Backing onto a railway line - effect on house value?

Bricks

I'm interested in a flat and trying to make a sensible judgement of what it's worth. I've looked at the sold prices of similar flats on the street (and nearby streets) but this property differs from all of them in that it is very close to a railway line (it's in a little terrace of three houses; the first house is built right up against a railway viaduct/bridge and the one I'm interested in is at the other end of the terrace). The railway line is perhaps 10-15 meters from the back of the house.

Does proximity to a railway line have a significant effect on value? In other words, if I get and idea of what I reckon the value is of that kind of flat on that street, should I take off a bit on account of the railway line?

sunshinetours

Difficult one. Previous thread here I remember may help

giddypenguin

I would say it would affect value for a number of reasons, the noise factor would probably affect the immediate area, but for that specific flat you could have privicy issues, unless you have high fences and the rumble rumble of the trains coming through. The other thing is could you actually live with it???

ukcarper

The type of line would also have an effect I have lived next to a couple of railway lines and i dont think they affected the price very much but they were not main lines.

Bricks

sunshinetours wrote: »

Difficult one. Previous thread here I remember may help

Thanks, have had a look at that thread.

Bricks

For me personally it's not really an issue. In fact in some ways it's a positive - you don't look onto the back of other houses and get quite a long view across the railway lines and beyond. I quite like the idea of seeing the trains going past too. The privacy issue doesn't really bother me, and I'm fairly sure I'll get used to the noise.

So from my point of view it doesn't really detract from the value - it's just the resale value that worries me. Don't want to pay more than I can sell it for some day.

ManicMum

HI

I lived in a flat backing onto railway line. Didn't really bother me as there were trees and didn't have anyone overlooking me. Just make sure you're not so close your plates rattle and pictures fall off the wall!

I think it will make a difference to price but then you will probably be buying it a bit cheaper than others so will be selling bit cheaper (swings and roundabouts). Sometimes the train would stop on signals outside the flat and in winter the trees were bare so would give the commuters a little wave if doing the washing up!!

When I went to sell it, survey picked up on the extension to the property cracking away from th main building. Buyer had to get structural engineer's report. I never did find out the outcome as he said he was willing to go ahead so took the money and ran! I know nothing about such matters, but would check the constant vibrations would not affect this property in any way.

I find traiin noise less intrusive than roads and less smelly/polluting too.

hope that helps.

timmyt

Bricks wrote: »

I'm interested in a flat and trying to make a sensible judgement of what it's worth. I've looked at the sold prices of similar flats on the street (and nearby streets) but this property differs from all of them in that it is very close to a railway line (it's in a little terrace of three houses; the first house is built right up against a railway viaduct/bridge and the one I'm interested in is at the other end of the terrace). The railway line is perhaps 10-15 meters from the back of the house.

Does proximity to a railway line have a significant effect on value? In other words, if I get and idea of what I reckon the value is of that kind of flat on that street, should I take off a bit on account of the railway line?

if it stops at your garden gate you are on to a winner

DVardysShadow

In the days of steam, if your house backed onto a railway near a signal where the trains stopped, you got free fuel. All you had to do was line up lots of tin cans on the back wall every morning and pick up all the coal in your garden in the evening.

boliston

I reckon that a lot of people would LIKE a house next to a rail line. My office is next to a main line and it's nice to see trains go past every few minutes.

pippa80

My partner loves trains and would probably see this as an advantage - but i would probably veto it!