Septic Tank Surveys · Cornwall
Septic Tank & Drainage Surveys in Cornwall
From Launceston to Penzance, we put Cornwall homeowners and buyers in touch with an independent local specialist — covering Launceston, Bodmin, Truro and the surrounding villages. It costs you nothing, and there's no obligation to proceed. Tell us your postcode and what's going on, and we'll point you to someone who can help.
What Cornwall homeowners should know
Many properties sit down long, narrow lanes, which can affect access for emptying or installation — it's worth mentioning this when you get in touch so a specialist can plan for it.
Cornwall's coast, estuaries and streams mean older tanks piping straight into a watercourse are fairly common, particularly on coastal and waterside properties. This isn't allowed under the General Binding Rules, and it's one of the things a survey will check.
Thin, rocky or heavy ground in places makes the drainage field the part of a system that most often struggles — soil that's either too shallow to soak away wastewater, or too dense to drain it properly.
Large parts of the county, including Bodmin Moor and most of the coastline, sit within a National Landscape, where work on a system can mean extra planning or environmental checks alongside the usual drainage rules.
If a property is a holiday let, bear in mind that heavier summer use can put more strain on a system than it was originally sized for.
What a survey covers
A septic tank survey typically includes locating the tank, checking its condition and capacity, confirming where it discharges to, and assessing whether the system meets the General Binding Rules. A thorough survey will also look at access for emptying and maintenance, and whether the system is reasonably sized for the property. You'll get a written report you can pass to solicitors or buyers.
When you need one
Here's when people usually get in touch:
- Buying a property with a septic tank, cesspit or treatment plant
- Selling one, and need to tell the buyer what you have
- Told by a surveyor, buyer or neighbour that your system may not comply
- Inherited a system and don't know its history
Typical cost
Costs vary by specialist, the size of the system and how easy it is to reach. You'll get a clear quote before any work starts.
Cornwall questions
Does the tank need emptying before the survey? + −
Often, yes. Many specialists need the tank empty to inspect it properly, and some can arrange emptying as part of the visit for an extra cost. If you know roughly how full it is, mention this when you get in touch.
What do I tell a buyer? + −
By law you need to tell a buyer in writing what the system is, where it is, and how it's maintained. A survey gives you something concrete to base that on, and who pays for any upgrade is then something you and the buyer agree between you.
Why do so many older Cornwall properties discharge straight to a stream? + −
It's a common legacy of how these systems were originally built, particularly on coastal and estuary properties. It isn't allowed under the General Binding Rules, and plans to replace or upgrade it should usually be in place within about 12 months. A survey will tell you whether it applies to your system.
Does a holiday let need a bigger system than a normal house? + −
It can do. A system sized for a small household may struggle with the heavier, more concentrated use a holiday let sees through summer. A specialist can assess whether the current setup is adequate for how the property is actually used.
How it works
- Tell us your postcode and what you need — a survey, a repair, or just advice.
- We match you with one independent specialist who covers your area, not a list of several chasing you for the work.
- You deal with them directly from there to arrange and pay for the work.
How we choose specialists
We introduce you to an independent specialist operating in your area who covers the type of work you need. You're under no obligation to use them, and it costs you nothing. See how we make money.