Landowners responsible for septic tank properties

It is estimated that up to 5% of UK properties are not connected to mains drainage and instead have their own off-mains drainage system such as a septic tank, sewage treatment plant or cesspit. In rural areas, the prevalence of these types of drainage systems is much higher.

 

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What You Need to Know

Some tenancy agreements might put the duty onto the tenant, but if a system hasn’t been properly maintained across multiple tenancies, who is going to take responsibility for any pollution fines or, worse still, the substantial cost of a new system? If you are responsible for owning or managing multiple rural properties connected to a septic tank or any other off-mains drainage system, it can seem daunting. 

It can be difficult to know what condition the system is in, given that it sits underground and out of sight. It can be even more challenging to navigate the rules and regulations and to determine whether each property’s system complies.

Our Tried and Tested Approach

We will always offer a bespoke solution for each client, but we use a tried and tested framework to ensure effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction. This framework has six stages:

1

Appraise

We work with you to understand your current situation, the number and type of properties involved, their physical location and their existing systems. We will also ascertain your preferred timeframes for completing any repairs or work needed to resolve the issue.
2

Prioritise

From the findings of the appraisal, we will be able to identify those properties that are most at risk of being non-compliant, as well as those with the greatest propensity to cause an environmental incident. We will discuss these priorities with you to establish a proper plan.
3

Survey

We will undertake a full survey of the priority groups before rolling this out to the lower-risk groups. The surveys will consider the current condition and compliance through a comprehensive analysis of the current septic drainage systems.
4

Report

We will create a tailored report that gives you an easy-to-understand overview of the combined survey findings, along with more detailed individual survey reports. This will also contain recommendations and the estimated costs associated with the remedial works at each home or property.
5

Remedy

We will agree with you on a programme of work and systematically repair or replace systems that have been identified as faulty or non-compliant. We have a team of expert field engineers who will carry out these repairs, as well as specialised partners in drainage and installations.
6

Maintain

We offer an ongoing maintenance programme to ensure you get the longest service from your septic tanks, either existing or new. We would recommend an annual inspection, which would report on any issues, potentially reducing costs by identifying problems before they become chronic.
This service is optional but highly recommended to sustain the health of your systems and give you peace of mind.

Trust UKDP to assist you

We already work with some of the UK’s biggest landowners and property managers to ensure that their properties’ drainage systems are fully compliant with applicable rules and regulations. 

By working with us, you provide valuable evidence to the Environment Agency of your commitment to full compliance. If you could benefit from our specialist expertise and proven approach, then we would be happy to help.

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