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Original poster

Deal breaker - large fish pond and hot tub?

35 replies

soupsong · 07/05/2025 09:04

I have seen a house I like and it has a lovely garden. However it has a large working pond with massive fish plus a full size hot tub. I know zero about keeping fish and don’t know if the hot tub even works at this stage.

Owner wants to leave both. I get that for some people this would be a bonus but I’m not sure I want either tbh. I know my DC would love the hot tub but in the current financial climate not sure I could afford to run it even if it is in full working order.
That then of course raises the issue of removal and costs etc. same goes for the pond.

Would this out you off buying?

OP posts:
Dairymilkisminging · 07/05/2025 09:06

You could remove the fish and just have the pond as a wildlife pond.

Favouritefruits · 07/05/2025 09:07

If the hot tub is in working order it’ll be easy to get rid of! The pond does it Include the fish?

TheSandgroper · 07/05/2025 09:07

Find out what fish they are, go to a facebook page for owners and see if there is money to be made selling them or if someone might just take them off your hands. Koi can be good money.

Someone might also buy all the kit involved, too. Same with the hot tub. List it somewhere at a knockdown price and it will go soon enough and at least you will get something for it.

andweallloveclover · 07/05/2025 09:07

Nope. Not at all. If you don't want the hot tub you don't have to have it. You can ask for them to take it with them. Its theirs not yours and theirs to dispose of if you don't want it included in the sale.

The fish pond is also easy enough to deal with. You can find someone to have the fish and then get it properly filled in. You could even ask the current owners of the property to have the fish removed before you move in maybe? Again, if you don't want them you don't have to have them.

Favouritefruits · 07/05/2025 09:08

Just reread your post…. Any local aquatic shop will gladly take the fish they won’t believe their luck!

Moonshinerso · 07/05/2025 09:10

If the fish are koi they are really expensive when large.

Doggymummar · 07/05/2025 09:11

My parents had this when selling, the buyer had children and didn't want the risk. It was made a condition of sale that they were gone on completion. Dad sold the fish, for thousands they were Koi and also the hot tub was taken by someone on FB. Not a deal breaker at all. If the owner can't be arsed to re-home the fish, then yes dedlbreajer for you.

Original poster
soupsong · 07/05/2025 09:13

Well, this is all very encouraging! Didn’t occur to me that someone might want the fish. I need to find out what they are; all I know is that they are huge monsters! 😂

OP posts:
Movinghouseatlast · 07/05/2025 09:14

You coukd sell the hot tub if you don't want it. You coukd also sell the fish. The pond will look after itself on the whole without the fish.

Original poster
soupsong · 07/05/2025 09:17

The pond looks like it has been purpose built into the side of decking. It has power to it as I could hear water constantly trickling

OP posts:
Favouritefruits · 07/05/2025 09:17

soupsong · 07/05/2025 09:13

Well, this is all very encouraging! Didn’t occur to me that someone might want the fish. I need to find out what they are; all I know is that they are huge monsters! 😂

Honestly if they are large they are worth a small fortune! People will collect!

dogcatkitten · 07/05/2025 09:19

soupsong · 07/05/2025 09:13

Well, this is all very encouraging! Didn’t occur to me that someone might want the fish. I need to find out what they are; all I know is that they are huge monsters! 😂

If they are really big and colourful they are probably koi, and as others have said could be worth hundreds each, someone will love them. We have quite big goldfish in our pond, a mixture of various types which are quite colourful but much easier to look after and not anything like as valuable, but I'm sure someone would take them if we wanted rid.

