Basement bath not on public sewer

[Mark K]

IIRC, if the cost to connect to the municipal sewer is reasonable (who decides?) then it has to be connected.

In this case the owners would need to install a small pit and ejector pump to pump up to the muni sewer line.

I'd pretty much guarantee you that this setup does not comply with current codes and a lot of codes do not allow this type of setup to be grandfathered. This bath should have been connected at the time the house was connected to muni sewer. I'm thinking some inspector dropped a ball.

 

[Tom4value]

IIRC, if the cost to connect to the municipal sewer is reasonable (who decides?) then it has to be connected.

In this case the owners would need to install a small pit and ejector pump to pump up to the muni sewer line.

I'd pretty much guarantee you that this setup does not comply with current codes and a lot of codes do not allow this type of setup to be grandfathered. This bath should have been connected at the time the house was connected to muni sewer. I'm thinking some inspector dropped a ball.

I am thinking that, too. I haven't done any research yet. A client has a buyer looking into the property and wants an opinion if it could go FHA.

 

[Sadie]

I am thinking that, too. I haven't done any research yet. A client has a buyer looking into the property and wants an opinion if it could go FHA.

FHA only cares that it is up to code. It could be ok until there is a title transfer, in which case it needs to be hooked up to the sewer.

 

[Tom D]

Well maybe, if the expense is to high underwriter can waive it for public hook up. Not knowing where in the basement it is, and where the public line is, could be expensive ripping up that concrete floor for how many feet. Just like zoning things built in the past may still be grandfathered in until it needs to be replaced. And does that area even have a building code dept, and how strict are they.

I believe i would always put in an approx $ number on the cost to connect on the few i did, so that the underwriter could make that decision.

 

[Tom4value]

Ok, fast forward to now. Got the assignment and the broker is an actual FHA appraiser also! Changes the inspection to a great discussion. She noted that FHA Said that the town says that “the bathroom is “subject to code.” I will confirm Monday if this is true. If so, can the underwriter approve this? Asking because an underwriter can overrule the rule if the distance between a well and septic can overruled if the site does not allow it due to the site size.

 

[J Grant]

It would be cheaper for the owner to cap the line and take the toilet out rather than connect it to the sewer - a sink washroom in the basement or closet instead of a bathroom

 

[Tom D]

Are we the L&I police, if we don't give it any credit what difference does it make. That is only if it's a refi. A sale, i go with j Grant thought. Of course capping it is like a band aide that you can pull off later.

 

[J Grant]

Are we the L&I police, if we don't give it any credit what difference does it make. That is only if it's a refi. A sale, i go with j Grant thought. Of course capping it is like a band aide that you can pull off later.

Not our problem if they pull it off later.
That sounds odd doesn't it...

 

[Tom D]

Might be cheaper to part fill the tub and toilet with cement. But somehow, i missed that bathroom on the refi.