Is this part of inspection?

[Marci Stein]

Was just told by an inspector that if they want to know if the house has a septic or cesspool I need to hire a septic company. 

Is he right? Is that the only way to find out? Seems very expensive! 

Thanks. 

[Colleen F.]

A home inspector doesn't do septic inspections. It should be on the disclosure whether the house is on sewer or septic. Also the town will have a record of whether you are on septic and may be able to tell if it is a cesspool or septic system based on what has been permitted and when. If no permit it is probably older and may likely be a cesspool.    In RI,  the DEM has to approve septic plans so if you have a similar agency they may have a record too and as of last year in RI you can't have a cesspool so anything new is a septic.

I don't know in NY but in some states on property transfer you need to get a septic inspection but make sure you know what that means. In MA it was an inspection called title 5 you had to pass.  In AZ it was just a certificate saying you have a septic. In the end if it is a private system I would have it inspected.