Owning your own home

For those following along with the septic tank chat, the system installed is a Klargester Biodisc for 6 people occupancy. Obviously, it will require periodic emptying...

Plenty of marketing bumf on how awesome it is but not much in the way of 'reviews' etc.

I assume i can flush loo paper through that?

without knowing the layout of the props and pipes - any noticeable increase in bills? or you all un metered?
if its a meter it should be in the pavement - you will easily see it a scar as the ground would have to be dug out to install it. if not, they just fitted a temporary logger.
if you have a permanent meter which has the dials etc - simply tell all properties to isolate their water by the stopcock and see if the meter is still moving.

I would called affinity and ask for a reinspection to be sure - they can easily sound all pipes (assuming not plastic) to hear for top noise

as you said - logical solution will be no1-5 to come to an agreement and locate the leak if one and fix it - any reputable groundworks co can do it - not sure of cost

So a powered treatment plant, rather than a septic tank, which is a good thing. Any idea where the discharge goes? Standard underground soakaway or into a water course?

I think a soakaway but waiting for confirmation...

Well Klargester were recommended to me when I was planning on replacing ours, so no reason to suspect it wouldn't be decent. Certainly wouldn't put me off a house for sure.

Agreed.

Everything else about the house ticks all our boxes so absolutely no reason not to push on.

Just waiting on one more thing from them and should put an offer in tomorrow.

Good stuff, now the fun begins...

Something like that.

I've spent the entire weekend doing finishing jobs to our current place to make it as saleable as possible. Still got three or four big jobs before we get photos done on Saturday...

The trouble is I'm not in the country and our letting agents have shown themselves to be feckless.

The Water Co. said there was a leak following an inspection - but this was apparently done on a rainy day, and the other houses did not feel it was carried out properly. Then when they pushed Water Co. installed a meter so No. 1 - 5 could all shut off / not use their water at once. The meter still showed water usage indicating a leak. This test by No.s 1-5 only happened a couple of weeks ago.

My main concern is how I approach it with; a) my current landlord + building insurers, and b) my soon to be private home + contents insurers.

I'm nervous about getting stuck with a massive bill and being uninsured.

Also I'm generally unclear of what Water Co's liability is in respect of the pipe.

How...how did they suspect there was a leak in the first place?

NO. 1 was having an extension built. While digging they found a leak.

And they didn't fix it?

if you are currently a tenant - then it is the landlords responsibility as well as no 1-5 owners. in respective to water co and the pipe - the liability is with the homeowners whether single prop or shared. If shared - then all those who share it must bare the burden whether or not leak is on 'your' side of the shared supply

I would push water co to come out and pin point the leak - quite easily done to be honest. i would hazard a guess something was said by your neighbours or the inspector generally couldn't find the location and hence you've been issued a s75 - which all water co. have duty to uphold

and in conjuction with Howard - did they not follow up on said leak - side or rear extension - is the share supply front or rear of houses?

And they didn't fix it?

As in they found that the dug holes for (I assume) the foundations were filling with water.

They replaced all their piping so as not to delay the building of their rear extension.

Just to be clear; no one knows where the leak is. It is somewhere between No. 1 - 5.

i assume internal pipes, right?

i assume internal pipes, right?

Good question. I assumed everything was external under the back terraces, hence it being on the shared supply pipe. FWIW houses No. 1 - 5 is a row of semi-detached houses.

if you are currently a tenant

We're the landlord. But soon to be moving back into the property.

Good to know about the shared liabilty. Do all of the owner's insurance companies usually just get together to sort this out? Or do you put in a claim once it's all wrapped up?

I would push water co to come out and pin point the leak - quite easily done to be honest. i would hazard a guess something was said by your neighbours or the inspector generally couldn't find the location and hence you've been issued a s75 - which all water co. have duty to uphold

The first letter (which I've just been fwd), advises to get an independent contractor to do it to avoid "admin" fees. Are you saying you think Water Co should be identifying where the leak is?

We're the landlord. But soon to be moving back into the property.

Good to know about the shared liabilty. Do all of the owner's insurance companies usually just get together to sort this out? Or do you put in a claim once it's all wrapped up?

I'm not sure how the insurance will work - i would hazard a guess to put in a claim after wards

The first letter (which I've just been fwd), advises to get an independent contractor to do it to avoid "admin" fees. Are you saying you think Water Co should be identifying where the leak is?

well it would of been handy to know (sometimes the inspector cant locate it for whatever reasons) - effectively this just means your looking for a needle in a haystack and will have either have dig a few holes or the length of the pipe across the houses to find the leak

Asbestos disposal is free at my local tip, would probably cost you a tank of fuel to get to Preston and back but would save you £4.9k.

Just needs double bagging in polythene sheets.

https://www.preston.gov.uk/yourservices/bins-and-recycling/bins/disposal-asbestos/

Cheers.

Current insurance has advised an inspection from their contractor. No issues with overlapping of delay of us finding out. But if the pipes have died of old age then we won't be covered :(

Agh! The whole saga is such a fucking PITA and bound to stress out Mr. H. who constantly thinks we made a mistake buying the property.

flush loo paper

Can't comment on that one, but where my folks are in France most have septic tanks and paper goes in fine.

Managed to find a specific product do's and dont's and flushing loo paper is all good.

Washing paint down the sink isn't so not sure how i can decorate our brand new (all fresh white wall) place without just throwing brushes out after each colour / coat.

Other than that, it's business as usual with one by the looks of things.

Get an outside tap that drains into surface water drain...

New home insurance has just cancelled our policy.

Don't suppose anyone can recommend an insurer who usually covers "higher risk" properties?

That states limited quantities. Derby tip specifies three sheets so @Sam_w might need to do a road trip visiting every tip on the way to Preston dropping off a handful of sheets at each.

Still cheaper than 5k mind.

See if affinity offer a lead pipe replacement scheme and ask them to check the lead levels if it’s high they will replace it.