Septic Tank Surveys · Shropshire
Septic Tank & Drainage Surveys in Shropshire
We work with independent specialists covering Shrewsbury, Pontesbury, Bishop's Castle and the surrounding villages, for surveys, compliance checks and replacements alike. 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 Shropshire homeowners should know
Shropshire is one of the more rural English counties, so a septic tank or treatment plant is a normal part of owning a property here rather than the exception.
Ground conditions vary — rock, clay and gravel all appear across the county — which affects how well a drainage field performs, and it's one of the first things a specialist will assess.
Part of Shropshire sits within the Shropshire Hills National Landscape, which extends right up to the Welsh border in the south of the county. Planning policy here is handled by Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council, and work on a system can mean extra planning or environmental checks alongside the usual drainage rules.
Many brooks and ditches run through the county, and — as everywhere — a septic tank discharging straight into one of these isn't allowed under the General Binding Rules.
Barn and farm conversions are common here, and some share a drainage system with a neighbouring property. If that's your situation, it's worth having a survey clarify exactly how the system is set up before relying on assumptions.
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.
Shropshire 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.
My property is close to the Welsh border — do the same rules apply? + −
This page covers the General Binding Rules as they apply in England. Just across the border, Natural Resources Wales regulates private sewage systems under its own, broadly similar framework. If your property sits right on the boundary, a local specialist can confirm which rules actually apply to you.
We have a system shared with a neighbouring farm conversion — does that change anything? + −
It can do, since shared systems raise questions about who's responsible for what. A survey can clarify how the system is set up and what maintenance it needs, which is a useful starting point before agreeing anything with a neighbour.
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.