Does anybody know what this is please?

[Seb66]

Hello
We are in the process of buying a house which has this in the attic. It appears to be packed with straw and held together with some kind of casing. Is it an old water tank? The house has a combi boiler downstairs and so would the tank be disconnected? We're a bit worried too that there are lots of flies in the property which has been empty for a while and that they are breeding there!

It does look like an old tank. Can you find any old pipework underneath? If so and it is no longer required a plumber could disconnect it.

I wouldn't think flies would be breeding there unless there was something for them to feed on like a mouse or squirrel that crept in and died. Is there a bad smell?

Doesn’t the vendor know? 🤔

Theres the remnant of a pipe coming out of the side so it probably is the old CWT . They are often left in situ as they are too large to get through the loft hatch without cutting up. ( we have one)

I think your flies are more likely to be because of the not very new or clean state of the loft, something is probably dead in it’s one time nest …..

I

A nice loft conversion project

Old cold water tank. Dead rodent(s) causing flies. insulation needs removing, loft cleaning, and tank cutting up/removing. Loft could do with boarding (luxury) and needs new insulation. A lot to spend on a loft! Negotiate with seller

Don't just cut the tank up without getting it checked first, many old ones contain asbestos and have to be done professionally (think they seal in a bag before breaking up to contain it all)

Thank you for your replies. Was the straw there to keep the water warm? Unfortunately the snags with the purchase due to the chain mean that the seller doesn't want to negotiate on its removal.

I think I'll withhold the information of the dead wildlife in the loft from my partner, but thanks!

No smell. Yes I think that the loft need work but I'm glad we know what it is now.

That looks like the one we have in our loft. The straw is to stop it freezing. You will have trouble with removing it, as someone else said it might be an asbestos issue or just a massive fire hazard to cut it up in the loft. We’ve been advised to just leave ours alone after the pipes have all been disconnected. I can’t imagine the vendor agreeing to remove if they have had similar advice that we had.

Yes, that makes sense. I think it needs a professional to look at it and in the meanwhile just leave it alone, as you say.

Are there any rat droppings in the loft? I had a fly problem and it turned out to be due to rats nesting in the loft.

Got one in my loft and not planning on doing a thing with it. Not worth the time or money, unless a loft conversion is planned. Are the flies in the loft? Or in the house?

If there are live flies, they're due to eggs laying flies in something, likely a dead rodent, and then hatching. They won't be coming from the water tank, other than the straw will be making a very cosy nest for someone.

It definitely looks like a CWT which has been lagged with straw and boarding to keep the straw in place and bound together.

I would suggest you remove the board and straw and clean up around it. If the tank looks like asbestos, it will be fine if you don't break it up. Get it out in one piece if you can using correct PPE (read up on HSE website). Otherwise leave in situ.

If you decide to convert the loft, chances are it will be dropped out when the ceilings are removed and can then be wrapped and disposed of. Most Councils will take it as hazardous waste.

We left ours until we were doing a loft conversion then we had it removed at that point since half of the roof was removed at the time.

No smell or rat droppings but no lining under tiles either so I guess its just a winter home for insects. The flies were in the house too, mostly dead. I don't think the house has been lived in for a long time.
Yes I think I'll just leave the tank be for now.