May 2006 - Property News with Bruce de Wert Following upon last month's "good news" from the Scottish Parliament for landlords, this month it is the turn of anyone with a septic tank. As from the first of April, it has been an offence to have a septic tank and outfall without being registered! Did you know? It is remarkable how the Scottish Parliament can make criminals of us all without bothering to tell us. The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, without a hint of embarrassment, describes this as "deregulation" on their website. Apparently, we shouldn't be too hard on them because they could have charged you £200 but, in fact, are only charging £94. Clearly, we should be grateful. Apparently, we are not being licensed but only registered. Perhaps there is a good reason for registration but if it is not licensing, what is it? Is there any difference? One has to ask why. Call me "thrawn", if you will, but I can't help thinking that once we are on the database there will be a terrible temptation to squeeze an annual fee or tax from us. My contact at SEPA tells me that they are applying a "light touch" and won't seek to prosecute. Perhaps they do not have the staff to enforce the new law. Their hope is that when a property is sold it will then be registered. Meantime, you can revel in your new found criminal status. An application form is to be found at http://www.sepa.org.uk/pdf/wfd/regimes/appforms/discharge_reg.pdf. I wish you joy and hope that I do not see you in the Sheriff Court. The property market in Caithness and Sutherland is remarkably strong and prices are still rising. Properties are selling well. There was a definite "Easter rush" and buyers are out there looking. Most properties are going to closing dates which is a very good sign for sellers although buyers will be less happy. One area which is not faring so well is the market for plots. I'm still trying to work out why this is. Two years ago, we couldn't get enough. Perhaps there is an oversupply. On the subject of the oft talked about but unknown "big development" which is going to bring wealth and prosperity to us all, I have had various discussions recently with those who should be in the know and I can tell that you no-one that I have spoken to, in the higher echelons, knows anything about such a thing. Many clients and friends have said to me that there must be something going on - otherwise why would the likes of Tesco and Asda invest here? Surely, they say, they must know something that we don't. In my view, I'm afraid it is much simpler than that. The executives in of these companies usually have a fixed term of three to five years. There is a master plan which says that they must open a number of new stores to keep up with the competition. Frankly, all they have done is look at a map and see where they isn't a store and decided to put one there. No conspiracy, no "big development". They don't care much whether it makes a profit or not because they have achieved their part in the master plan and they can leave those who come after them to pick up any pieces. Anybody who knows differently, please telephone immediately and let me know. I can, then, invest heavily and retire early on the profits. Of course, in the best traditions of a conspiracy, I shall keep you, entirely, in the dark! Having said all that, I do believe that there will be a "Tesco factor". Having these types of stores here makes it much easier for CASE and others to sell the area to incoming investors. If I am right, their mere presence could start a virtuous circle and they could themselves be the "big development". Let us hope so. Anyone who would like to comment or for this column to touch on any particular matter, please email me on bruce.de.wert@georgesons.co.uk. Bruce de Wert has 25 years of experience and is now Principal Solicitor and Estate Agent at Georgesons, Wick and Thurso. < Back to Property News