Septic tank (shared) upgrade - what would you do?

propertyrental

If they are agreeing to you using the new system (and presumably contributing to the costs) then you should have significant input into the choice of system......

AJC211

propertyrental said:

If they are agreeing to you using the new system (and presumably contributing to the costs) then you should have significant input into the choice of system......

I should, but I won't (nor will I have any input of installer). They haven't listened to me from the get go, so I know they will have decided on a system, and are 'inviting' me to join with it. It is not mutual agreement. I get it, it's on their land, but ultimately it's no more 'theirs' than it is 'mine'...that's not how they see it though. They will get a Klargester Biodisc, and I've had plenty of people in the industry tell me not to get one of them. It's another reason why I'm reluctant to join the shared on

RHemmings

AJC211 said:

propertyrental said:

If they are agreeing to you using the new system (and presumably contributing to the costs) then you should have significant input into the choice of system......

I should, but I won't (nor will I have any input of installer). They haven't listened to me from the get go, so I know they will have decided on a system, and are 'inviting' me to join with it. It is not mutual agreement. I get it, it's on their land, but ultimately it's no more 'theirs' than it is 'mine'...that's not how they see it though. They will get a Klargester Biodisc, and I've had plenty of people in the industry tell me not to get one of them. It's another reason why I'm reluctant to join the shared on

Oh dear. I've been reading the thread and it looked like there was a great resolution at the end for you. Though, isn't there some scope for 1/3 of maintenance costs of a not ideal system being less than 1/1 of the cost of maintaining a system if you had to go alone? 

propertyrental

Yes they are in widespread use and well-though of.... by some.

The downside is to many moving parts, motor and bearings that are prone to need replacing and are under water (yuk).

We looked at them and dismissed them.

AJC211

RHemmings said:

AJC211 said:

propertyrental said:

If they are agreeing to you using the new system (and presumably contributing to the costs) then you should have significant input into the choice of system......

I should, but I won't (nor will I have any input of installer). They haven't listened to me from the get go, so I know they will have decided on a system, and are 'inviting' me to join with it. It is not mutual agreement. I get it, it's on their land, but ultimately it's no more 'theirs' than it is 'mine'...that's not how they see it though. They will get a Klargester Biodisc, and I've had plenty of people in the industry tell me not to get one of them. It's another reason why I'm reluctant to join the shared on

Oh dear. I've been reading the thread and it looked like there was a great resolution at the end for you. Though, isn't there some scope for 1/3 of maintenance costs of a not ideal system being less than 1/1 of the cost of maintaining a system if you had to go alone? 

Yes, absolutely true...however I've just received a pretty nasty email accusing my of refusing to cooperate, causing delays, etc, and that if their system is ready before mine is, then they will make me pay for damage to their garden (the outflow pipe is leaking) etc etc. Really upsetting stuff to read from a neighbour you thought you could still like. I feel sick and don't ever want to go through this again so would rather invest £10k in my property and get my own system than share with them :-(
(The refusal to cooperate was because I didn't want to move things on to my land...the delays was because...er...I didn't want to move things on to my land but they spend months trying to convince/coerce/force me to...and now the delays are because I'll need to change my instalment plan to accommodate them using the pipes across my land and I need to get Building Control to speak to me....so not my delay at all...geez...)

youth_leader

Argh so very sorry to read this, septic tanks can cause so many problems.  Personally, I'd bite the bullet and have my own individual system, I wouldn't feel I could trust these people. 

I had a septic at the house I was selling at auction, I shared with my two neighbours. All was well until our soakaway was damaged by the man next door digging up his drive - and trying to deny it.  It cost us thousands and we had to go to a solicitor in the end.  I had moved into a rented cottage waiting for the auction, where six of us were using the tank.  The land owner constantly muttered to me about how often my neighbour did the washing - daily - and actually went through her recycling bin,  triumphantly holding up a box of biological washing powder box.  The smell from the septic tank was grim, the bacteria had been upset by so many enzymes.

AJC211

youth_leader said:

Argh so very sorry to read this, septic tanks can cause so many problems.  Personally, I'd bite the bullet and have my own individual system, I wouldn't feel I could trust these people. 

I had a septic at the house I was selling at auction, I shared with my two neighbours. All was well until our soakaway was damaged by the man next door digging up his drive - and trying to deny it.  It cost us thousands and we had to go to a solicitor in the end.  I had moved into a rented cottage waiting for the auction, where six of us were using the tank.  The land owner constantly muttered to me about how often my neighbour did the washing - daily - and actually went through her recycling bin,  triumphantly holding up a box of biological washing powder box.  The smell from the septic tank was grim, the bacteria had been upset by so many enzymes.

