Three houses in our row share a cesspool in one of the gardens. We have heard that we have to register it by next year. Is this true? The cesspool is 50 years old. Will the fact that we share a cesspool devalue our house?
It’s possible that future purchasers of your properties will think that your sewage system is a disadvantage, but the costs of running it I imagine are defrayed by lower water rates. You would have to ask an estate agent about this. As regards registering your cesspool, new rules were introduced in 2015 for operators of septic tanks and small sewerage treatment plants, but cesspools (whereby raw sewage is deposited in a sealed tank) are exempt – although they must be drained when full. If in doubt contact the Environment Agency.