PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Surprise septic tank

Options
Here's a sticky one (pun intended), solicitors have discovered that our purchase has a septic tank, however was advertised a 'advised gas, electric and water is mains'.
The tank is described as 'very big' as the property is a former school which is converted.
We also discovered early on the property has an underground Calor gas tank (so not mains gas either)!
Do you feel there's a case to revise our offer, or at least look to ensure the vendor covers the costs of a survey into the waste system?
(BACKGROUND: This is a personal purchase with a view to own long term and lodge spare rooms on one floor out).
«13

Comments

  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You can, of course, always ask...

    They do not, of course, have to agree...
  • greatcrested
    greatcrested Posts: 5,925 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    "advise gas electric..." means that's what the estate agent was told so that's how they marketted it. Not their fault if they were mis-advised.
    Don't really see that it affects the value.
    You could ask the vendor to cover the costs of extra survey. They can only say yes or no!
    How much do you like the property, and how much do you dislike the idea of a septic tank and LPG heating?
  • oldbikebloke
    oldbikebloke Posts: 1,096 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    so what effort have you made to determine if being "off grid" will cost you more money than being "on grid"

    that, and that alone, will inform your decision on what to offer. Simples.
  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Sewerage isn't part of "gas, electric and water"...
    On what basis do you think a septic tank makes a difference to the market value of the property? The main potential complication is whether it has any necessary consents, and whether the titles include the necessary rights for the tank/pipes.
  • frogglet
    frogglet Posts: 773 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    The rules concerning septic tanks and where they drain  have been tightened. There maybe a reason it isn't mentioned/ vaguely mentioned. To get the system up to standard can cost 10 to15 grand, we have had quotes.Does it drain into a watercourse/ditch? Get it fully checked for the recent regulations.
    Gas might be cheaper to swap to oil fired. No idea how much that would be.

  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 4 November 2020 at 9:01PM
    frogglet said:
    To get the system up to standard can cost 10 to15 grand, we have had quotes.
    Then get more, because we had a Marsh Ultra treatment plant supplied and installed (replacing an ancient chambered pit with knackered drain field) earlier this year for half that.

    As for the running costs between oil and gas, we're on bulk LPG, and I really don't think it's much more than oil. The payback time for swapping the boiler would be ridiculous. We also don't have the smell, the theft risk, and we can run our hob on gas without (expensive) bottles.
  • maisie_cat
    maisie_cat Posts: 2,136 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Academoney Grad
    AdrianC said:
    frogglet said:
    To get the system up to standard can cost 10 to15 grand, we have had quotes.
    Then get more, because we had a Marsh Ultra treatment plant supplied and installed (replacing an ancient chambered pit with knackered drain field) earlier this year for half that.

    As for the running costs between oil and gas, we're on bulk LPG, and I really don't think it's much more than oil. The payback time for swapping the boiler would be ridiculous. We also don't have the smell, the theft risk, and we can run our hob on gas without (expensive) bottles.
    I suspect that the difference between "betterment" and "compliant" accounts for the difference. As far as the OP question is concerned I doubt there is much to suggest that the price should be affected, especially if the local area has no mains drain and therefore all local properties are in the same boat.
    We have neither mains gas or sewerage so knew that we would want/have to replace both the 50 year old rayburn and the septic system.
  • frogglet
    frogglet Posts: 773 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    AdrianC said:
    frogglet said:
    To get the system up to standard can cost 10 to15 grand, we have had quotes.
    Then get more, because we had a Marsh Ultra treatment plant supplied and installed (replacing an ancient chambered pit with knackered drain field) earlier this year for half that.

    As for the running costs between oil and gas, we're on bulk LPG, and I really don't think it's much more than oil. The payback time for swapping the boiler would be ridiculous. We also don't have the smell, the theft risk, and we can run our hob on gas without (expensive) bottles.
    We had a number of quotes for various systems, not sure if yours was one but none were 5k.
  • greatcrested
    greatcrested Posts: 5,925 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    frogglet said:
    AdrianC said:
    frogglet said:
    To get the system up to standard can cost 10 to15 grand, we have had quotes.
    Then get more, because we had a Marsh Ultra treatment plant supplied and installed (replacing an ancient chambered pit with knackered drain field) earlier this year for half that.

    As for the running costs between oil and gas, we're on bulk LPG, and I really don't think it's much more than oil. The payback time for swapping the boiler would be ridiculous. We also don't have the smell, the theft risk, and we can run our hob on gas without (expensive) bottles.
    We had a number of quotes for various systems, not sure if yours was one but none were 5k.
    Was that supply only, or supply and install?
    We're putting in a WTE system costing £11K (cheapest of 3 quotes). The actual system is around £3K but installation involves some considerable and complex distances on both sides of the treatment plant. Cost is also for decommissioning the old septic tank.

  • Water supply is irrelevant to sewerage. The fact there is a septic tank does not mean there’s no supply. Ask your solicitors if the water searches have come back, or give the local water board a call to ask if it’s connected up. 
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.