Lock up your loo seats - 22 April 2004
New survey reveals Brits take everything - AND the kitchen sink – when they move.About to move into a new house? Well, don’t assume carpets, light bulbs or even the toilet seat will be there when you arrive. A survey by Yellow Pages has found that when it comes to moving out, many British home owners behave like locusts, stripping their houses back to the bare boards.
To find out more about the etiquette of moving, Yellow Pages surveyed a cross section of UK estate agents to discover the items most likely to be removed.
While someone relocating may be forgiven for taking their curtains and light fittings, the research revealed some of the more extreme items taken during a sale. Unorthodox removals included catflaps, plug sockets and wiring, burglar alarms, keys for window locks, dustbins and even door bells.
Almost half of the estate agents surveyed (46 per cent) reported instances where vendors had removed single light bulbs, while several knew of cases where movers had taken the kitchen sink.
More than a third (38 per cent) had encountered house sales where the humble toilet roll holder was taken from the bathroom, while almost one in five reported cases where the toilet seat disappeared. In one extreme instance, a toilet u-bend was removed. In several cases, estate agents reported instances when both the boiler and radiators were taken from a property. In one case, a house’s loft insulation was removed.
And it’s not just the inside of the house that’s at risk - gardens are also prime targets. Shrubs and trees are commonly on the removal list, along with garden sheds, garden gates, ponds and patio slabs. One estate agent cited an instance where a vendor had taken his lawn with him.
Yellow Pages conducted the study to encourage thrifty vendors to do the decent thing and leave their Yellow Pages directory behind. Not only can Yellow Pages help the new owners to replace their missing items, it is also an invaluable one-stop guide to businesses, services and leisure activities in their area.
The top 10 items most likely to be taken are:
Rank | Item removed | % of Estate Agents aware of a sale where item was removed |
1 | Curtains | 88% |
2 | Curtain Rails | 67% |
3 | Light Fittings | 64% |
4 | Carpets | 55% |
5 | Garden Flowers | 54% |
6 | Light Bulbs | 46% |
7 | Toilet Roll Holder | 38% |
8 | Fireplace | 29% |
9 | Yellow Pages Directory | 19% |
10 | Toilet Seat | 18% |
“The lengths that some people go to in removing even the most insignificant items from their properties are amazing,” said Richard Duggleby, head of external relations at Yell, publisher of Yellow Pages directories. “Moving can be an extremely stressful experience, but if people leave their Yellow Pages behind at least the new owners can locate businesses and services in their area and maybe even the nearest yoga centre to help them relax again.”
Peter Bolton King, chief executive officer of the National Association of Estate Agents, added: “Although there are no hard and fast rules about what people should and shouldn’t leave behind, you’d hope that common courtesy at least would ensure your new property hasn’t been completely stripped bare. Our advice to home buyers is to take a good look at the property just before completion and take photographs if necessary to prove items were there. If there are particular fixtures that you’d like to keep, then raise them specifically with your solicitor and ensure they are listed in the contract.”
