Buying a house next to a motorway

Another_money_saver

I'd like some advice from anyone who has bought a property very close to a motorway (behind the garden) I've seen a place in London which has many pros, it's very close to transport links and local amenities, on a nice road, and the flat itself is newly refurbished and double-glazed so you wouldn't even know...until you open the back windows or go out into the (small) garden. I don't mind the noise, and there is a high fence at the back, but my worry is the pollution, and potential re-sale value. I'm thinking, in a positive way that I could plant trees etc to absorb some of the pollution, but am worried about whether buying could cause long term problems as I will probably want to move in a few years. In the short term, am I being naïve about putting up with the noise (and other problems I'm maybe not even aware of)? Someone pointed out I could never hang washing out as it would be filthy with lorry fumes as an example!!

Building_Surveyor

I lived almost under the motorway. Well the houses opposite, their back garden was the motorway. Ignore the story about washing, utter rubbish. Never had a problem in the 7 years I lived their. Double glazing you won't notice any noise. Tbf I think I'd rather live close to a motorway than an airport runway. Pollution wasn't a problem either. Ignore the hearsay, listen to people who have actually had the experience.

[Deleted User]

Normally if there's one person willing to buy a property, then there's another person like them out there willing to do the same, although things like a motorway may reduce the price... that reduction is most likely already built into the price you're looking at.

There was a post a few months ago asking about living near a motorway that had a few pages of discussion that you may find helpful: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4650687

Lord_Baltimore

I couldn't put up with the constant drone, probably day and night. You can't keep yourself sealed behind double glazing and not being able to open a window on a summer's day will depress you.

Having said this, it is London and people put up with all sorts to live in the City. Just remember, what sems bearable for the time of your viewing may grow to a cacophony of noise permanently in your head after you've lived there a few months and the novelty wears off.

Kynthia

I found living on a main road by a junction worse in many ways. Steady traffic is better than the sound of lots of cars breaking for lights and then pulling away on mass. Late at night you would hear wheel spins, sirens and occasional car horns which is very disturbing. If the drone of the motorway isn't too loud and is steady, you'll adjust much easier.

jbainbridge

Well you're thinking about buying it ... others might.

More importantly is the price good enough for you to make the compromise and live with the noise.

morg_monster

I live on a busy single carriage road and it is annoying, as Kynthia says, the revving as people speed up after slowing down to get around parked cars etc, police sirens and antisocial types honking and driving their stupid mopeds up and down at night, is really annoying and cuts into sleep when we have the windows open. Personally I would think the constant drone of a motorway would be easier to deal with once you get used to it. Having said that I recently changed jobs to somewhere virtually under the M25 and when I'm outside it is surprisingly loud. Again though, a constant drone. In London there will always be someone who will buy it; the danger is I suppose that you just never get used to it and want to sell relatively quickly. I don't think the pollution would be much worse by a motorway than any other busy road in London - I thought that most pollution is created in the first couple of minutes a car starts moving.

phoebe1989seb

Kynthia wrote: »

I found living on a main road by a junction worse in many ways. Steady traffic is better than the sound of lots of cars breaking for lights and then pulling away on mass. Late at night you would hear wheel spins, sirens and occasional car horns which is very disturbing. If the drone of the motorway isn't too loud and is steady, you'll adjust much easier.

I agree with Kynthia - we used to live in a South Coast city in a very nice detached Victorian house that was 200 yards from a junction with traffic lights (plus we had double yellows and a bus stop outside ) and the revving of engines/vehicles breaking sharply at the lights was awful. We bought the house on the rebound, having been gazumped immediately prior to exchange on the house we really wanted and we deeply regretted our choice. Otoh, my SIL owned a house very close to the M275 for a few years and the drone did definitely disappear into the background after a while......

Another_money_saver

Thanks everyone for the advice. I have now had an offer accepted on it after seeing it again (with a trusted person giving a second opinion). It's difficult to tick all the boxes when trying to find a suitable (forget perfect!) place in London and I know this is a big compromise but I hope this is a wise choice. The relatively smaller price leaves me some budget to focus on minimising the issue, such as getting a higher fence, growing loads of trees, bushes etc, much like it appears many of the neighbours on that road have done. Hopefully, this will all also contribute to the re-sale issue eventually too. Early days, as anything could happen before I get the keys in my hand of course!

Another_money_saver

Lord_Baltimore wrote: »

I couldn't put up with the constant drone, probably day and night. You can't keep yourself sealed behind double glazing and not being able to open a window on a summer's day will depress you.

Having said this, it is London and people put up with all sorts to live in the City. Just remember, what sems bearable for the time of your viewing may grow to a cacophony of noise permanently in your head after you've lived there a few months and the novelty wears off.

Thanks Lord Baltimore for your advice, but it was more the pollution and re-sale value I was concerned about. I grew up in West London on the Heathrow flight path so am used to tuning out to the noise..and I'm a little bit deaf...which will only get worse with age, so am thinking this is a positive in this situation

Another_money_saver

jbainbridge wrote: »

Well you're thinking about buying it ... others might.

More importantly is the price good enough for you to make the compromise and live with the noise.

I thought this too. I'm interested, and in a few years, someone else will be too. It does eliminate some potential buyers but London properties are so competitive, there will always be some interest. Price is good, reflects the motorway issue, but still loads of pros...below my modest budget which allows me to make it more attractive both for living and for re-sale

Thanks for the concise and helpful advice...offer accepted (below asking price), I have a good feeling about this place