dream house but... noise!

djm1972

You'd be amazed how quickly you get used to a regular noise. Your brain learns the pattern, blanks it out and it really is as if you can't hear it at all!

I've lived in an apartment backing onto a main road - busy late into the night; and now a house near a motorway. It's just not an issue at all!

mikee_j

Thamks for all the responses. The concenous seems to be that most people get used to the noise! From what i remember the house doesn't vibrate when the tube goes past, but again this is something which will be more evident at night time.

I'm seeing the house tomorrow for a second viewing so will get a real good idea of the noise issue and what can be done to improve the windows.

Just to clarify, the house backs onto a London Underground Track, NOT a railway line so no heavy frieght trains and no trains during the night. Still though it means a tube going each direction every 10min.

martindow

mikee_j wrote: »

Just to clarify, the house backs onto a London Underground Track, NOT a railway line so no heavy frieght trains and no trains during the night. Still though it means a tube going each direction every 10min.

Have a look at the times of first and last trains on the TFL web site - tube lines start early and finish late. You may only have peace for a few hours between 1am and 5am.

Claremac

One thing that nobody has mentioned is resale. That may not seem important now but there will be a time when you come to sell and your buyers will have all the same issues or potential issues with noise which you are currently having. This will almost certainly put some off so maybe it should be a factor in reaching your own decision?

mikee_j

so... I had the second viewing today. It reinforced how perfect the actual house is and the layout of the space. However, the main focus was of course on the tube noise. It wasn't as bad as i remebered and the house does not shake or vibrate when the tube passes by, but this would probably be something that is more evident late in the evening when trying to sleep.

With regards to the windows, the current vendor has pretty much done everything possible to reduce the noise. Double glazing with secondary glazing is installed. When in the living room on the ground floor the noise is not an issue, any conversation, background music or television noise will drone out the tube noise. The main concern is still the second bedroom which faces the tube line. There was a gap in the secondary glazing which mean't it wasn't working to full potential.

Need to have a really serious think about the property. Firstly, is the noise actually noise? It certainly isn't an annoying noise such as, in my opinion, random cars/buses passing the windows or heavy footsteps from people upstairs (my problem with my current flat!). Can i get a good deal on the property?

aargghh... so frustraing, why do we have to make comprimises?

thanks for all the advice and comments so far!

grossbeak

I once lived in a flat in Islington which backed on to a rail line, lots of shunting and squealing of wheels. I can only reiterate that you really do get used to the noise and in a strange way it is almost comforting to have familiar sounds going on around you. I found a barking dog much more irritating.

mikee_j

i think i might put in an offer well below the asking price and then play the waiting game. I know i'm in a strong position and don't really need to move quickly. See what the vendors position really is?!

grossbeak

Keep us posted.

monkey_soup

My old house had the bakerloo line at the bottom of the garden... after a couple of weeks I didn't even notice the noise at all. In fact, one time when the line had problems and the trains stopped for a while the noise was actually conspicuous in its absence! It really does become a comfort for some reason!

mikee_j

right... decision made. Its a definate NO!

had a good long think about things and decided that it really would not be sensible to offer on the house for a number of reasons but the main being the uncertainty of whether the tube line will be expanded in the future and the inevitable increased frequency of trains in London.

Also, i found out that the asking price is actually circa 5% above the price he paid for the house in March 2007!!! ridiculous price, he's never going to sell at that price.

thanks to everyone for you comments and advice... you have helped tremendously in making my decision.