Septic Tank Surveys in Kent and East Sussex

Why a survey, not just an empty

An empty tells you the tank was full. A survey tells you what the system is, what condition it is in, where it discharges and whether that discharge is one the rules allow. If you are buying or selling a house with private drainage, or you have just moved in and nobody can tell you anything about the system, that is the information you actually need. Selling a house with a septic tank in Kent explains why it matters so much in a sale.

What we look at

We find and lift every cover, empty the tank so we can see inside it, and look at the walls, the joints, the inlet and outlet and the dip pipes. On a septic tank we trace where the outlet goes and walk the drainage field for wet ground, standing water or a lush strip of grass. On a treatment plant we check the working parts, the alarm and what is being discharged. On a cesspool we look for leaks and for water getting in.

We also note what we can see of the age and size of the system against the household it serves, because an undersized tank is a cost a buyer will carry for years.

The discharge question

The single most important thing a survey settles is where the system discharges. A septic tank must never discharge to a ditch, stream or other watercourse, and if it does, the rules say it has to be put right as soon as possible. A treatment plant can discharge to a watercourse, but only one that flows all year. Can a septic tank discharge to a ditch sets out the three ways a non compliant system can be fixed, so you know what you are dealing with before anyone negotiates over it.

The report

You get a written report describing the system, its condition, where it discharges and anything that needs attention, with our view of what it would take to put right. It is a record of what we found on the day, from what can be seen and tested on site. It is not a guarantee of how long a system will last, and it is not an approval from the Environment Agency, which does not certify private systems. Where the rules leave a question open, the report says so rather than guessing.

For sellers

When you sell, the General Binding Rules say you must tell the buyer in writing that a sewage discharge is in place, with a description of the system, where its main parts and its discharge point are, any changes made to it and its maintenance records. A survey before you market gives you that description and tells you about any problem while you still have time to deal with it on your own terms.

For buyers

Ask for a survey before you exchange, not after. A failed drainage field or a septic tank running to a ditch can cost a great deal to put right, and that is far better known while the price can still move. When to upgrade your septic system explains what the common fixes involve.