Cesspit problems - any grants/cheap loans available?

caroline233

Hi all. I've been in my house for 5 years, during which time the cesspit has been constantly troublesome. It fills quite quickly and costs a lot to empty. As a result, I'm looking to have an aftermarket treatment plant installed. The problem is the cost. Having been made redundant last year, I have got another job but at half my former wage and things are really tight. I'd need therefore to find a cheap loan or preferably a grant to help towards the cost. Does anyone know if these are available? My local authority says not from them. Does anyone have any ideas please?

wealdroam

caroline233 wrote: »

Hi all. I've been in my house for 5 years, during which time the cesspit has been constantly troublesome. It fills quite quickly and costs a lot to empty. As a result, I'm looking to have an aftermarket treatment plant installed. The problem is the cost. Having been made redundant last year, I have got another job but at half my former wage and things are really tight. I'd need therefore to find a cheap loan or preferably a grant to help towards the cost. Does anyone know if these are available? My local authority says not from them. Does anyone have any ideas please?

Increasing your mortgage will probably be the most cost effective loan you can get.

daniel80

Don`t know about you but mine was being emptied about every 8 weeks, more with continual rain. We looked into a sewage treatment plant but had trouble because back garden was small and no room for a soakaway. We have now had a plant fitted and the soakaway is in the front drive which meant running a pipe from the bottom of the back garden round to the front soakaway. The plant sits in the old cesspool and works with a submersible pump. This should now only have to be pumped every 2-3 years. Cost about 4.5k but won`t take to long to pay for it`s self.

caroline233

Thanks. I guess you've confirmed what I was thinking about how to pay for it but was hoping to find a grant to avoid spending my own money! Extending the mortgage is likely to be my next move and I'm glad to hear from daniel80 that it's worth doing. Cheers.

Davesnave

caroline233 wrote: »

Thanks. I guess you've confirmed what I was thinking about how to pay for it but was hoping to find a grant to avoid spending my own money! Extending the mortgage is likely to be my next move and I'm glad to hear from daniel80 that it's worth doing. Cheers.

Why on earth should there be a grant available to change from a cesspit to some other type of drainage?

If you buy a house with an cess pit, you know it will be an extra recurring expense, and as a result, the price will surely reflect this. It's like purchasing a property with any outmoded and/or undesirable feature.

You should , therefore, see a return on what you spend in the long term, and on eventual selling price too.

phill99

Welcome to the world of home ownership.

27col

I wouldn't expect to get a grant if my drains were defective. I would pay for it myself. Where does it end?
Next thing, people will be looking for a grant to improve their kitchen or redecorate their living room. It's all part of the cost of home ownership.
I know! You could try a crowd funding appeal.

jakemillspaek

The OP was only asking.
An option would be to radically increase the size of the tank.

phill99

jakemillspaek wrote: »

The OP was only asking.
An option would be to radically increase the size of the tank.

.....or radically eat less.

The_Last_Username

Out of interest only, are you aware of how a septic tank is supposed to work?

No I'm not being funny - but when we first moved into our property we had no idea and we had problems.
It turns out that the soakaways in ours were blocked (do not ask what with!) and it took three years of regular draining to solve the problem (and nothing else.;) ) followed by increased awareness of what NOT to put into the toilet & drains.
See:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuORuwb4cfs

www.scottishwater.co.uk/you-and-your-home/septic-tank-emptying/your-questions-answered


It is widely recommended that you empty your tank every one to two years depending upon size of tank & number of occupants.

daniel80

She has a cesspit not a septic tank