Stopcock....

[DosAmigos]

I have a flat in a block and am a leaseholder. The stopcock is seized solid and will not close. I pay a monthly service charge to the Property Management Company and consider that the cost of replacing/repairing the stopcock should be paid by them, or is this down to me ?

[woofgang]

have you tried spraying it with wd40 or similar, waiting about 20 minutes then tapping with a hammer, GENTLY on the side of one end of the t bar of the tap. Tap on one side and then the other. If you think that the tap is fully open tap towards closed, otherwise do gentle alternate taps. This freed off my stuck totally solid stopcock

[DosAmigos]

I have tried wd40 and plusgas and trying to ease manually. I had a bad experience some years ago when the brass stopcock tap sheared off - with a flood going on in the bathroom! I'll dig my hammer out and cross my fingers - thanks woofgang!

[woofgang]

yes, never ever put a shifter on a stuck tap unless you like water ballet. The hammer trick can work and is much safer but you have to tap gently.

[deggers316]

i would put a block of wood or something solid in the centre of the tap if its in a position so you can do that before using a hammer on it less chance of straining everything

[deggers316]

that should read under the centre of the tap

[ummmm]

Our water company fixed ours. Ours is in the street though, if that makes a difference.

[woofgang]

umm you should have one in the hose as well, that stopcock belongs to the waterboard

[The Builder]

It'll depend on your Agreement with the Management Company. Most likely though, is that they are responsible for the "Common Parts" such as common stairs, roof etc.
I would guess that, inside the flat will be your responsibility.
If there is cupboard in the Common Parts somewhere which houses the valves for all the flats, then that would probably be their responsibility.

[DosAmigos]

Thanks builder. I think I expect that..... ;(

[woofgang]

How did it go, did you fix it?

[ummmm]

Apparently so woof. We just don't know where it is.