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socceronly
Member
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# Posted: 2 Aug 2022 12:06am
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My neighbor, an old lady, found out she had an old 100 year old oil tank in her back yard that used to service the house.
She made the mistake of calling the city... who said it had to be removed.
I saw this thing, it wasn't that big.... but site surveys, engineers, soil technicians, geo technicians and a dozen environmental grifters all required by the city, ect ect ect later.... she is out $90,000.
This seems absolutely criminal. There are a few places I can call. But before I do, I just want to confirm this is absolute BS.
What do you think?
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 2 Aug 2022 02:38am
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1000-2000 US
She should get the press involved.
And then sue the city.
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 2 Aug 2022 02:44am
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https://www.realestatemagazine.ca/a-hidden-oil-tank-can-ruin-your-whole-week/
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Houska
Member
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# Posted: 2 Aug 2022 06:00am
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Sorry to hear it.
The problem isn't the environmental stuff in and of itself, but the buck-passing, risk-avoiding of our municipal officials and bureaucrats. If there's any slight risk of whatever, they layer on reports and inspections and certifications with no consequences for them, just so no-one can come after them later and say "you missed this". The $ add up. The $90k does seem woefully excessive if there was no actual leakage and remediation required.
Unfortunately, not sure what to do now. She may be able to lean on some of the service providers to reduce their fee if they're clear someone else did a follow-on inspection that absolves them of liability, but it may be a tough slog. Or one or a couple of the providers may be billing unreasonably and need a bit of public pressure.
These things, there's usually various points where you can choose to act and stay silent and/or ask forgiveness later (and have an inspection to make sure the problem is mitigated), but if you just go step by step you're in for a load of cost. Or moments where you need to define scope of work/consulting super carefully as you go along, negotiating cost all the way. But that's now water under the bridge.
If she bought the house not too long ago, she *might* have a claim against previous owner. Or if there was a leak caused by poor removal. But it may also be a slog to get the money.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 2 Aug 2022 09:49am
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Has she contacted her insurance? A house cant be mortgaged with a inground tank today.
But yes 90k seams like alot or it's been leaking for a long time and theres lots of contamination to remove. You basicly wright a blank check when you inform authorities of a inground tank.
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socceronly
Member
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# Posted: 2 Aug 2022 03:28pm
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It's the second one, $50,000 for the house up the street same situation.
I am going to try CBC Marketplace.
Thanks everyone.
JM
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 2 Aug 2022 05:49pm
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Quoting: socceronly It's the second one, $50,000 for the house up the street same situation.
Theres no such thing as the same situation in oil tank remediation. One could leak and one could have not leaked a drop.
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