What does this mean?

FireWyrm

Hi all,

I'm in the middle of buying a Victorian mid terrace house near Daventry. I've just received the mortgage valuation back and reading it, there is this passage :

"Tests by the Health Protection Agency have identified some properties in the area as having natural levels of radon gas in excess of the limits considered acceptable"

My question is, is this gas something that is dangerous? Should I run a mile from the sale? Will this affect the health of my children?

hcb42

I dont think it is a problem, had exact same thing here nr bingham.

dkmax_2

FireWyrm wrote: »

My question is, is this gas something that is dangerous? Should I run a mile from the sale? Will this affect the health of my children?

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It tends to get trapped in homes that are built on bed-rock containing uranium and thus exposes the residents to slightly increased levels of radiation. There are many such sites in the UK.

There is a dedicated website from the Health Protection Agency which covers such issues as buying houses in radon 'Affected Areas':

http://www.ukradon.org/

FireWyrm

I've read the website provided but it is quite confusing. On the one hand, it seems to indicate that there is a slight increase in the incidence of lung cancer in such areas and on the other, one graph suggests that Radon is more harmful than radioactive fallout :eek

Which is right? Does it make the house unsalable?

Johnhowell

I understand that properties in Radon areas (Cornwall for example) can have radon detectors fitted as well extra ventilation to the foundations so that the radon gas does not collect into higher concentration. Not necessarily "dangerous" and is controllable. Possibly speak to local environmental health officer in local council?

FireWyrm

Johnhowell wrote: »

I understand that properties in Radon areas (Cornwall for example) can have radon detectors fitted as well extra ventilation to the foundations so that the radon gas does not collect into higher concentration. Not necessarily "dangerous" and is controllable. Possibly speak to local environmental health officer in local council?

Yes, I'll do that. I've re-read and for my area as far I can tell, there are 5-10% of houses that MAY be affected....hmmm....sounds like it MAY be a non existent issue. I wish I know whether it truly was dangerous or whether the EHD have just got their collective knickers in a twist.

dkmax_2

FireWyrm wrote: »

Yes, I'll do that. I've re-read and for my area as far I can tell, there are 5-10% of houses that MAY be affected....hmmm....sounds like it MAY be a non existent issue. I wish I know whether it truly was dangerous or whether the EHD have just got their collective knickers in a twist.

You can't quantify the risk until you test for it. All that you know at present is that the risk in that area is not zero. When you know the extent of the problem in that property, if any, you can take action to mitigate it by mechanical ventilation etc.

Ask the vendors if they have ever tested for it and also ask if you can leave a test kit. They are quite cheap and you can get meaningful results after a week of exposure but allow another week or so for analysis. In the time-scale of house purchasing this isn't very long and can be done in parallel to the usual searches, survey etc.

Caroline73_2

Northamptonshire has naturally high levels of radon gas so any house you buy there will show the same. Apparently there are things you can do but Ive lived in Northamptonshire for 25 years and never done anything about it.

Hannahkw1

I've lived in bath my whole life and I'm ok! The house I'm buying (also in bath) said the same thing! I'm not worried at all because it affects such a large amount of the uk!!

Davesnave

dkmax wrote: »

Ask the vendors if they have ever tested for it and also ask if you can leave a test kit. They are quite cheap and you can get meaningful results after a week of exposure but allow another week or so for analysis. In the time-scale of house purchasing this isn't very long and can be done in parallel to the usual searches, survey etc.

They won't necessarily tell you the truth.

I was delightfully vague when asked about the house I sold with a slightly over the top reading. There was no complusion about the testing I did, and the kit could have been thrown in the bin, or equally, it could have been put in an inappropriate place. Some rooms, by their nature, have higher readings than others. It's only a very rough guide if only one test is done.

I'm afraid that the market is hard enough already, so if someone interested in my property asked me to place a tester in there, I'd smile sweetly, accede to their request,and then leave it for most of the week in the shed!

kittieviolet

Hi
I live in Northamptonshire. I have bought 2 properties here, both have had the same statements concerning radon on the survey, but from what I understood most of the properties in the area do.