Buying House with Septic Tank Drainage Problems

ThisIsWeird

Gail, I've just tried a Google for 'how long do septic tanks last?', and got various answers, all in the ballpark of 'between 20 and 40 years if well maintained'. Ok, '20' seems nuts, but if '40' is anywhere close to the mark, then 'yours' is already at, or very close to, the end of its life.

In any event, I'd suggest you really really want a 'treatment plant' moving forward and, if I were you, that's what I'd either be negotiating the offer price on, or be prepared to have to fork out myself after purchase. Perhaps, ideally, a compromise of these, so neither party feels they've completely lost out.

As said before, no-one has a 'responsibility' to sort the septic tank (unless it's actually polluting, in which case the vendor does - right away). So, it's 'negotiating' time. I personally wouldn't, at all, be talking of a £ew £undred for some new pipes, but a complete change to a TP; the current system is clearly not fit for purpose due to, at least, the failed pipes, but it's also almost certainly at the end of its life in general.

You've had quotes for £15-20k for a new TP, so my personal starting point would, I think, be a £15k reduction in my offer. I'd explain, firstly, that our initial offer was based on a presumed functioning sewage system, and no allowance was made by either party to allow for this not being the case. £15k is the very lowest end of the likely cost - it'll almost certainly cost a few £K more - and that we'd take on any extra over this. There is no difference between this issue and something seemingly more tangible like a failing roof, bulging walls, sinking founds; it's a significant issue with a cost to match, was discovered only after the surveys, and will need to be sorted in the near future.

As with every other aspect of a property sale, they can accept, refuse, or renegotiate. As can you. As always, it comes down to how much you want this place over any other.

The sellers are the executors of this estate? In which case, the whole property is presumably 'profit' for them? May i ask what the current offer price is?