Surprise septic tank

wilts0

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).

AdrianC

You can, of course, always ask...

They do not, of course, have to agree...

greatcrested

"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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

SameOldRoundabout

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.