Cistern ?

[liznindy]

Subject has cistern which is no longer in use....Subject is connected to public water and sewer.

Does FHA require anything furthur with regards to the cistern?

 

[Ben Vukicevich SRA]

Liz,

I'm a dazzling suburbanite so I have no experience with cisterns. I don't know if they are in the ground or on the roof but if it is anything like an old hand dug well or cesspool that has been abandoned, I would call for it to be properly filled in as per local code.

It is a potential safety hazard so I would shove the proper solution to the problem onto the local authority via a VC 11G condition.

We just had an old lady fall into an abandoned cesspool in Stratford and it made the news big time...and we've had public sewer for over 40 years. Thankfully, the mail man heard her yelling for help so she was rescued before she was severely injured from exposure.


Ben

 

[Otis Key]

Ben :lol: :lol: A cistern is for the other end but utlimately gets to the same place. :rainfro: :rofl: :rainfro: :rofl: :rainfro:

 

[Ben Vukicevich SRA]

Hey,

I said I was a "dazzling suburbanite" in my initial post.....

The last time I saw one was in the Virgin Islands and they're usually on the roof and you throw Clorox in them...maybe Steve Santora is an expert on them...he lives down there...in the land of no fresh water.

Ben

 

[CANative]

I have two on my property. They're concrete "boxes" with no bottom. Water percolates down the hillside and collects in them. The house is 130 years old and there's an old piping system to the house which has been disconnected. Someone also put a little electric pump and pressure tank but that's also been disconnected. I'm going to refurbish the pump and tank and use the cisterns for drip irrigation in a "community" garden I'm planning.

One of the draw backs is they can cause a vector issue. We put little fish in them and it takes care of the problem.

 

[liznindy]

I've been told by the home inspector that filling one in can cause problems (water in basement).

I am thinking securing the cover to the cistern would solve any safety concerns.

 

[Ben Vukicevich SRA]

Liz,

Where is the cistern located??

Ben

 

[Don Clark]

B) Liz,

I know this was not part of your question, but........FHA will accept a cistern in some parts of the country as a water supply. I would suggest that if the cistern would cause a safety issue, a soundness issue, or a sanitation issue then it should be dealt with on those grounds. My suggestion is let the DEU know it is there, it's condition, and what it is (they may not know), and let them deal with it.

 

[Charlotte Dixon]

Originally posted by Don Clark@May 22 2005, 02:38 PM
My suggestion is let the DEU know it is there, it's condition, and what it is (they may not know), and let them deal with it.

I love your logic, Don!

In recent years, I was told by a government entity:

...Report what you see. It's not your job to dictate policy or procedure. Collect your fee and move on to the next job....

I like being a monkey sometimes! Sure is easier than trying to figure things out!

 

[Ben Vukicevich SRA]

Charlotte

Unfortunately for FHA, the appraiser requires the necessary repairs and certifications to bring the property to MPS.

The DEU can waive repairs or can add repair items to the appraiser's MPS repairs based on their institutions's lending guidelines.

Simply reporting what you see to the DEU and letting the DEU "handle it" does not create a definite EA or HC on which to base the the subject's market value as of the effective date of the appraisal

Ben