HOME BUYER SURVEYS

Home Buyers/Home Sellers - General Binding Rules

Due to the new general binding rules which have been brought into force by the government in January 2015 you will find that your solicitor or estate agent will advise you at some point in the sale that a survey will need to be undertaken on the existing septic tank to ensure that it complies with the new general binding rules. 
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What does the survey involve?

You've been prudent enough to arrange for a Home Buyers Survey to be undertaken. After all, you're potentially either buying the dream property you've longed for or you are selling what could have been a much loved family home, so you want to make sure that everything going forward is right. However, general binding rule compliance on sewage systems does not feature in standard surveys so an independent survey should be obtained. It's always worthwhile to initiate one, given that replacing a septic tank could potentially cost a significant amount of money. We will survey the existing sewage system by firstly emptying the tank.  This is crucial to enable the condition and size of the tank to be confirmed.  We then use CCTV and specialist dyes to confirm the location and make up of the drainage field/soakaway and also check that all top water (roof/surface water) is not linked to the foul water system.  Worse case scenario, should the present sewage system not comply this is not an issue.  We will as standard write down all applicable recommendations for the property to enable it to meet the general binding rules and also provide estimates guideline costs for the purposes of the sale. Prices can then be agreed between the vendor and the buyer taking these recommendations into consideration and written into the sale of conditions by the solicitor to enable the sale to move forward as planned.  The buyer will then have approximately 12 months to correct the system as stated in the report.

As part of the home buyer survey we  check if the septic tank:

  • Complies with Environment Agency General Binding Rules
  • The tank condition and capacity
  • Field irrigation / soakaway is working correctly
  • Dye test all top water drains to ensure they are not entering the septic tank system
  • The current system isn’t leaking or discharging into a water course

If you have a septic tank and you're thinking of selling your home, then carrying out regular checks and logging these checks serves as evidence that the system has been looked after.


"We were hugely grateful for the highly professional service we received from P G Park. When we needed our septic tank to be emptied and surveyed for suitability under the new regulations as a matter of urgency (our sale of the house was potentially at risk) they came almost immediately and on a Sunday morning and gave a thorough and very efficient service along with practical reassurance which eased our stress levels. Philip, Richard and Alex all played their parts in an exemplary way. We have already recommended them to our neighbours and will continue to do so to anyone with a similar need. Faultless in every way!"
- DavidB-2402 (Yell.com review)

If you would like more information or perhaps to make a booking, please do not hesitate to give us a call on any of the following numbers or alternatively please do not hesitate to get in touch by email. We aim to reply to all emails within the same day

Landline: 015242 72842
Philip Park: 07836 651 940
Richard Park: 07595 880 576

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