway cupboard outside the bathroom, up high.

That's also stuck, would WD40 help with that one?

Or is it looking likely we'll have to wait until the landlords get in touch and send someone out?

taps are purposely made watertight, so oil sprays unlikely to get inside to the jammed parts.

please take a better pic, closer and with better lighting.

look at how the pipes are fixed to the wall, which governs how much force you can apply without bending or breaking them.

do you have any tools?

the two sink valves look to me like there is one each for the hot sink tap and the cold sink tap. Follow the pipes to see where they go.

"Trying to replace very corroded toilet bolts that have been making the toilet leak. One has now fallen out completely.

I'm struggling to turn the water supply to the toilet off however"

have you tied up the float in the cistern?