Septic disclosure

[Mr Rex]

Dan, in an urban area, why would it make a difference, they are on public sewer typically.

 

[DJBanas]

Mike:

You are right about public sewers in urban areas. My point was that # of bedrooms, anywhere, is not a good measure for septic systems. I have also done an appraisal in a rural/suburban community where there were 10 people living in a 2 bedroom cape COD - 3 adults (2 men, 1 woman - didn't ask any questions about that, 7 children sleeping dorm style) - septic and well. Township didn't use occupancy permits so no restrictions.

 

[Mr Rex]

And how many baths? Its more likely that the number of BRs or maybe total rooms would be a better determination of occupancy than # of baths, since many other cultures don't share our fascination with multiple bathrooms. I can build a 10 BR house with one bath if I like. Its a game played fairly often here around the lakes on new construction. You will see a 4000sf house with full basement and only 2 of the rooms have closets, to meet the local code definition of a BR. Go back a year or so later for the Refi, and its now 4-6 BRs including the basement. So in any case, I tend to ask for a copy of the septic permit, ot I disclose that I can't verify in the report. CYA, you know. Realtors have appaently got the word too, almost all list # of BRs permitted per septic.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

We call it hot-bedding. Near the chicken processing plants you can find people sleeping in 4 - 5 beds in shifts. One slum lord in Bentonville was fined for allowing too many occupants...The minimum per person is 120 SF...her house was 1600 SF...which means there had to be at least 14 people living there to violate the law...she charged by the head per week. Making a killing.