Would a septic system turn you away from a rental?

[Debbie7452]

As a renter I would have no concerns, if there's a problem, its up to the landlord to fix it. And in most states, a landlord would have to fix something like that immediately.

Never seen an apartment with a washer and dryer in the individual unit, usually they do have a laundry room.

Also never seen anyone with a septic system that had the washer (or shower/tub for that matter) go into the septic system. Always drained either into the yard, or in my inlaws case, into the swamp behind their house, although they did have to bury a pipe completely through the neighbor's yard into the swamp. But it is Texas.

Yes, this. Texas here too, so maybe we're backwards, but our septic systems are not used for washer run off either.

 

[C.Ann]

Having a septic system wouldn't bother me, had one for 11 years. Not being able to have a washer/dryer in my apartment, that would be the deal breaker.

My deal breaker as well.. I've never lived anywhere - including both of my DD's houses (and my place at the lake) that didn't have septic systems..

So who knows if the tank is large enough. Although they might just pump it more often to prevent problems.

I think that's what they're trying to avoid - by telling you that you can't have a washer and dryer..

As a renter I would have no concerns, if there's a problem, its up to the landlord to fix it. And in most states, a landlord would have to fix something like that immediately.

If you find a place that will allow the washer & dryer - and it's on a septic - the above applies.. If the landlord doesn't deal with the problem right away, all it takes is one phone call to the Health Dept. - which could even be done anonomously..

 

[SandrA9810]

Minus the washer dryer situation, it seems overall the plot is too small to house the proper sized septic tank with leach field. One site I read for another city nearby, said that septic were not allowed on plots smaller than 1 acre, although that was upped from a 1/2 acre about 10 years ago. This size plot is .15 acre.

The whole w/d thing is what got me wondering about the septic system... then I started wondering about the problems that would come along with it. Here's a picture of the house. The house on the right, you can see the white pipe and that's from the washer. The yellow box is the apt that's for rent (upstairs).

The home is 1920's, and the plot land was probably significantly larger than what it is today, and it's obvious in the style of buildings. I never knew much about how the system worked, as I never lived with it. Now I'm scared of it because of how old it might be. I do think proper sized ones in today's standards is just as good as being on city sewer. I just hope it wasn't grandfather'd in with changes.

 

[disykat]

oops, double post

 

[disykat]

I would also be concerned that their septic system isn't large enough for the building. I'd also be concerned about the neighbor's septic issues.

We've had septic for 12 years with no problems. (well, no more problems than we've ever had on sewer) I use my washing machine, a dishwasher, and the boys take long showers. The neighbor house, which was WAAAY overpopulated had problems because they just had too many people in there and the septic couldn't handle it. When they were having the worst of their problems I could smell septic odor whenever they showered, etc.

 

[kellyg403]

My parents always lived in homes with septic and my first home was a home with septic. Used correctly, septic systems are great. Overall though, imho, it depends on the person overseeing the property and making sure septic is being taken care of. Also, in my experience, it has always been the number of bedrooms vs. the size of the tank. I would imagine it would be a bit more difficult to control the number of people in each apt therefore causing an overload to the system. 4 bathrooms, 4 kitchens is a lot of water draining through the system without adding a washer and dryer to it.

I did have an issue with the home I purchased with the septic tank. After living there a few years, our leach field failed. In both NC and VA it is standard that you must have at least 1 acre to have a septic tank, more if you have a well since they have to be a certain distance away from each other. I don't know all the rules, but my guess by the size of the lot you have shown is not big enough both septic and well. If there is well water being used, no way would I rent it. Not having a washer/dryer hookup, although it is definitely more convenient to have one, is less important than making sure that you don't have well and sewer on such a small plot. However, since there is more field there even though it is not the owners property probably helps a bit with the leach field.

Also, i did want to add, our washer/dryers have only been hooked up to septic never to a run off pipe. I find that interesting, because it probably helps quite a bit. In the house we owned, we got notice our leach field failed when none of the water coming from the house was being absorbed and drained causing 'sinck hole' near the tank. And the smell of sewage. And nothing draining correctly.

