Replacement, new installation and compliance surveys for rural homes, cottages, farmhouses and off-mains properties across the UK. Survey-led, no pressure, clear pricing.
Bedrooms, bathrooms & occupancy
If you're off the mains, we've worked on your kind of property.
Single dwellings in villages, hamlets and the open countryside where mains drainage doesn't reach.
Older properties often with ageing cesspits or undersized tanks in need of replacement.
New foul drainage for agricultural buildings being converted into residential dwellings.
Upgrading capacity when an extension, annexe or granny flat adds new bedrooms or bathrooms.
First-time septic tank or sewage treatment plant for a property being built off mains.
Intermittent use needs the right system and sizing — we specify for realistic occupancy patterns.
Six common situations where a site survey is the right first step.
Backing up, gurgling drains or patches of sodden ground suggest your current system is at the end of its life.
Conveyancing almost always requires evidence that the system meets the 2020 General Binding Rules.
Direct discharge to streams, rivers or ditches is no longer permitted — replacement or a drainage field is required.
Adding bedrooms or bathrooms may mean your current tank is now undersized for the household.
Cesspits need frequent emptying and are expensive to run — a modern treatment plant is usually a better long-term option.
Off-mains new-builds need a correctly sized system with the right drainage field and access arrangements.
A home survey is a visit by a verified specialist to assess your property, your existing system (if any) and the site conditions that determine which solution is right for you.
Bedrooms, occupancy, existing system
Local to your area & property type
Soil, access, compliance, capacity
Clear pricing, no pressure to proceed
The right answer depends on your soil conditions, ground space and where the discharge can go.
A sealed tank that separates solids from liquids, with the liquid effluent dispersing into a drainage field (soakaway). Well-suited to properties with porous soil and enough garden area.
An aerated system that treats wastewater to a higher standard, producing effluent clean enough to discharge directly to a watercourse (with consent) or to a smaller drainage field.
Since January 2020, any septic tank discharging directly to surface water (streams, rivers, ditches) has been non-compliant. When you sell your property, compliance is almost always checked at conveyancing — and a non-compliant system can delay or derail the sale.
A home survey identifies compliance issues early and gives you a clear path to resolving them before they become a problem.
Common questions from homeowners about replacement, installation and surveys.
Domestic tank sizing is based on the number of bedrooms and expected occupancy, following British Standard BS 6297. Most UK three- and four-bedroom homes need a tank with a minimum capacity of around 2,700–3,700 litres, but the correct size for your home depends on actual usage. The home survey confirms this.
Most septic tank replacements fall under permitted development and don't need planning permission. New installations, or systems near a listed building or within a conservation area, sometimes do. Your surveyor will flag this during the site visit.
A typical home survey takes 60–90 minutes on site. You'll receive a written recommendation and quote shortly afterward. Percolation tests (if required) take longer and may mean a return visit.
Installation requires excavation for the tank and, usually, a drainage field. Your surveyor will plan access routes and dig locations with minimal impact — and your installer will reinstate lawns, driveways and paths as part of the work.
Yes. An urgent home survey will establish the scale of the problem and whether an emergency empty plus replacement is the fastest route to normal service. Where possible, we'll match you with a specialist who can attend within days.
A survey-first approach means the installation you book will be right-sized, compliant and specified for your property from day one.
