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Original poster

Is it acceptable to contact previous property owner?

19 replies

IrisBearded · 17/10/2023 22:35

We moved in a year ago to this old house.

We seem to have the possibility of 2 internal stopcocks, as the main kitchen stopcock doesn't shut off the water supply in the downstairs toilet and sink, which is a newish addition.

I've checked the property information form and there's no further info on there.

It would be quickest and easiest to ask the previous owner, but I've already contacted them once last year trying to locate something else. I feel a nuisance.

Would you or not?

OP posts:
Mumoftwotoddlers · 17/10/2023 22:36

I'd contact them, they should have informed you when you purchased the property

4naansjeremy · 17/10/2023 22:38

The water in the toilet could possibly be fed from a tank rather than the water main? I would be annoyed by your query. This is nothing to do with them anymore.

DaughterNo2 · 17/10/2023 22:41

Not

TheFlis · 17/10/2023 22:42

Twice in a year is hardly a big imposition on them!

JaxiiTaxii · 17/10/2023 22:47

I would.

10 seconds to reply to your question saves you & a plumber hunting about for hours.

Most people like to be helpful & would oblige.

icallitasplodge · 17/10/2023 22:48

Ours lives 5 doors down so we do it all the time!

PabloandGustheGreySquirrels · 17/10/2023 22:51

If it's just the one room that's not being switched off, then it's likely to have a stopcock near to that room! I'm guessing either behind the sink or somewhere very close to it

Original poster
IrisBearded · 17/10/2023 22:54

We'll have a look tomorrow in the daylight before bothering them. We've had a plumber out because we thought the stopcock was faulty, but he didn't have time to hunt around today.

Thank you. I'll sleep on it and decide tomorrow

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 18/10/2023 07:03

I don’t think it’s a big deal to ask.

Agree the stopcock is probably close to the sink obviously not easily visible so you need daylight to have a good hunt around.

DrySherry · 18/10/2023 09:03

If you know where your water meter is these often have a stop cock where supply enters the property. Not sure if your technically allowed to use it though as it belongs to the water co but who would know

Stephisaur · 18/10/2023 09:19

I'd have no issue with being contacted.

I spoke with the purchaser of our house earlier in the year because they couldn't work out the heating system! I was happy to help.

I regularly speak with the woman who sold us this house too, although that's more to do with the fact that she's still local and we bump into each other loads 😂

Original poster
IrisBearded · 18/10/2023 09:34

I couldn't find it this morning and so contacted the owner.

He got back to me straight away. It's in an odd place outside the toilet and we're going to have to remove skirting and flooring to get to it. Luckily the previous owner has always been fine with us throughout the purchase.

Thank you all for the advice ☺️.

OP posts:
JaxiiTaxii · 18/10/2023 11:46

Thank goodness you asked!
You'd have never found it!

Frecklespy · 18/10/2023 12:02

We have a second stopcock in our house, it's actually located in the surrounding boxed in casing that the toilet is attached to in an added on extension. Luckily we can easily remove the top to access it. The previous owner did advise us of it's existence, so I would think that your previous owner would be fine about you contacting them.

INeedAnotherName · 18/10/2023 12:05

It's in an odd place outside the toilet and we're going to have to remove skirting and flooring to get to it.
Good grief you would never have found it! Did you ask them what else is hidden? A body, pot of gold....

good96 · 18/10/2023 13:05

This is a perfect example of why you should (if you can) be on friendly terms with the previous owner of your property -
it pays to be for sure - unless they’re absolute c*cks during the process then don’t but make sure you know everything about the property you are buying first.
When we sold our rental property earlier this year I had questions from the new owner - felt like spanish inquisition and if they’d read the notes I had left them then they wouldn’t have needed to contact me as it was all there for them.

FKATondelayo · 18/10/2023 13:08

Asking where the stopcock is fine.

Writing endless pass-agg emails about the neighbour's leaking shower and the quality of the electrics 2 years after they bought the property (with a full structural survey) not fine. (Bitter).

Original poster
IrisBearded · 18/10/2023 13:16

Yes @frecklespy we did see something similar above the toilet door. It's a good job we didn't start taking all the casing apart as it wasn't there in the end.

I dread to think what else is underground in this 100yr old house 😅.

OP posts:
PositanoBay · 18/10/2023 17:05

You can but ask them!

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