Yes I agree, after what’s been said in this latest email I would find it very hard to share with these people. It’s really upset me and I just want to be free from their bullying and threats and accusations now 😞

ThisIsWeird

You can counter all these ludicrous claims with facts, so they remain 'bluff'.
As a one-third party to this, you have a one-third say. 
There is hardly any chance of this going 'legal' from their side, as they'd only be able to get legal support from insurance if they lie. Or, they fruitlessly dig into their own pockets. Neither is likely. And if they try, you do have protection.
But, you should have your LP lot guiding you now; how to reply to their misguided accusations; do you reply to them, concisely, clearly, factually?
The current proposal - albeit with a disagreement over the type of TP (I have next to zero knowledge of these things) - remains to me the most sensible way forward, where tweaks to the deeds should be relatively simple, such as identifying the new location of the TP, the change of system, and adding the sharing of the running cost because of the electrical power required (assuming this system is chosen). One solicitor, shared by three, should manage this.
The alternative 'tweaks' from you going it alone would need to include the removal of your liability and contribution to the existing - and their separate - systems, and presumably some reference to No1's remaining (or new) right to passage under your garden. As well as the extra installation costs you'd have to bear.

I am not a 'legal' fellow, so presume that the latter costs would be more significant?

Do you counter their silly claims at all, in a recordable manner? I fear they are continuing to bluff, bluster, and bully, because you are not putting them on the back-foot with an evidenced rebuttal. Forgive me if I have that wrong.
But, if they are saying 'stuff' with impunity, when you could reply with a, "They facts of the matter are as follows...", then they will continue to think they can try it on. 

But, call up your LP first, and ask - "How do I best deal with this?"

AJC211

ThisIsWeird said:

You can counter all these ludicrous claims with facts, so they remain 'bluff'.
As a one-third party to this, you have a one-third say. 
There is hardly any chance of this going 'legal' from their side, as they'd only be able to get legal support from insurance if they lie. Or, they fruitlessly dig into their own pockets. Neither is likely. And if they try, you do have protection.
But, you should have your LP lot guiding you now; how to reply to their misguided accusations; do you reply to them, concisely, clearly, factually?
The current proposal - albeit with a disagreement over the type of TP (I have next to zero knowledge of these things) - remains to me the most sensible way forward, where tweaks to the deeds should be relatively simple, such as identifying the new location of the TP, the change of system, and adding the sharing of the running cost because of the electrical power required (assuming this system is chosen). One solicitor, shared by three, should manage this.
The alternative 'tweaks' from you going it alone would need to include the removal of your liability and contribution to the existing - and their separate - systems, and presumably some reference to No1's remaining (or new) right to passage under your garden. As well as the extra installation costs you'd have to bear.

I am not a 'legal' fellow, so presume that the latter costs would be more significant?

Do you counter their silly claims at all, in a recordable manner? I fear they are continuing to bluff, bluster, and bully, because you are not putting them on the back-foot with an evidenced rebuttal. Forgive me if I have that wrong.
But, if they are saying 'stuff' with impunity, when you could reply with a, "They facts of the matter are as follows...", then they will continue to think they can try it on. 

But, call up your LP first, and ask - "How do I best deal with this?"

I’ve held of activating the LP because o didn’t want the solicitor writing them a letter out of the blue, but will now activate it. However there’s apparently a one week lag before they decide whether to accept it, and I’m being pressurised to respond ASAP and do face to face meeting this week

RHemmings

AJC211 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

You can counter all these ludicrous claims with facts, so they remain 'bluff'.
As a one-third party to this, you have a one-third say. 
There is hardly any chance of this going 'legal' from their side, as they'd only be able to get legal support from insurance if they lie. Or, they fruitlessly dig into their own pockets. Neither is likely. And if they try, you do have protection.
But, you should have your LP lot guiding you now; how to reply to their misguided accusations; do you reply to them, concisely, clearly, factually?
The current proposal - albeit with a disagreement over the type of TP (I have next to zero knowledge of these things) - remains to me the most sensible way forward, where tweaks to the deeds should be relatively simple, such as identifying the new location of the TP, the change of system, and adding the sharing of the running cost because of the electrical power required (assuming this system is chosen). One solicitor, shared by three, should manage this.
The alternative 'tweaks' from you going it alone would need to include the removal of your liability and contribution to the existing - and their separate - systems, and presumably some reference to No1's remaining (or new) right to passage under your garden. As well as the extra installation costs you'd have to bear.

I am not a 'legal' fellow, so presume that the latter costs would be more significant?

Do you counter their silly claims at all, in a recordable manner? I fear they are continuing to bluff, bluster, and bully, because you are not putting them on the back-foot with an evidenced rebuttal. Forgive me if I have that wrong.
But, if they are saying 'stuff' with impunity, when you could reply with a, "They facts of the matter are as follows...", then they will continue to think they can try it on. 

But, call up your LP first, and ask - "How do I best deal with this?"

I’ve held of activating the LP because o didn’t want the solicitor writing them a letter out of the blue, but will now activate it. However there’s apparently a one week lag before they decide whether to accept it, and I’m being pressurised to respond ASAP and do face to face meeting this week

You can just tell them that you can't meet this week as it will take longer than that to get a full response from your lawyer. This tells them that you are going the legal route. I would like to think that this would make your neighbours improve their behaviour - but given what I read in this thread i would not be surprised if they get worse.