Septic tank

[GARYF123]

Hi.
Looking for some advice please.
We are trying to purchase a Railway cottage which is about 125 years old. It is 1 of 7 cottages and has a shared septic tank (original brick unit). The tank is located on nearby recreation ground which is owned by the parish council who also own 2 of the cottages. We are trying to get evidence of it being compliant which is proving very difficult as the parish will not let a third party organize an inspection due to inconvenience to residents! They are saying that they think it is compliant on all of the rules with the exception of the flow rate/cubic capacity of the unit. They are willing to get tests done but not until the middle of next year due to weather and damage to the playing fields bringing plant over it. This obviously does not help me as my buyer will pull out if he has to wait that long. I am willing to still proceed without the inspection knowing that i will be in for a share of the cost of replacement if deemed too small or whatever. My question is, can anybody give a very rough ballpark figure for a worst case scenario involving total replacement? as i said, there are 5 x 2 bedroom cottages and 2 cottages that have been converted to changing rooms/shower block for local sports teams. I am just trying to work out my total financial risk if i go ahead.
Many thanks in advance.

Gary.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

An old brick septic tank, is highly unlikely to be compliant. The fact the Council are already stalling may well mean they've 'inside information' that the thing is past its useful life, and are panicking about their share of the liability for replacement. You don't need heavy plant to tell if it is compliant or not, just take a sample of the outgoing effluent, if that fails, then the tanks will be condemned, end of.

Given it will need to be taking possibly considerable higher flows when sports events etc are taking place, you'd be looking at something bigger than normal to be capable of taking the extra volume in peak periods, it would also need a power supply for pump/motor/blower unit, and the associated legal paperwork drawn up about ownership, maintenance, ongoing costs etc. Also, bear in mind those using Public Facilities are a lot less bothered about what they chuck down the WC than those in private Dwellings, who would be more conscious of the fact they are reliant of the septic tank/packaged treatment plant for sewage disposal.

Personally think you might be looking at writing someone a blank cheque here, I would proceed with extreme caution. Ultimately, if the property means that much, I would scope out the options for coming off the shared tank and fitting your own, if that would be feasible.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

To give you an idea, if you want to sit in an armchair while someone else does all the work, you're probably looking at roughly £15-20k for a single house system, depending on the complexity. If you don't have the means of disposal, e.g. access to a water course or space/drainage for a percolation field then this may not be an option.

If there's a council of parish busybodies involved then the sky's the limit, it's possible that your one seventh of a shared system could end up costing more than this by the time they've employed consultants, counted newts and checked the diversity awareness of the contractors.

It's possible that they may question whether you should contribute to the repair/replacement of the existing system even if you do get your own, they could claim it still remains partly yours. Get legal advice, I've heard of this happening but don't know how it works, as thankfully we got a house with its own useless system but with access to a water course.