Buying a property with a private drainage system

Are you moving home and require a House Purchase Drain Survey? Call our experts to arrange one today.

Buying a property with a private drainage system? This specialised survey could save you thousands!

Whether you are a first-time buyer or a veteran buy-to-let landlord, the cost of your home purchase will equate to more than just the asking price. Your hard earned income and savings will quickly be swallowed into the endless pot of solicitor fees, estate agent fees, home buyer report fees, moving fees and of course into that all dreaded stamp duty tax. Your budget will soon be stretched and may leave very little money available to set aside for any home improvements or necessary repairs when you finally move in. Now imagine being hit with a hefty bill, potentially into the thousands, for an unexpected and urgent repair to your new home private drainage system!

Will a private drainage system be covered in the Home Buyers Report?

The short answer is NO! As part of your purchase, you will no doubt have commissioned a Home Buyers Report, better known as a survey of the property. A Home Buyers Report will tell you the true condition of a property and what you can expect to spend on repairs. However, BE AWARE that even a full conveyancing survey will NOT assess the complete effectiveness of a private drainage system that is servicing your new home. Especially if there is a Pumping Station up to the main public sewer.

To avoid unexpected repair costs eating into a budget set aside for your new open plan kitchen for example, it is highly advised that you commission a House Purchase Drain Survey in addition to your Home Buyers Report.

A specialised House Purchase Drain Survey will assess the condition and effectiveness of the private drainage system servicing the property. It will also identify which part of the system you will be responsible for in accordance with the Environment Agency general binding rules.

Who is responsible for a Private Drainage System?

If you have a private drainage system servicing your property (a septic tank or a small sewage treatment plant) you are known as “the operator” according to the Environment Agency’s ‘general binding rules. As “the operator”, you are responsible for ensuring that the system meets these rules.

Prior to exchanging contracts, it is the responsibility of “the operator” (likely the seller who currently owns the property) to give the new operator written notice of the small sewage discharge (SSD). This notice must include a description of the wastewater system and its maintenance. At this point in the property sale/purchase, it is still the current operators responsible to ensure that the existing sewage system meets the general binding rules. The general binding rules go on to state:

“Where properties with septic tanks that discharge directly to surface water are sold, responsibility for the replacement or upgrade of the existing treatment system should be addressed between the buyer and seller as a condition of sale”.

The above point cannot be stressed enough. During this stage of your home buying journey, it is paramount that you are fully aware of the condition of the drainage system and the requirement for repairs, prior to taking on “the owner” responsibilities once your purchase is complete. This is the time to discuss any potential replacements or upgrades of the system, which may lead to further negotiations of the sale price. 

A House Purchase Drain Survey could save you thousands…

The condition of the private drainage system servicing your new home may not be at the top of your priority list, after all - out of sight, out of mind. However, homebuyers should err on the side of caution! This specialised survey could save you thousands prior to being handed the keys. Click Here to find several examples of the benefits that our customers have experienced by proactively commissioning this survey, many of which have saved in excess of £10,000.

How do I ensure the private drainage system is working accordingly?

The best place to start is to commission a House Drainage Purchase Survey. Like with much of the property buying process, this may sound like a lot of hassle, stress and gobbledegook! That’s why the ASL team is here to make the process as seamless as possible by dealing directly with your estate agents to arrange a suitable appointment. Contact the ASL team today!