I've noticed a small cottage for sale which has a total site area of
0.1 acres. It has a septic tank, and apparently there are no mains
sewerage services in the area, though there is mains water.

Unfortunately the septic tank is located on someone elses land as the
site is quite small. The land on which the septic tank is located is
not for sale. Though there is a right of way in order to access the
septic tank.

I was just wondering if anyone here had any opinions about this?

Obviously it's not great having the septic tank located on someone
elses land. As the site belonging to the cottage is just 0.1 cares I
don't think this would be large to accomodate a septic tank and the
percolation area so it looks as if it would have to remain on the other
persons field.

Unless anyone here knows of any septic tanks that don't require large
percolation areas...or if anyone has any other ideas...? Thanks

wrote:
I've noticed a small cottage for sale which has a total site area of
0.1 acres. It has a septic tank, and apparently there are no mains
sewerage services in the area, though there is mains water.

Unfortunately the septic tank is located on someone elses land as the
site is quite small. The land on which the septic tank is located is
not for sale. Though there is a right of way in order to access the
septic tank.

I was just wondering if anyone here had any opinions about this?

Obviously it's not great having the septic tank located on someone
elses land. As the site belonging to the cottage is just 0.1 cares I
don't think this would be large to accomodate a septic tank and the
percolation area so it looks as if it would have to remain on the
other persons field.

Unless anyone here knows of any septic tanks that don't require large
percolation areas...or if anyone has any other ideas...? Thanks

Why would you *want* a septic tank in your garden?

Considering it's out of the way and you have right of way for maintenance
etc, why change anything? - it must have been like this for many, many years
before.

wrote in message
oups.com...
I've noticed a small cottage for sale which has a total site area of
0.1 acres. It has a septic tank, and apparently there are no mains
sewerage services in the area, though there is mains water.

Unfortunately the septic tank is located on someone elses land as the
site is quite small. The land on which the septic tank is located is
not for sale. Though there is a right of way in order to access the
septic tank.

I was just wondering if anyone here had any opinions about this?

Obviously it's not great having the septic tank located on someone
elses land. As the site belonging to the cottage is just 0.1 cares I
don't think this would be large to accomodate a septic tank and the
percolation area so it looks as if it would have to remain on the other
persons field.

Unless anyone here knows of any septic tanks that don't require large
percolation areas...or if anyone has any other ideas...? Thanks


This is really one for your solicitor (to check that all necessary rights to
access and maintain are in place) and for someone to check that it is all
workign properly. If everything is fine then no great concerns. Modern
systems such a biodiscs can produce a cleaner effluent but are expensive and
need electrical power. There are rile son how close to propertise septic
tanks can be so you may not have room inside the plot for a new one on your
land. With regard to area, it all depends on the local soil conditions.

Use it as a negotiating lever if you are interested.

Phil L wrote:

Why would you *want* a septic tank in your garden?

Considering it's out of the way and you have right of way for maintenance
etc, why change anything? - it must have been like this for many, many years
before.

I was wondering, even if there is a formal right of way which has been
proven and verified by a solicitor, is it still possible that the owner
of the land on which the septic tank is situated could in the future
legally require the owner of the septic tank to remove the septic tank
from his land?

What I mean is, even if there is a legal right of way to the septic
tank whilst it is located in the other persons field, could they
legally require it to be removed and therefore leaving the cottage
without a septic tank?

wrote:
Phil L wrote:

Why would you *want* a septic tank in your garden?

Considering it's out of the way and you have right of way for
maintenance etc, why change anything? - it must have been like this
for many, many years before.

I was wondering, even if there is a formal right of way which has been
proven and verified by a solicitor, is it still possible that the
owner of the land on which the septic tank is situated could in the
future legally require the owner of the septic tank to remove the
septic tank from his land?

What I mean is, even if there is a legal right of way to the septic
tank whilst it is located in the other persons field, could they
legally require it to be removed and therefore leaving the cottage
without a septic tank?

No, a right of way is just that and is often written into the deeds as a
'covenant'...I'm not 100% sure on the wording or legal jargon but it
basically means that access to the septic tank (or whatever) is part and
parcel of the house - if he sells it next year or even in 30 years, it's
still in the deeds and whoever buys it cannot change it.

If you look into it, you'll probably find that the cottage and it's 0.1
acres were originally on (the farmers?) land and he has willingly supplied
the site for a septic tank so that the cottage could be sold, it's a common
occurence in the countryside!!

This would be better off posted in uk.legal BTW

Two things, get a solicitor to check the legal status of the right of
way. Get a drainage engineer to checkout that tank for you - unless you
know how to yourself. I'd consider that at least as important as a
survey. I had an extremely expensive fix-up on a cottage I bought off a
little old lady that assured me all was well ("Only needs desludging
every 6 months", failed & backed up in 3 weeks, pump-out guy says "Oh
yes, it's wrecked, she had me round every 2 weeks").

I've noticed a small cottage for sale which has a total site area of
0.1 acres. It has a septic tank, and apparently there are no mains
sewerage services in the area, though there is mains water.

Unfortunately the septic tank is located on someone elses land as the
site is quite small. The land on which the septic tank is located is
not for sale. Though there is a right of way in order to access the
septic tank.

It is almost certain that there is also the right to drain into the tank and
there should also be the right to construct a new tank and or soakaway. If
there is not then it is a non starter. In fact you would not get a mortgage
on the property anyway.

