Vendor not identifying septic tank location

Be very careful. I’m aware of two cases in my location where the septic tank was on neighbouring properties. Potentially huge issues if any problems arise, general maintenance, sale of the property etc.

The auctioneer should know. It’s basic information.

If there's any houses close to the property check there planning, as the septic tank on the property you want to buy may be marked on there plans, particularly if they have a well

New system required as mentioned already. Where the existing tank is at the moment is pretty much irrelevant.

Knock on your neighbors doors. You might find out in an instant before you go rooting for neighbors folios and official channels taking weeks or months.

If you really want the house you'll do this.

If it's a very old cottage it probably doenst haven't a working septic tank. These old properties are sold "with septic tank" so you don't have to apply for planning permission. There's a huge issue in many parts of the country with councils granting planning with standard septic tank due to ground conditions.

But buying old cottages has been seen as a "loophole" of sorts around this issue. If I was buying an old cottage where I'm from that has a septic tank, I'd just assume it doesn't have one and putting one in is a given expense on my side.

I guess my query really is, should I have to search for it or is the onus on the vendor/auctioneer to locate it? And they have to answer in the conveyancing questionnaire regarding wayleaves or easements for any services so how are they going to answer that if they don’t know where it is?

In an ideal world obviously yes, but I think you're presuming a certain level of competence from the auctioneer that has already been shown to be somewhat lacking. Unfortunately nothing unusual there in my experience.

Sometimes you have to do all your investigation and due diligence yourself to ensure you don't get any nasty surprises, particularly when it comes to vacant homes.

An example I always get a chuckle out of is a lad I know who was in a similar situation and had to go investigate stuff himself. Chatting around the neighbours led him directly to the vendor who was a few km up the road.

After another friendly chat with the vendor, who wasn't particularly impressed with the auctioneer's 'professionalism' either, the vendor offered to show him around the property to help answer all the queries and while doing that it transpired the auctioneer had never actually officially signed on the vendor/property as a client and the deal was then done privately in 10 minutes with a handshake over the kitchen table.

The auctioneer is nevertheless entitled to a fee if that happens.

I'd wish him luck in court trying to get anything without a written contract/agreement of any kind.

(In the case I mentioned I know for a fact they didn't contact the vendor ever again, never mind try to get any fee out of them.)