Landlord Turns up on doorstep requesting £150, where do we stand? (sewerage charges)

Notmyrealname

Gothpugs wrote: »

It says we have to pay sewerage charges "where applicable", it does not say anywhere that we are applicable.

ROFL. So you don't have any waste water? Of course you so it is applicable.

lfc321

It sounds to me like you are required to pay your share of the costs of maintaining the septic tank, but the landlord shouldn't really just be turning up on the doorstep asking you to hand over the cash - you should be invoiced in the proper way. Whether or not you choose to make an issue of this depends on your relationship with your landlord.

As others have said, it's also worth trying to find out why the septic tank (if that's what it is) needs to be emptied so frequently - at our previous house (four houses fed into a septic tank) it only needed to be emptied every 10 years or more. It never needed doing in the 5 years we lived there, so while we were theoretically liable for it we never actually had to pay anything towards it. Probably the tenants that followed us will have to - you win some, you lose some.

Gothpugs

There are 5 properties in the courtyard but two are empty at the minute, and have been for months, so I cannot understand why it needs emptying three times a year.

I have spoken to the tenant in one of the other houses and their contract DOES state a price of £50 for emptying the septic tank three times yearly, whereas ours does not mention it at all

Fire_Fox

E-mail your landlord and ask for an invoice plus clarification on what you need to be doing to minimise emptying the septic tank. Be sure the other neighbours have received the same guidance, there is every chance they would like to pay less for sewerage.

notrouble

There are 3 issues here:
1) Is the OP liable for cost of waste water/sewerage (in this case via septic tank)? Clearly yes.

2) Is it appropriate/necessary to empty the tank 3 time a year? If septic tank (not cesspit) unlikely. Query this with LL and other owners/tenants. Consider getting an exper opinion - environmental Health? Council/private company that does the pump-out?

3) Is it appropriate for LL to demand instant payment on the doorstep? Clearly no. An invoice should be submitted with an appropriate timescal for payment (7 days? 21?)

JQ.

OP - you do realise that if you did not have a septic tank you would be paying the Water Co for the removal of your waste rather than the farmer? All that's happening is that you're paying the bill to a different person.

Anyone on here actually know what most Water Co's charge for waste removal? My guess is it's more than £150.

JQ.

MSE comes up trumps :

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/cut-water-bills

"Do you have a cesspit or septic tank?

If you're in an area with no connection to mains sewerage, so have a cesspit or septic tank, you don't have to pay sewerage charges. This only applies to a handful of people. But if you do have one you're entitled to between £110-£220 off, depending on which water company serves you."

As I said in my post above, the OP's probably not out of pocket, just paying a different person. The above article would appear to confirm that point of view. If the rebate in their area is £220 then they're making a nice profit.

mulronie

Simple really - pay up or see your deposit disappear.

I doubt the Deposit Protection Service would buy your argument that you don't... er... make use of sewerage services!

Debt_Free_Chick

Gothpugs wrote: »

• The rent payable

£399 Monthly
Excluding WATER RATES INCLUDING SEWERAGE AND ENVIROMENTAL CHARGES

The rent does not include water, sewerage or environmental charges

3(c) Services
(iii) To pay for all services to the property: the gas, electricity, water rates including sewerage and enviromental services (if applicable and if not included in the rent) council tax (or any other property tax) telephone line rental and call charges, television license fee and satellite cable fee if installed

You have to pay for all the services - gas, electricity, water, sewerage etc in addition to the rent.

The sewerage charges are both applicable and not included in the rent, so payable in addition.