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