Generally, landlords are responsible for major components of the rental property, such as septic tanks. If you are a landlord with a rental home in Warrenton VA, you are responsible for the septic system maintenance of that property in Warrenton, VA
Many landlords prefer to take care of landscaping for the property themselves, and spell that out in rental contracts, restricting renters from making any changes to the property landscaping without first receiving permission from the landlord. Septic tanks are an important part of the landscape — they may have special drainage fields that can’t be used for anything else, or they may limit where people can dig down in the ground. By placing control of the landscape in the landlord’s hands, the contract also gives the landlord control of the area around the septic tank.
Virginia requires the landlord to provide septic system maintenance in Warrenton, VA, as part of their general duties. Landlords must make houses livable and provide services to repair natural deterioration that would occur to the house regardless of the tenant. Septic tanks and septic system maintenance in Warrenton, VA falls under this category, along with all major plumbing issues. This means that a tenant doesn’t have to provide septic system maintenance in Warrenton, VA themselves, and that the landlord must follow local regulations regarding the treatment of septic systems and the bacteria they use.
When there are septic tank problems, the landlord typically investigates the matter to see who’s at fault. If the problem was caused directly by the tenant, the landlord can require the tenant to pay for the repairs. This occurs if inappropriate materials flushed down into the septic system caused the problems, or if some other action — such as unauthorized landscaping— led to septic tank damage. If there’s a disagreement, a mediator can be called in to investigate and settle the dispute.
Sometimes problems with the septic tank and plumbing are associated with the local area as a whole. Low water pressure, for instance, is the fault of neither the landlord nor the tenant but is a city problem that the government must correct. Earthquakes and other natural disasters can cause damage to septic systems. In those situations, an insurance company may step in to manage septic repair and septic system maintenance in Warrenton, VA.
If you have any questions about septic system maintenance in Warrenton, VA, call SES. Based in Warrenton, Virginia, SES offers 24-hour emergency response for septic system malfunctions. We’ve been inspecting, servicing, maintaining and repairing septic systems for residential and commercial customers in Northern Virginia since 1987.