Shared Septic Tank, Neighbours refusing to pay to empty it.

Zebhog

We share a septic tank with our neighbours which is on our land. It serves 2 houses and we each have an equal number of bedrooms and people living in them. We both recently bought our respective houses and at the time both of us signed a deed of easement to say that we would allow them to use the septic tank and that they would pay their share of the maintenance. The tank now needs emptying as it is full up and also full of things that have no right to be in a septic tank. Talking to the old owners, who live next door it was last emptied about 8 years ago. We are also in a water protection zone so it is important that the tank is well maintained as we could get fined. Neither of us pay for sewage with the waterboard.

Our neighbours are refusing to pay their share of the emptying costs and also for some of the drains to be jet blasted as they have a limescale build up. It is probably going to be about £200 each which for 8 years of sewage I don't think is that bad! I don't quite understand why they think they don't have to pay but as they have screamed at us that we are on a hiding to nowhere if we think we can make them pay they obviously feel very strongly about not having to pay to have their waste dealt with.

Has anyone had this issue and how did you resolve it?

Thanks

I_have_spoken

Send them a signed-for letter informing them you intend to withdraw the easement on such and such a day if they refuse to pay and you'll cap-off their pipe work at the border of your land.

They'll have nowhere to go, quite literally.

mcpitman

I_have_spoken wrote: »

Send them a signed-for letter informing them you intend to withdraw the easement on such and such a day if they refuse to pay and you'll cap-off their pipe work at the border of your land.

They'll have nowhere to go, quite literally.

Agree with this, i hope they have a paddle to help them up sh*t creek!

DRP

I_have_spoken wrote: »

Send them a signed-for letter informing them you intend to withdraw the easement on such and such a day if they refuse to pay and you'll cap-off their pipe work at the border of your land.

They'll have nowhere to go, quite literally.

It does sound like OP has all the leverage in this situation, so this sounds sensible (after all the normal, friendly options have been exhausted).

Odd that given their situation, the neighbours are kicking up a stink - has there been some other dispute that is making them unreasonable about this particular matter?

J_B

Going slightly off topic but why do you think it 'needs emptying'?

A septic tank should always be full - it then breaks down all the solids which then soak away.

I do, however suspect that it may be a good idea to empty it occasionally especially if, as you say it has things that 'shouldn't be there'!!

Biggles

J_B wrote: »

Going slightly off topic but why do you think it 'needs emptying'?

You may be bang on topic - maybe that's what the neighbour's objection is, as we don't know?

Rain_Shadow

DRP wrote: »

Odd that given their situation, the neighbours are kicking up a stink - has there been some other dispute that is making them unreasonable about this particular matter?

They will be soon if the OP caps their pipework.

roddydogs

& how much will it cost to "Cap it off"? sounds expensive, as its a horrible job.

Hoploz

Things that shouldn't be there ... That makes me wonder whether the neighbour is not treating the drains appropriately. Does this mean nappies and other things which people sometimes put down toilets and shouldn't? Because with a septic system the user needs to be aware that only the 'basics' should go down it! And if they use bleach it could cause problems etc.

If this can't be resolved by a normal conversation then I think I would certainly consider a letter withdrawing rights from the neighbour. Not because they won't pay for occasional emptying, but because they are not using the system correctly, which is impacting on the owner.

frankie

The tank while not need emptying may need to be de-sludged to get all the horrible stuff out that shouldn't be in it!

Browntoa

My brother had a similar thing but it was the person who's land it was on who wouldn't pay so had put his own in on his land

I'm with the others , letter giving notice of XXX days to withdraw agreement to access your septic tank due to non payment of bills and that come said date the pipework accessing your property will be disconnected and capped at the border