GetMeOutOfHere20 · 07/05/2025 09:20

Is the pond covered? Our local heron likes to take the odd fish from neighbour’s ponds 😂

nomchonge1 · 07/05/2025 11:00

Sell the fish! They are probably koi carp and as PP said, worth a lot of money! Someone will come and collect them. Likewise the hot tub

KievLoverTwo · 07/05/2025 11:18

The fish pond could probably be turned into a water feature, and if you don't want to sell the fish, a local heron will gladly take them off your hands (even in a city!) :)

The hot tub - seen loads and loads of those for sale for cheap on FB marketplace, usually by people who have had to have them lifted in with a crane to get them into their back gardens. So, think of exit access to get it out before agreeing to do anything about that, or if it can be taken apart, etc? Idk, as never owned one.

TheCurious0range · 07/05/2025 11:21

If they've had to have the hot tub craned in, I wouldn't buy the house unless it was guaranteed to be gone. The fish are easily shifted and profitable

housethatbuiltme · 07/05/2025 11:43

Are you sure they aren't taking the fish?

Most people don't leave there pets when moving, you wouldn't ask what to do with the owner dog when they move etc...

As people have said they are very expensive pets too, so I wouldn't assume they come with the property its not like finding out a house has bats in the attic they went to great lengths to own them and they are usually sentimental gifts.

Freddy Mercury famously had a Koi pond and was gifted fish by loved ones, his fish where valued at over a million pound (£11,000+ per fish and that was many years ago).

KievLoverTwo · 07/05/2025 11:51

If a seller wanted me to take on a bunch of expensive, large koi, I think I'd have to stipulate as part of the contract 'all 8 koi must be alive, in good health and as seen on 7th May, i.e. all over 30cm in length.'

Otherwise you could find they all develop a mysterious illness the day before completion 'and it was kinder to kill them.'

It's a horrible though, but people ARE horrible when it comes to selling houses sometimes. Never thought I'd read threads where door hardware, light switches and even doors themselves have been removed, and yet, I have read those threads!

GoldDuster · 07/05/2025 11:57

Fish/pond not an issue, hot tub might be, as previous have said may have been craned in, check this. Also the bottom has fallen out of the hot tub market completely since the power costs went up, that's an albatross round your neck. I'd insist it was removed as a condition of the sale if you don't want it left.

MoistVonL · 07/05/2025 11:57

Raised ponds rarely have issues with heron because they wade in, they don’t like a big step down.

Our pond with koi gets heron perched on the fence looking down, but in 12 years never actually managed to take a fish

It’s absolutely no bother. We “adopted” a number of fish from a neighbour who was moving and the new owners didn’t want to have fish.

Even if you don’t find someone to buy them, there’s usually someone who can give them a home.

Original poster
soupsong · 07/05/2025 13:47

The pond isn’t covered so possibly not Koi? Just monster goldfish maybe?! Will need to find out more.

Also good point about finding out how the hot tub was installed; it’s a huge square one so can’t have been simple.

OP posts:
Original poster
soupsong · 07/05/2025 13:50

Am about to make an offer; do I need to take these points into consideration with what I go in with?

OP posts:
floppybit · 07/05/2025 13:52

It’s a real shame to get rid of the pond when wildlife is struggling so much, you might have frogspawn in there!

Sourisblanche · 07/05/2025 13:55

For the house I’m currently about to complete on, the owner asked me if I wanted to keep the fish in the pond and I said yes. I had an email today actually that there will be a couple of months fish food supply left for me.

The pond also had a fake heron next to it!

Good luck with your offer

Catandsquirrel · 07/05/2025 13:57

I don't know much about keeping fish but koi carp should be saleable and you could put some native plants in and have a wildlife pond. You can some beautiful plants that would be great for local wildlife. Those take very little maintenance.

Or, maybe speak to a pond centre and ask about how to maintain a carp pond, see what they say. It might not be a big deal just to keep them happy in there

I'd ask about having the hot tub removed pre sale if you don't want it though, depends how it was brought it and assembled, how much of a pain in the arse that will be. They may agree if it's put other buyers off. Could be good fun for a couple of years though if the kids are old enough to be safe. I'm not sure it would be a deal-breaker for me of the house is otherwise on point.