jimboy2 Posted January 27, 2015 Posted January 27, 2015 Going to cut the story really short We are currently in the process of buying a 10 year old house. Received the contracts today along with details of a service charge. This is the 1st we have heard of a service charge, is this the norm?? Not happy at all. It's for a water pump station. Quote
Ekona Posted January 27, 2015 Posted January 27, 2015 If you're not connected to mains water (which you should've noticed after the survey), then how else are you going to get water? If it's not a large sum, then suck it up. If it is, walk away. Does the service charge cover all maintenance too? As in, if the thing breaks down completely you're not responsible for rebuild costs as well. I'm assuming it's out in the sticks a bit? Seems odd to have a new house not connected to the mains. Quote
ATTAK Z Posted January 27, 2015 Posted January 27, 2015 Is it not the other way round ? - i.e. a pump to get the foul drainage into a public sewer Quote
Ekona Posted January 27, 2015 Posted January 27, 2015 That would be a foul pumping station, not a water pump station. Which one is it? It's a good question, albeit not that important. Quote
jimboy2 Posted January 27, 2015 Author Posted January 27, 2015 Sorry it's a foul pumping station. Quote
jimboy2 Posted January 27, 2015 Author Posted January 27, 2015 The charge is also VARIABLE, this is the word that scares me a bit. Quote
ATTAK Z Posted January 27, 2015 Posted January 27, 2015 That will be basically a maintenance charge which everyone will have to pay ... lots of properties are hit with maintenance charges be they for foul drainage, play areas, common recreation areas etc.. If you think about it the charges have to be variable in order to keep up with depreciation, inflation etc. Quote
Ekona Posted January 27, 2015 Posted January 27, 2015 Okay, so that still makes sense, but again why was this not picked up in the survey? What did it say regarding sewage? Ask the owner what they've paid per annum for the last few years, has it changed at all? Who owns the station? Who is responsible if it breaks? What contingency is in place when it does stop working? None of this would stop me buying the house, but I'd want the answers. And I'd certainly want words with whoever did your survey! Quote
andybp Posted January 27, 2015 Posted January 27, 2015 if you can get the pumping station adopted by the local waste water co. it will become their responsibility and you will then only have to pay your water rates. some times they won't take it on if it's not up to their standards or maybe they just haven't been made aware of it Quote
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