Rented property - sewage responsibility?!

code-a-holic

Hi.
We have a private cess pit in our rented home but who should be emptying it. Theres no mention of it in the tenancy. We have been here 2 years and it has not been done. Never been in a house with a private tank before! At least i assume its private. Detached country position and closest neighbour has her's collected so assuming!
If it is down to us - how much am i likely to have to pay? Will eb ringing around tomorrow but would like to arm myself with information first!
Thanks in advance

clutton_2

what does it say in the tenancy agreement ?

there are two views - if it is not mentioned in the agreement, it should probably be the responsibility of the landlord.

If the agreement stipulates that all utilities are responsibility of the tenant then it is down to you - the fact that it is private, is not relevant, as you would normally be paying for water and sewage services to your local water board.

Some local councils operate this service, or can reccomend a good company - correct disposal of the "matter" is crucial in these environmentally sensitive times.

zar

Our landlady paid when the septic tank needed doing a couple of months ago, which she was happy with especially as it hadn't ever been done before (it was a few years old - they shouldn't need doing often but it depends on size etc.). It was about £100 I think. If its a cess pit I think you would have had to empty it by now (they just hold the sewage whereas septic tanks let the water out and naturally "treat" it, if I understand correctly).

david29dpo

it likely to be a septic tank, not a cess pit. if so, depending on its size and how many people using it, it may not need emptying for 10 years. i pay £120 to have mine emptied

pingua

I reckon it woud be the landlord.