Need new toilet seats?

[John Teachout]

I just signed a contract on a single family home this evening and the lady was talking about HUD and USDA requiring new toilet seats whenever there was a change in tenants. (this isn't HUD or USDA)

The toilet seats in this home are like new and I'm sure not going to replace them. I've never heard of such a thing and was just wondering if there's any validity to what she was saying? I did some searching and didn't find anything alluding to new ones being required. Just that they can't be cracked, etc. Anyone?

[Anna Watkins]

It's not a big deal.  When you buy a house (in my case, unincorporated DeKalb), in order to get water service you have to have a certificate signed by a licensed plumber, or an inspector, that the fixtures (toilet, sinks and showerheads) are all low-flow.  If if it's been just rehabbed, they're going to be that way anyway.  If not, changing everything is a couple hundred $$.  My plumber's cool, charged $25 for the signoff, and nothing when he'd done the work.

And, pretty much all over Metro Atlanta, there are rebate programs for installation of low GPF (gallons per flush) toilets in older houses.  The building supply places in your county will have info -- it's a selling point. I have replaced 3 toilets in 3 houses so far for a net cost of $0 -- buy the $99 AquaSource toilet at Lowe's (top rated) and apply for the rebate (up to $100 per toilet, and up to 3 per house built before 1959 or so).  Pulling a toilet was always on my "to do" list, so I learned how at my house and used the skill on my rentals.  The rebate doesn't need an official signature.