Length of Soakaway

[ToughButterCup]

No foul drainage, no house.

In its current state (if I understand the current situation correctly [ no foul drain and an obvious problem])) the house is close to worthless. 

[ProDave]

23 minutes ago, ToughButterCup said:

No foul drainage, no house.

In its current state (if I understand the current situation correctly [ no foul drain and an obvious problem])) the house is close to worthless. 

That's it in a nutshell.  That's why this needs sorting or a solution on the table before you conclude the missives.

 

What did the home report say about the drainage (let me guess get another survey?)

[DTL]

OK Thanks

 

WRT the SEPA tank registration; given that it is a self declaratory process I guess some people might just declare they have a soakaway from their tank rather than a discharge to a stream.

And as you have previously discussed SEPA currently make no checks, and are only interested in investigating very large pollution events.

 

Last week I made an online CAR application using a grid reference next to a random burn, and as part of the application you are asked to check a box according to your response to one of four questions;

 

1. Discharge via soakaway

2. Discharge to watercourse

3. Discharge to ditch

4. Other

 

I could not fully complete the application as it was not real, so I am not sure what happens in the licensing process if you declare you have an untreated discharge to a stream.

 

I have pulled out of the purchase because I have too many uncertainties on the septic tank discharge and I feel the vendors are not willing to be helpful.

 

Many Thanks to everyone for the feedback in this thread.

 

 

 

Edited Friday at 13:19 by DTL

[ToughButterCup]

That must have been a difficult post to write @DTL....

Well done for stepping away from a difficult problem - difficult because so much emotion is invested in buying a house and not just money.

All may not be lost.  You stepping away from purchase might just result in the vendors rethinking their sales strategy.

 

[DTL]

Thanks for your observation, you are correct in that it was all a bit upsetting, but ultimately the correct decision.

 

I have a general question on septic tanks and soakaway that will help me with any other places I view;

 

I’m thinking that when there is heavy rain for an extended period, does a drainage/field not saturate with rainwater such that the tank has a tendency to overflow?

 

Thanks

[Gus Potter]

41 minutes ago, DTL said:

Thanks for your observation, you are correct in that it was all a bit upsetting, but ultimately the correct decision.

I think you made the right descision to step away from this. However the seller may sort it out and come back to you. At the end of the day they took your offer seriously. You wanted to by the place / fell in love with it? 

 

They have two or maybe more choices, realistic ones are:

 

1/ Wait for someone daft to by it.

 

2/ Smell the coffee, sort it out and do a deal with you. They may well come back to you as if they thought you were not serious they would have binned you earlier as a purchaser. 

 

 

45 minutes ago, DTL said:

I’m thinking that when there is heavy rain for an extended period, does a drainage/field not saturate with rainwater such that the tank has a tendency to overflow?

Technically yes. But this is what we call an accidental load case. If we designed everything based on this accidental case then the cost of building would become excessive. 

 

 

 

[Temp]

I'm not sure about Scotland but in England I think your right to maintain a discharge pipe should be in the neighbours title.  So I'd be looking at that and possibly even speaking to the neighbour. 

 

If its mentioned in his title and he's all happy explain you might need to repair the pipe/install a new pipe and see if you can negotiate the cost of that and a sewerage treatment plant off the asking price.

 

Check what permits are needed if any to do the upgrade.

 

I guess it depends how much you like the house if you want the hassle.