---
title: "Buying a Massachusetts Home with Septic: Title 5 Guide"
description: "Buyer's checklist for Title 5: get the report, check its date and result, plan for a conditional pass or failure, and questions to ask."
canonical: https://title5roster.com/buyers-guide/
---

# Buyer's guide: Title 5 septic inspections

> Last updated 2026-10-13. Checked against the official sources listed at the end of this page.

Reviewed by Title 5 Roster staff

1. **Ask for the report early.** You are entitled to a copy. Check it's on the MassDEP form and signed by an approved inspector (verify on the [NEIWPCC list](https://neiwpcc.org/our-programs/wastewater/mass-title-5/listings-of-approved-system-inspectors-and-soil-evaluators/) or [our town pages](https://title5roster.com/towns/)).
2. **Check the date.** It must be within 2 years before closing, or 3 with annual pumping records.
3. **Read the result.** A conditional pass lists components to fix. A failure means an upgrade within 2 years.
4. **Negotiate.** Repair before closing, a price credit, or an escrow holdback are common. Get quotes before you agree on amounts.
5. **Understand the limits.** A pass describes the system on inspection day. If you plan to add bedrooms, a new inspection and possibly an upgrade may be needed.
6. **Check the town.** Some Boards of Health have stricter local rules.

## Frequently asked questions

**Can I buy a house with a failed Title 5?**

Yes. A failed system must be upgraded within 2 years (unless the Board of Health sets another schedule), and buyer and seller often negotiate a price credit or escrow. Talk to your attorney and lender.

**Do I get a copy of the report?**

Yes. The person acquiring title must receive a copy of the inspection report.

Sources: [Mass.gov: Buying or Selling Property with a Septic System](https://www.mass.gov/guides/buying-or-selling-property-with-a-septic-system) and [310 CMR 15.000 (Title 5)](https://www.mass.gov/regulations/310-CMR-1500-the-state-environmental-code-title-5), sections 15.300-15.305. Retrieved 2026-10-12. General information, not legal advice; local Boards of Health can have stricter rules.

## Sources

- [NEIWPCC list](https://neiwpcc.org/our-programs/wastewater/mass-title-5/listings-of-approved-system-inspectors-and-soil-evaluators/)
- [Mass.gov: Buying or Selling Property with a Septic System](https://www.mass.gov/guides/buying-or-selling-property-with-a-septic-system)
- [310 CMR 15.000 (Title 5)](https://www.mass.gov/regulations/310-CMR-1500-the-state-environmental-code-title-5)

## How do I find a MassDEP-approved Title 5 inspector?

[Browse all towns](https://title5roster.com/towns/) · [Browse by county](https://title5roster.com/counties/) · [Plymouth](https://title5roster.com/town/plymouth-ma/) · [Barnstable](https://title5roster.com/town/barnstable-ma/) · [Middleborough](https://title5roster.com/town/middleborough-ma/) · [Sandwich](https://title5roster.com/town/sandwich-ma/) · [Bourne](https://title5roster.com/town/bourne-ma/) · [Falmouth](https://title5roster.com/town/falmouth-ma/)