Renovation of old farmer workers house

[DanandK]

Hi thanks for letting us join 

we are starting on our journey and grateful for any advice.

Currently have a 90 year old Concert Septic tank .The tank is on the farmers land and he would like it moved we are debating the options to have it surveyed as the farmer said it floods his field (to our knowledge it has never been emptied ). We are talking about changing to a treatment plant and having no ties with the farmer .We are concerned that we will be giving in to the pressure from the farmer. But also want to be good neighbours.Also that the plant would be a more environmentally friendly option and advice would be welcome. 

[joe90]

It sounds like the leach field has blocked and no longer working, a treatment plant would be a lot better, do you have a watercourse or ditch that it could empty too or what size is your garden to instal a new leach field?

[Ferdinand]

Bear in mind that if it has been there that long you are likely to have an established right of some sort to drain onto the farmers land, so you could expect to preserve that right and might get a quid pro quo for withdrawing it.

 

(The exception might be if it turns out to be a permission letter, in which case he can legally probably just tell you to move it.)

 

Don't be so unsubtle as to ask for money, but you could for example expect to have the outlet from your treatment plant running the same way, or get him to dig it out with his digger, take some earth if you need it cleared out from your plot etc.

 

Or consider whatever else you need - phone lines overflying, electricity wire through etc.

 

Could you just buy a bit of land for a bigger garden?

 

ATB.

Ferdinand

 

Edited August 25, 2020 by Ferdinand

[Bozza]

If you look at my profile picture my new build replaced an old farm cottage.  The field in front of the house - 4m way - is owned by a farmer.  When planning my project he was the first person I spoke with, to make sure none of my plans would impact upon him or his work negatively.  For years he used to stack his hay bales up at the stone wall in the picture.  Now he stacks them elsewhere.  I don’t even have to ask.  The small tree in front of my window is on his land.  Cut it down when you move in he says it’s blocks your views of my field.   When working his land we always get a wave.  I have no doubt if I had a need for his extensive machinery during my project I know he’d help me out.  Or dig me out in a snow storm.   We are good neighbours.
 
I’m replacing my original cesspit with a waste treatment centre / soakaway anyway and had it been on his land I’d have happily done so.  The costs to desludge, etc add up.

Its not really about giving into pressure, it’s about getting on with your neighbours.  Doing so may well end up with a positive relationship like I have with the landowners that literally surround me.   Regardless of any legal rights re the tanks location.

 

Like has been suggested you could say you hadn't budgeted for replacing It with a new one but would he be able to help with digging etc. He might be even able to get rid of the contents - which will save you £hundreds.   No cost to him & he gets what he wants and you save on the costs involved for doing something you wanted to do anyway?
 

 

 

[scottishjohn]

18 minutes ago, Bozza said:

He might be even able to get rid of the contents - which will save you £hundreds.   No cost to him & he gets what he wants and you save on the costs involved for doing something you wanted to do anyway?

not legal for him to do that now 

 

any new treatment or septic tank to be registered and a log kept of emptying and must be done by someone with correct paperwork so he dumps contents at an approved site

all depends for strict your local authority are going to be

[Bozza]

36 minutes ago, scottishjohn said:

not legal for him to do that now 

 

any new treatment or septic tank to be registered and a log kept of emptying and must be done by someone with correct paperwork so he dumps contents at an approved site

all depends for strict your local authority are going to be

?