Hamptons International’s is urging all homeowners to deal with new septic tank regulations; which requires all homes which are not connected to a mains sewage network to review, upgrade or replace their non mains system by the 1st January 2020. This call comes from a number of homeowners who are looking to sell their property, but have been confronted with this change of legislation which requires them to address it if they are selling a property.
The General Binding Rules for small sewage discharges (SSDs) have been put in place to protect England’s surface water resources (e.g. rivers, streams etc.) from pollution caused by septic tanks and other small-scale sewage treatment plants. Under the new regulations, it is no longer permissible to discharge low quality effluent from septic tanks directly into ditches, streams or other watercourses. Instead, homeowners have the option of replacing or upgrading systems to incorporate a drainage field. This is also known as an infiltration system and means the effluent can seep into the ground instead for further treatment by soil bacteria.
Andrew Marshall, Regional Director of Hamptons International explains: “The changing legislation cannot be ignored for those who are not connected to a mains drain, and the responsibility lies with owners to understand their private drainage system and therefore any changes they may need to make to comply.
“New rules came into effect in 2015, when 2020 felt like a long time away; but it is now just weeks away. We are speaking to a number of homeowners across the country who are looking at selling but have not acted on this new legislation, some of whom are surprised by the breadth of work required. Ignoring it will not make it go away! Irrespective of whether you are looking at selling or not, this is an issue that needs to be addressed to abide by the new regulations.”
For those looking at selling in the near future, Hamptons International is calling homeowners to address this as soon as possible as to not hinder or delay a sale, post 2020, sellers will also face the substantial cost of doing the works ahead of any sale.
About Hamptons International
Hamptons International is a leading residential estate agent and property services company, operating in London and the South of the UK.
Hamptons International offers a wealth of award-winning services including UK and international Sales, Lettings, Property Management, Corporate Services, Residential Development, Development Land, Valuation Property Finance, and is a subsidiary of Countrywide, the UK’s largest estate agency and property services group.
Hamptons International’s 150th Anniversary
In 2019, Hamptons International celebrates its 150th birthday. The estate agency business, headed by George Hampton, opened its doors in 1869 with an office in Pall Mall and eight members of staff. 150 years on Hamptons International has a network of over 90 offices in London and the South of the UK employing over 1,000 members of staff.
