In a home that stands empty for stretches, a running toilet can go unheard for months — and in a villa it can be heard by somebody else entirely.
The bathroom nobody uses
Worth walking the house and simply listening at each bathroom before you leave, or asking whoever checks on the property to do the same. It is the most common cause of a bill that has crept up with no explanation.
Seals dry out when unused
Toilets that sit unflushed for weeks can develop small leaks as seals dry and shrink, and trap water evaporates so odour returns. Flushing every fixture during a caretaker visit prevents both.
Original villa fittings
Villas from the seventies and eighties often have original toilets that have needed parts more than once. At that point replacing usually costs less than a third repair, and a modern one uses a fraction of the water.
Upper floors and shared buildings
A failed seal on an upper level drains into the home below. Any movement in the toilet is worth acting on immediately, because the cost multiplies once it reaches another dwelling.