How to get $60K to clean up a buried oil tank
1 in 3 older Seattle homes may have a buried oil tank. Cleanup can cost $100K, but WA offers $60K in free coverage. The catch? You have to claim it before July 1, 2025. Most buyers don’t even know this program exists.
If your house was built before 1980, there’s a decent chance it came with a buried heating oil tank.
If it leaks? Cleanup can cost over $100,000!
Good news: Washington’s Pollution Liability Insurance Agency (PLIA) will cover up to $60,000 of that.
Bad news: The program ends July 1, 2025. And you have just 180 days after closing to transfer the coverage. It’s free, but you have to actually do it.
Here's the fine print:
- The previous owner had to register the tank before July 2, 2020
- You must transfer the insurance within 180 days of closing
- The entire program sunsets July 1, 2025
- It's free to transfer, but you have to do it
This should be one of the first things you do after popping a bottle of champagne on closing night.
Why Nobody Tells You:
- Sellers forget because they're already spending your money
- Agents don’t always know. They close deals; they don’t dig up yards.
- It's buried deep on an antiquated government website no one reads
Your Action Plan:
- Check for an oil tank:
- Look for copper pipes in the basement
- Scan the yard for a mysterious metal cap
- Review the property survey and disclosure forms
- Transfer the existing registration here
Missed the 180-day window? You've got one last shot: Apply for the Heating Oil Loan and Grant Program open May 1-June 14, 2025
Pro Tip: Forward this to your real estate agent with the subject line: "Why didn't you mention this?"
P.S. Found this helpful? I’m learning all this the hard way and sharing as I go. Subscribe and I’ll send you more tips. No spam, no sales pitch, just one confused homeowner trying to save you from some unnecessary headaches.