buying a cottage with septic tank issues

kingbhome

Was looking at an old cottage built in the 50s, supposedly has a septic tank but theres lots of overgrowth its difficult to locate it. Another issue is the ground would be alot higher than the house which is rising concerns that it wont have the gravity fall of he waste. I didnt see any signs of a bathroom or kitchen in the old 3 roomed cottage either which has aroused more suspicion.

Seller has mentioned hes going to register the tank with the council. Is it possible this seller is chancing his arm and trying to register a tank that was never approved. One thing he said was the tank has always been there and was upgraded just a few years ago.

Looking on the council website, i cant see no planning for a tank either. The site looks like a 1/4 acre or just over it and the access onto the main road wouldnt be great either. If i was to have problems with this tank, is it a straight forward process of getting planning for a new one. I am also not from this area, would local needs apply.

alan partridge aha

You need to get a professional on board. A good architect would be a start. They will know what's acceptable/achievable.
From my experience if you have your own well and septic tank/percolation area you would need 1/2 an acre to achieve adequate distances.

kingbhome

alan partridge aha wrote: »

You need to get a professional on board. A good architect would be a start. They will know what's acceptable/achievable.
From my experience if you have your own well and septic tank/percolation area you would need 1/2 an acre to achieve adequate distances.

I believe that i also needed the 1/2 acre for reasons youve mentioned above but just needed it confirmed. Doesnt the percolation area have to be 3m from each boundary, the septic tank 7 meters and from the septic tank to the percolation box, 1m then 1m to the percolation pipe.

TheBoyConor

Hang on a second.....

If, when looking at the house, you saw no evidence of a kitchen or a bathroom then what would make you think that the even is a septic tank?

I mean why would one build a septic tank and percolation area of there is no toilets or sinks in the property? Makes no sense.

kingbhome

TheBoyConor wrote: »

Hang on a second.....

If, when looking at the house, you saw no evidence of a kitchen or a bathroom then what would make you think that the even is a septic tank?

I mean why would one build a septic tank and percolation area of there is no toilets or sinks in the property? Makes no sense.

I know, i agree. Seller has mentioned there was one hence why im suspicious. Theres an old mobile home on site supposedly going to it. Im 99% sure the seller is trying it on just to sell it.

TheBoyConor

I see. Sure if it's for the old mobile home it could well be at totally the Wrong level for the house.

Also, given its for a temporary mobile then it probably isn't designed at all and might be little more than an improperly sized tank thrown into the ground, quite possibly cracked and leaking, with a piss poor excuse for a percolation area in the form of a small soak pit.

But that describes most rural septic tanks more than 15 years old anyway.

kingbhome

TheBoyConor wrote: »

I see. Sure if it's for the old mobile home it could well be at totally the Wrong level for the house.

Also, given its for a temporary mobile then it probably isn't designed at all and might be little more than an improperly sized tank thrown into the ground, quite possibly cracked and leaking, with a piss poor excuse for a percolation area in the form of a small soak pit.

But that describes most rural septic tanks more than 15 years old anyway.

Would it be legal

alan partridge aha

kingbhome wrote: »

Would it be legal

Nobody can say unless someone does a site visit as in an expert.

Markcheese

First, get the owner to find and show you the tank,
Then get an engineer to check it out,
Most things are possible... But at what price,