septic tank woes

What is the name of your state? North Carolina

we purchased a home financed by the owner in Sept 1999. The MLS listing said it had city water and sewer. something started bubbling up in the back yard and surprise, surprise! We had an overflowing septic tank! The house has only city water, not sewer, and it gets worse. the old septic tank is rotted out and it will cost $5000 for a new one, or $4000 to tap to city water. Can we sue the former owner?

[HomeGuru]

[quote]Originally posted by cindy petrovich
[b]What is the name of your state? North Carolina

we purchased a home financed by the owner in Sept 1999.

**A: Cindy, is this the same home that had a fire and was damaged 75%?
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The MLS listing said it had city water and sewer. something started bubbling up in the back yard and surprise, surprise! We had an overflowing septic tank! The house has only city water, not sewer, and it gets worse. the old septic tank is rotted out and it will cost $5000 for a new one, or $4000 to tap to city water.

**A: why would you even tap the City water? Don't you mean City sewer or wastewater line?
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Can we sue the former owner?

**A: you may have a disclosure case against the Seller. But if the information on your non-sewer connected property was available through public records or investigation, your claim would be very watered-down.
Had you completed your due-diligence prior to closing, you would have discovered through research, the real facts and would have known that information in the MLS description was false. It would be a that time that you could have decided to terminate the deal or request that the Seller pay the $4K or 5K to correct the problem.