Homecheck site is rubbish for this house

nigel_root

For W5 1NZ Homecheck gives a load of warnings about landfill, industrial use and pollution. It is, as far as I know, a load of rubbish. In fact W5 1NZ was built on farm land in 1908. There's an electricity substation (transformer) that's been here for years and doesn't leak. As for pollution, it's London for crying out loud, but better than most of the city. Homecheck was recommended in the Moneysaving Expert email 9.3.11. But check it for yourself on Google Earth.
Regards,
Nigel Root 9.3.11

cheapscate

I agree! Looked up my post code and I am aware that there were fields here that belonged to a farm dating back the last 100+ years (with no farm buildings in the immediate vicinity) yet Homecheck says that my area has a high previous level of industrial use. It also talks about a moderate subsidence risk - well I was a parish councillor and I heard most things that went on around here and I have never heard of any subsidence. It also states we live in an area of risk of flooding - well having lived here for the past decade I have never seen any floods or heard of any historically . To get real details you need to pay them money ...hmmm I wonder if that is behind it....

topbadger

It's amusingly inaccurate for our place, too. Not only does it claim it's old industrial land (it was farmland before the Victorians spread out to this part of London), it also reckons we're in a high flood risk area. We're at the top of a hill, and if our place floods literally 80% of London would be completely submerged!

yellowbear

I would have expected it to mention the mainline train track that runs under my house!

Storck

Has anyone not had it tell you that it has historical industrial use?

My home has just been told that it is whereas knowing the local history it has only ever been farming or houses.

The rest of it seemed fairly accurate except for the subsidence. Again I think it might be aimed at getting you to pay for a full report.

paddyrg

Just tried it, apparently my georgian neighbourhood on the side of a hill has flood risk, radon, pollution, subsidence, and yes, industrial use. I can only imagine they count farming as industry. Or old church land which was sold off. Can't say I'm too worried ;-)

Gigervamp

I thought Radon was only in Cornwall? Apparently, there's a high risk of it in my neck of the woods. It mentioned historical industrial use. That'll be the old clay pits and brickworks that I've seen on old maps of the area.

It's quite interesting to read though.

Esqui

It's not the best, having tried it. My old house says it's at risk of flooding, despite being on top of a cliff (and that's very well protected). And the 'high' historical use will probably be from when it was a turkey farm

peter_the_piper

We have high historical use and pollution. That will be the Roman Iron works then as its only been farmland since. There is a chap making a few bricks down the road so maybe the high industrialisation is down to him.