I was just wondering if anyone here had any opinions about this?

Obviously it's not great having the septic tank located on someone
elses land. As the site belonging to the cottage is just 0.1 cares I
don't think this would be large to accomodate a septic tank and the
percolation area so it looks as if it would have to remain on the
other persons field.

Unless anyone here knows of any septic tanks that don't require large
percolation areas...or if anyone has any other ideas...?

The modern treatment plants still require soakaways the size of which is
determined by a formula set by the Environment Agency. It is determined by
the volume of treated effluent that will be discharged and the speed of
percolation through the soil.


I have a similar situation but in my case there is an easement that allows
the right to drain into the tank, access to the tank and most important the
right to construct a new one and the associated soakaway. The size of the
soakaway required depends on the speed of percolation through the soil. What
I did was install a subterranean treatment plant in my garden and construct
a new soakaway in the orchard where the old tank was. Due to ever tighter
regulations you are very unlikely indeed to get permission for another
septic tank because it will not meet the discharge limits. You will need
building regulations permission and a discharge consent from the Environment
Agency. The latter will require percolation tests before the give consent
and you will not get building regulations permission before the EA discharge
consent.

Peter Crosland

wrote:
I've noticed a small cottage for sale which has a total site area of
0.1 acres. It has a septic tank, and apparently there are no mains
sewerage services in the area, though there is mains water.

Unfortunately the septic tank is located on someone elses land as the
site is quite small. The land on which the septic tank is located is
not for sale. Though there is a right of way in order to access the
septic tank.

I was just wondering if anyone here had any opinions about this?

Obviously it's not great having the septic tank located on someone
elses land. As the site belonging to the cottage is just 0.1 cares I
don't think this would be large to accomodate a septic tank and the
percolation area so it looks as if it would have to remain on the other
persons field.

Unless anyone here knows of any septic tanks that don't require large
percolation areas...or if anyone has any other ideas...? Thanks

A Klargester Biodisc does not require a percolation area - you can
discharge straight into a water course or ditch - and can be fitted in
about 2 sq meters of land, but it SHOULD be IIRC 15 meters from the house.

And within about 50 meters of the tanker that empties it.

About 5-8 grand fitted, depending on site details.

wrote:
Phil L wrote:
Why would you *want* a septic tank in your garden?

Considering it's out of the way and you have right of way for maintenance
etc, why change anything? - it must have been like this for many, many years
before.

I was wondering, even if there is a formal right of way which has been
proven and verified by a solicitor, is it still possible that the owner
of the land on which the septic tank is situated could in the future
legally require the owner of the septic tank to remove the septic tank
from his land?

What I mean is, even if there is a legal right of way to the septic
tank whilst it is located in the other persons field, could they
legally require it to be removed and therefore leaving the cottage
without a septic tank?


Generally the legalities will be - and should be - written up in such a
way that this is not the case.

There is a name for the legal situation..Its fairly common. But I forgot ;-)

Unless anyone here knows of any septic tanks that don't require large
percolation areas...or if anyone has any other ideas...? Thanks

Yes, a Klargester Biodisc, which you many get a permit for to discharge
direct into watercourses, if you're lucky.

Christian.

That was the fix-up I ended up with, once we found the discharge field
was choked. AngliaPolution Control retrofitted a shield, aerator and
air lift pump into my existing septic tank, got me an Environment
Agency certificate to discharge into a watercourse, and worked the
discharge pipework into existing drains. Bottom line 2.5K raher than 7K
for a new digestor to be fitted.

That was the fix-up I ended up with, once we found the discharge field
was choked. AngliaPolution Control retrofitted a shield, aerator and
air lift pump into my existing septic tank, got me an Environment
Agency certificate to discharge into a watercourse, and worked the
discharge pipework into existing drains. Bottom line 2.5K raher than
7K for a new digestor to be fitted.

Out of interest how long ago was this?

Peter Crosland

On 11 Sep 2006 12:01:22 -0700, wrote:

Phil L wrote:
[6 quoted lines suppressed]

I was wondering, even if there is a formal right of way which has been
proven and verified by a solicitor, is it still possible that the owner
of the land on which the septic tank is situated could in the future
legally require the owner of the septic tank to remove the septic tank
from his land?

Grab the title register for the cottage and the adjoining land where the
tank is located from http://www.landregisteronline.gov.uk/. Any ROW and
restrictions should be listed.

Steve

Peter Crosland wrote:
That was the fix-up I ended up with, once we found the discharge field
was choked. AngliaPolution Control retrofitted a shield, aerator and
air lift pump into my existing septic tank, got me an Environment
Agency certificate to discharge into a watercourse, and worked the
discharge pipework into existing drains. Bottom line 2.5K raher than
7K for a new digestor to be fitted.

Out of interest how long ago was this?

Peter Crosland


I installed my Biodisc - without any pumps - for about 7 grand from
green field to working in 2002 or 2003.

Fortunately the fall from the house to the tank and from the tank to the
ditch was adequate.

Although ISTR a certificate being needed, it was a total formality -
these units are cleared for discharge into any water course.

Compared with the original tank - a three chamber brick thing, which
stank at the outflow, this is totally whiff free. Apart from the time
the pulley fell off the shaft and it stopped working. Which prompted me
to lift the lid and see why...and also to get the guys in to empty it.
After 3 years it wasn't even half full...