Private Septic - Is this a dealbreaker?

[Allison Keib]

I am working on a 4 family building right now, but I just learned that the property has private septic not public sewer. I understand that regular professional inpsections/maintenance is a must but I'm wondering if the potential for a breakdown, etc. is enough for this to be a deal breaker. Thoughts?

[Ryan Allen]

Allison,

I've got a septice on my property in Malta. You will also need to factor in pumping the septic tank. I have two septic tanks and it cost $240.75 to get it pumped. People recommend pumping it every 3-5 years. Plumbers have told me it will be apparent when it is full and needs to be pumped. I had to dig up the lid to access the tank and the septic company said they would charge an extra $50 to dig it up.

You will want to make sure nobody drives a vehicle on the leach field & septic tank and, as someone previously mentioned, include in the lease something about what can be flushed down. 

It would be important in your due diligence to determine when they were last pumped and to locate where the tanks in the ground are.

Another thing that is important is to learn how the septic flows out of the house. Part of my property is all gravity and another part uses a grinder/sump pump to pump it up into the tank. Just things to note. It cost me $1000 to replace a sump pump and the basement flooded with sewage when it broke. 

This all being said, I don't mind having the septic tanks. I wouldn't let a private septic system stop me from a property if everything else works well.