Home Mis sold

Carolanne1988

We live in Scotland, purchased our property in 2019 and everything was ok for the first few months. After which the drain on the pavement at the front of our property started overflowing with sewage. Contacted Scottish Water who came out and sorted the problem. This went on until Nov 2020 when they advised it wasn't their drain and it was a surface water drain and we had a septic tank on the property. 
Told them this wasn't the case the home report stated that it was connected to mains sewage. To cut a long story short we have went back and forth with Scottish Water and our local council, have gotten planning permission, home reports, FOA from scottish water all of which stated it was a sewage drain only to be notified today by the local council that they have found an image from 2009 on google which shows works being carried out on our property connecting something into that drain. They have advised we need to disconnect or they will do it. 
We are in complete shock at this have tried calling everyone to find out how we resolve this, the cost of fitting a septic tank is looking to be £18,000 for the size of property which we just dont have and need some help on where we turn. I have tried our home insurance who wont help, citizens advice aren't in our area so can't advise, called 3 lawyers who wont help im just at a loss. 

[Deleted User]

Have you talked to the solicitor who handled the purchase for you?

Unfortunately at this point it's unlikely you will have any claim against anyone. Unless there is some documentation that was missed...

Have you asked your bank if you can borrow more on your mortgage?

user1977

It's not the home report you rely on, it's the property enquiry certificate which the sellers' solicitors sent to yours. What did that say about the drainage?

ReadingTim

No, you weren't mis sold, you most likely mis bought, and I suspect your home insurance and those other 3 lawyers who "won't help" have told you as much already.  

Sorry that this is not the answer you wanted to hear.  

aliby21

I am not clear, is the drain outside your property a foul water drain to which previous owners have connected surface water drainage, or is is a surface water drain to which they connected foul water drainage?

Have you got, or can you find, any sign of a septic tank  on your property?

propertyrental

As for installing a septic tank, don't.

You'd still have the problem of where the outflow from the tank would go. The outflow will be somewhat cleaner that what flows out of the property and into the septic tank, where most solids will be removed, but the outflow will be far from clean water!

Environmental rules on where this can be discharged have been tightened greatly in recent years, so

So, instead install a small sewage treatment plant.

Whilst slightly more expensive to buy, the installation costs will be comparable. And the potential extra costs of, for example, installing a drainage field for the septic tank discharge will likely far exceed the extra purchase cost of a treatment plant.

Plus the outflow from a treatment plant is clean. Theoretically clean enough to drink (though I've never tested mine........)