Shared Septic Tank

ripplyuk

Same here. I lived in an old farmhouse and the septic tank only needed emptying once in 14 years. The landlord said it had never been emptied before so who knows how long? He described it as 'self treating' and the tank was in the middle of the drain field.

teffers

Thanks guys

It's the shared aspect that's concerning me most, and if the tank is towards the end of it's life - replacement costs etc.

davidmcn

If there is a "difficult" neighbour, other issues are more likely to cause a problem before the tank needs attention.

And yes, the costs are almost certainly split equally - never encountered a situation where anyone tried to meter which house is putting more into the tank!

AdrianC

davidmcn wrote: »

never encountered a situation where anyone tried to meter which house is putting more into the tank!

What a, umm, lovely mental image that raises.

AnotherJoe

downshifter wrote: »

Agree, hardly ever needs emptying. Also they're pretty forgiving, I use bleach etc despite all the advice on the 'interworrynet' (great word that!). I once lived in a row of terraced houses on mains drainage, they were all linked and one person used to put sanitary towels and wipes down, so we all ended up paying a fortune for drainarod or whassername to clear it out. Nobody ever admitted being the guilty one. Cost far more than a septic tank to fix.

It's part of rural ways, not better or worse - just different from urban life. A non-issue.

I don't understand why "paying a fortune" to have it frequently fixed, and presumably it frequently blocking, is a "non issue" ?

downshifter

Think you're picking on this issue unfairly. You say the house is a compromise, perhaps you'd be better thinking a bit more about the reasons behind that statement. There are other downsides to rural living, lots of them, no shops, no buses, nightmare broadband and mobile phone signals, difficult communities to break into etc etc. Huge petrol bills, too much snow, I could go on for ever. (But I love it though you wouldn't believe it from that!)

The septic tank is a non-issue as I said, I'd think about those other things which might rankle after you've lived there for a bit, you can compromise on lots of things but you don't sound 100% smitten on this property.

downshifter

AnotherJoe wrote: »

I don't understand why "paying a fortune" to have it frequently fixed, and presumably it frequently blocking, is a "non issue" ?

I was describing how a house I lived in on mains drainage blocked constantly, and cost a fortune - far more than any septic tank I've had. Sorry if my post wasn't clear.

Davesnave

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I seem to recall Davesnave has one at his house? - my memory may not be serving me right on that....

So perhaps he has some idea.

I do indeed. But I also have a very good solicitor.

Haven't read the rest of the thread yet, but when this came up during our purchase, our solicitor just said "This isn't acceptable!" to the clause that tied us to next door for ever in relation to sewage treatment/disposal.

As it didn't serve the other property too well either, with agreement, this clause was removed from the title docs.

Roll on 5 years or so, and there was a problem caused by next door not maintaining their tank (seperate tanks & shared drainage field.) The owner of next door steadfastly maintained that septic tanks never need to be emptied, and nothing would persuade her otherwise.....well, not until we threatened to convert to our own treatment plant, leaving her to work out her own destiny!

Had the original clause in the title remained, this option and the leverage it gave us, would have been non-existent.

Things are fine now. New drainage field done cheaply via neighbours relatives.;)

rosyw

At my old place we had a shared tank with next door, never really caused any issues tbh. It's not hugely expensive to get the tank emptied, similarly if there seems to be a blockage anywhere jetting isn't too expensive either so if the neighbours don't pay up it's not a massive financial burden, we only ever had that happen once and felt it wasn't worth falling out over £30! I also agree that they don't need to be emptied every year, we left ours for 5 or 6 usually with no problems. Providing the tank is the correct size I don't see it being an issue.

AnotherJoe

downshifter wrote: »

I was describing how a house I lived in on mains drainage blocked constantly, and cost a fortune - far more than any septic tank I've had. Sorry if my post wasn't clear.

Oops, I've reread your post and it was my reading that was unclear, not your writing
So, all my bad.