Buying next to a school/college

totalguitar

A property we like is for sale but it's next to a fairly new college. There is a path just outside the back fence that the kids (13-18) use to get to and from the college. You can see the college from a couple of upstairs windows and from the back of the house (garden, kitchen, dining, conservatory) but only through the fence. Is this likely to effect future resale potential ? We have lived were we are for 14 years and would probably have at least 10 in the new house but just wondered if this is a deciding factor. The house has been on sale "for ages" according to the seller but she thinks it's because it's one of the biggest/most expensive houses in the area. Any comments or experience greatly appreciated.

mrsdee

Ithink there are some benefits to living next to an educational establishment - much of the year there wont be anyone there and so you have peace and quiet. If you have children, they could go there! Often being close to a college attracts a higher price (depending on its reputation). You have the benefit of knowing they arent going to build a great big housing estate or industrial estate there. If you are concerned about the walkway, you could highlight any issues with the Head - they are normally more than keen to keep the local community happy. This is all just my humble opinion but I think it's good. Good luck!!

stanmoresaver

It's like buying a house next to a pub, a train line or a football ground, of course it has an effect on the price, the question to ask is does it matter to you.

It should enable the house to have other features for the money that you wouldn't get on a house that wasn't near to a college (thats probably why you like it!). The same will apply if/when you sell. The only variable would be the reputation of the college, which would enhance/tarnish the local area's reputation

mummytofour

You would have noise when the kids go to and from school, but that is the only downside I can see, I guess you need to decided how much you really want the house.

I always try and remember that no house has everything I want, something has to give.

Good luck anyway.

Vxx

Me_Myself_2

A house at the top of our estate has a path passing their fence to the local primary school, but it is also used as a shortcut by everyone. The fence has been destroyed several times and the owners' lives have been made a misery. Think hard before you buy.

jonnyenglish

I would steer clear with a barge pole!

I lived opposite a secondary school in a rural town for about two years. The school was a good school and the majority of students disciplined but I still had problems:

1) Footballs being kicked onto the street from the school onto my parked car.

2) Parking bedlam from 0830-0930 and 1500-1600 in all the neighbouring streets from parents' cars and school buses. Parents think they have the god-given right to park their 4 X 4 with a bullbar across your drive to drop off their little darlings.

3) Truants stood on the corner swearing and hanging around with expelled Vicky Pollards during school time.

4) Boy racers visiting their pre-pubescent girlfriends during the lunch break to show off their new doof, doof, doof, stereo woofers.

5) That path at the back of your house will act as a magnet for underage smokers hiding from the teachers at break and lunchtime.

6) The last straw for me was when I went through the passageway that leads to my back garden and discovered four Catherine Tates drinking cider sitting in my shed during schooltime. Am I bothered?

Hmmmmm, wonder why the house is not selling? My advice would be to ensure that you check the house and its environs at ALL hours of the day to see what it is like. Obviously, the school holidays would bring a welcome respite.

Good Luck!

Jonny.

totalguitar

Jonnyenglish, i share your concerns, BUT

1. There is no room to play football ( i will check the fence for football marks - thanks for pointing that out)

2. The college opens at 8.45 and there is a proper turning circle for dropping the kids off, although with it being 13-18 year olds the majority walk.

3. Truants are possible although it would be a stupid place to stand as they would be seen and the college has low truancy rate as they chase up on missing students.

4. The kids are not allowed to leave the premesis during lunchtime

5. As above, cannot leave premesis during breaks

The house has been on sale for a while now, over a year. It started at 239, was raised to 259, reduced to 239 then 229 and now 219. I think i will make an informal offer of 210 to see if they are intereted.

conradmum

It looks as though you've made your mind up, but I would echo Jonnyenglish's remarks.
Have you visited the house during drop off/ pick up time? I lived near a school and parents were pretty bad for parking across my driveway, blocking me in etc.You say there's a turning circle, but is there space for them to park? And if the majority of the kids walk to school, then it'll be the only one in the country where this still happens.
Then there's the noise factor too. Teenagers can be pretty unpleasant. Do you have young children? Would you mind them listening to the effing and blinding they'll hear from the pathway at the back of the house?
It doesn't have to be a particularly bad school to have some bad kids.
Good luck but I think you're making a mistake.

totalguitar

conradmum wrote:

Have you visited the house during drop off/ pick up time?

Not yet but i will be next week !

My son actually goes to that college so i will take him there 15 minutes earlier than usuall and get my wife to collect him just to see what its like. The street with the house in is actually pointing away from the school, it's the rear of the house that backs onto the path. There would be no advantage for parents to park in the street to collect kids as it's far easier to use the college car park and roads. Will let you know what happens and what we decide.

silvercar

Many schools have or may introduce CCTV to protect their property when empty (and monitor activity during the day). Check that there is no way that any cameras are (or could be sited) with a view into the rear of your property. I know of one school which has a rotating camera allowing full view of the end house's kitchen!

Babylonian_2

I would just emphasise seeing it at different times of the day - my first house was behind a primary school - pretty noisy at breaktimes but nothing conmpared to when they had school discos - so loud my house shook !