Contaminated Land?

sozy_bear

We are buying a 3 bed house and thought it was all going smoothly until our Solicitor came back with the searches and has come across possible contaminated land. Basically the land all around the whole area was used as a quarry but the problem is is that the environmental consultants are unable to issue a certificate stating that the property is free from contamination as they don't know what they have filled it in with and if this is not possible they have asked the vendors solicitor to request an "indeminity insurance" for 10 years.

Our solicitor has said that this could effect the saleability of the property if this is found to be conaminated land and after 9 yrs it would be very difficult to obtain further insurance and left in a position of being unable to sell. Also we have been advised that if it is contaminated we are responsibile to pay for the clear up as we are aware of the risks.

What do you think we should do? Do we take a gamble or do we walk away from it all? (sorry for this long posting!)

sozy_bear

Has there been anyone who has brought a house on contaminated lane and if so was it successful? did you manage to sell it again?

sozy_bear

miladyblue - sorry confused just clicked on the link, whats that all about?

sozy_bear

sorry still not getting it I click on the link and up pops a record playing some music what has that got to do with my contaminated land!

Pink.

Sozy bear, the user who posted it is posting the same thing all over MSE. Ignore it, a bg or the team will remove it soon.

Post by miladyblue reported. Please don't click on the link.

sozy_bear

Ahhhhhhhhr, thanks I hope I havent done any harm I've never come across that before. But anyway back to my query

Has there been anyone who has brought a house on contaminated lane and if so was it successful? did you manage to sell it again?

vansboy

We sold our yard, for development & a soil survey was needed for the buyer to have carried out, before they would let him build.

This meant having several test holes dug, with a JCB & the surveyor on site, to actually select the places for the holes & then taking a sample of soil for analasis.

Results were, unsurprisingly as it was used for our motor business, some assorted polutants. The surprise was considerable oil contanimation, from a spill back in the 1960's from a close by industrial site, together with arsnic as well!!

The required work to claen up, was to excavate more than 1metre down & replace the whole area with fresh infill.

Glad we didn't have to pay for this, as the land sale had already been concluded, else we might well have been a bit annoyed!!

So that gives an idea, on what's needed with contamination, BEFORE anythings built on - maybe it would be as well to look at another place instead, for you!

VB

sozy_bear

Thanks vansboy, do you mind if I ask whether you know how much that cost to rectify - I know your circumstances maybe slightly different to ours as the house is built on a quarry basically but they don't know what it has been filled in with? and secondly if you knew those circumstances when you brought it would you have gone ahead with it and did you sell it easily?

sorry for all those questions I am just concerned and confused as we really love this house and the area!

vansboy

The survey itself wasn't dear, as they already had access to a JCB, but the actual inspection, removal of samples (just a small bucketful, from each test holes & sending for analysis, cost around £1500 I understand.

The excavation, disposal of contaminated soil & infilling was probably around £6000 in real terms, but the guy we sold to was a builder, so had more contacts, to do it cheaper, I guess. The area was around 20mt x30mt x 1.5mt deep.

We initally bought the site as it was ideal for our business (selling vans) & never considered a survey, but this was more than 15years ago & we weren't asked to have one done, so didn't do it.

Would have made further investigations & probably done the clean up, if it had been forced upon us & still bought the site, as there were so few options open to us, for such a similar opportunity.

So that's a bit different to you, as there are plenty of other houses around - says me, who still can't find anywhere to move to, since selling the yard & our old house & moving here, as a temporary measure!!

& it was easy enough to sell, but again, how many small building plots were there 3 years ago, not many!!

The way everyone is so concerned about complications from polution, I'd really think of looking for another place - it can only ever be at the back of your mind, that there's some unpleasent stuff buried under your house - even if there isn't!!

Hope that helps!!

VB

sozy_bear

vansboy - thank you very much for your comments, much appreciated, gives us something to think about! thank you

Turk

Not sure whether this would be applicable to your particular purchase, but i've come across 'contaminated land' issues myself. The house i'm buying and also the one i'm selling are built on an old wood treatment yard and the environmental searches failed. Our solicitor has suggested that we buy indemnity insurance for our purchaser (and our buyer has agreed to do the same for our purchase).

Might be worth suggesting this to your solicitors to investigate.