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

Davesnave

Sorry, but if the drains have been the present configuration some time, like 20 years, the neighbouring house may now have a prescriptive easement, in which case, blocking off theirs at the boundary might not be a wise move.

I had a similar problem with my neighbouring owner, who genuinely believed her know-it-all son's advice that these things never need emptying....until the day when the outlet became choked and we jointly had to build a new drainage field (two tanks, one outlet, all on my land.)

I gave her notice then that if there was a further problem, I'd go mini treatrment plant and she could work out her own destiny. She was very enthusiastic about the joint emptying we did last month!:rotfl:

DaftyDuck

Similar lay-out here, we have the land, and others' septic tanks drain onto it. Out of interest, a solicitor did tell one of the neighbours when they were buying to be attentive to emptying as, failure to empty (or maintain) would be one way (practically the only way) we could dump their septic tank, rather than be continually dumped on, as it were.

So, while I certainly wouldn't just cap it off, continued refusal to meet their obligations could result in loss of their legal right - which might suit you down to the ground!

nickcc

I've had a few houses with septic tanks and and all have needed emptying. Only the liquid discharges to the land but the solids stay in the tank. Where I presently live many houses are not on main drainage, we often see, and smell, tanks being emptied. Average price we paid some 10 years ago for disposal was £120.

tonyh66

septic tanks need de sludging at regular intervals,otherwise the untreated sewage doesn't get enough time to break down and flows directly into the drainage field, blocking the pipes.

unforeseen

Davesnave wrote: »

Sorry, but if the drains have been the present configuration some time, like 20 years, the neighbouring house may now have a prescriptive easement, in which case, blocking off theirs at the boundary might not be a wise move.

I think the following from the OP would quash that route

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.

So effectively neighbour is using it under licence

moneyistooshorttomention

Have you given the neighbours copies of the written quotations you have received for this?

I'm wondering if they've just been "told" this will be done (rather than consultation/negotiation on this) and not given the information to see how much it will cost.

If they have been appropriately consulted/negotiated with AND seen copies of the standard 3 written quotations for this - then my sympathies with you. If they havent been - then my sympathies with them. It's not clear how 21st century the process has been so far - ie in this day and age people expect as standard to be "consulted/negotiated with" and not "told" iyswim.

Errrrm...and they wouldnt be "up sh*t street without a paddle" actually - as they could always have a compost loo...and (kept suitably enough for long enough) bingo = compost for the garden.

EDIT; quick google and adverts brought up one for sale for £1,300.

cyclonebri1

I have no advice other than to rid yourself of your neighbours share of sheite and relocate, as in,:

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.

I simply can't imagine a worse situation, and that is without offence to you.

Davesnave

".....if the drains have been the present configuration some time, like 20 years, the neighbouring house may now have a prescriptive easement, in which case, blocking off theirs at the boundary might not be a wise move."

unforeseen wrote: »

I think the following from the OP would quash that route

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.

So effectively neighbour is using it under licence

Possibly, and that's why I was careful to say 'may' in the quote above.

For example, if these are 50 year old ex council houses, or farm estate cottages, then the legal situation could be more complex than the quote from the OP implies, but I'm no expert.

I thought the advice from some respondents was rather gung-ho and it might be useful to add a balancing comment.

Zebhog

Thank you for all your replies. To answer some questions...

The first quote we got to empty the tank was a year ago before we both bought the properties as part of the buying process - both houses used to be owned by the same family, they were originally farm worker cottages. So they were aware a year ago that it needed doing. We then got another quote about 2 months later, which they didn't agree with so they got a quote - except the company they selected didn't cover our address, so that was pointless.

We then let it rumble on and kept saying it needed doing and they kept stalling so about 6 weeks ago we wrote to them with the contact details of another company along with their quote and asked them to let us know in writing if they wanted to proceed with the quote we got, if they wanted to get an alternative quote, as long as it is from a certified company, it is part of the rules living in a water protection zone that you have a maintenance plan and use certified waste people, or to let us know if they didn't want to pay.

Unfortunately are neighbours are odd and you have conversations with them and they then deny they ever happened a day later, so I wanted their agreement in writing as I dont want to stitch the waste company up if they have no intention of paying.

We gave them a month to get back to us and then we went to see them and they said they hadn't had enough time to look at alternative quotes so we gave them another 2 weeks. They never got back to us so we saw them again which is when they started shouting that we can't make them pay blah blah blah.

The tank needs emptying as it is full of inappropriate stuff, I think it was from the previous owners as she is quite old, and it is starting to overflow into our garden and we have been advised to jet blast the pipes back to the house as they have a limescale build up and to blast the soakaway.

There are a few variables in the quote as no one knows how big the tank is and also how thick the sludge is. It is £150 per 1000 gallons - how big can a tank be?

My ideal solution would be to cut them off, but I am really not sure I can do that. This is the 2nd time that they have broken the deed of easement, the first being when they refused to allow the phone line to be fixed after they accidentally cut it in half. So if we could get the deed nullified that would be great.

Thanks

Norman_Castle

It shouldn't be your problem but is it possible they cannot afford to pay?. As this is likely to be an ongoing problem disconnecting them would be best for you and presumably no more expensive as the tank will then take twice as long to fill.