I don't know if I woould run away from this apartment honestly unless having a washer and dryer is a deal breaker. If there should be any problems, short of the health department forcing you out because the septic system has failed, the owner is responsible for fixing.

Good Luck!

Kelly

 

[C.Ann]

Some areas use a septic in conjunction with a dry well (rather than a leach field) - so the size of the lot doesn't really matter - if it's allowed there.. That looks about the size of the backyard in my former house - which had a septic and a dry well..

And it does go according the to # of bedrooms - not the overall size of the house.. My former home now has 2 bathrooms, (one with laundry facilities) and 3 bedrooms - and the septic/dry well is more than suffcient to handle that..

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Having lived in a home with public sewer hookup all my life, yes, it would bother me.

If the landlord dealt with septic issues, I might be swayed. But I'd still be wary.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

Some areas use a septic in conjunction with a dry well (rather than a leach field) - so the size of the lot doesn't really matter - if it's allowed there.. That looks about the size of the backyard in my former house - which had a septic and a dry well..

And it does go according the to # of bedrooms - not the overall size of the house.. My former home now has 2 bathrooms, (one with laundry facilities) and 3 bedrooms - and the septic/dry well is more than suffcient to handle that..

When we moved into our house 25 years ago, within 6 months the septic system failed. The only way we knew it was seeing bubbles coming out of the ground whenever we ran the dishwasher!
They dug up the yard and discovered that there were collapsed tiles, so just pumped out the septic tank and replaced the tiles, and also added a dry well for gray water. It's underground so you don't even know it's there. Of course, we found out later that this system is not legal...who knows why, it works great...but we have never had another problem in 25 years, even when we had 2 teen age girls in the house!

 

[Andtototoo]

The lack of washer/dryer hook ups would be a deal breaker unless there were no other alternatives. Laundramats are expensive and use up so much time. Plus I hate dealing with the people in them -- I once had a woman pull a knife on me because she thought I'd taken her clothes out of a dryer early.

 

[SandrA9810]

Well the ideal situation would be an apartment close to school, but more on the south side. 1 or 2 bedrooms with W/D hook ups (preferable with water/sewer/garbage). If we get close to school, there's no hook ups, the apartments further out do have hook ups. But I don't want to be paying a boatload more in gas to get around town.

There was one other place, that included electricity, but would've had to use a stack-able set, and it was right off a very busy intersection and next to a tomato cannery. Not to mention, it looked like we needed a tape measure to see if the bed would fit in it. It was way beyond cute and little, it was tiny for a 2 bedroom.

 

[undertheradar]

Is this still attending the CC or is this for the final 2 years? Not to be mean, but you have posted about living in a house where nobody would change a light bulb or clean, have things changed?

 

[SandrA9810]

The CC and University are actually fairly close to each other. More concerned with the CC at the moment for at least one year. Although from previous experience, one year in a bad apartment can feel like forever.

 

[undertheradar]

So, who would be living in and who would be paying for this place?

 

[SandrA9810]

Just me and my bf.

 

[undertheradar]

And you both have a way to pay for this apartment?

 

[SandrA9810]

Well apparently or else we wouldn't be approved in getting it...

Last time I checked, all landlords asked for proof of income. Seems a bit silly not to.

 

[crashbb]

Congratulations on finding a job!

In terms of the septic tank - in general it wouldn't be a deal breaker. However, this place originally designed to hold four apartments, or was it a private home? If it started out as a private home, the septic tank was likely not designed for the number of people using it and I'd be worried.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I have never lived in a house without a septic so that is no problem for me. Not having a washer/dryer could certainly be a problem though. The closest laundromat to my house is about 20 miles away.

 

[monsterkitty]

I just had to laugh when I saw that tink n pooh posted on a septic system thread.

Sorry, I teach middle school kids and their humor has rubbed off on me.