Radon

ag19lfc

We are (well we thought) very close to exchange but there appears to be an issue with the house being in a radon affected area.

Is this likely to hold up the purchase of the house? If so, how long should we expect to be delayed?

Smith_007

What exactly is the issue?

Radon is perfectly normal, occurs naturally, and expected over much of the UK. As long as you take sensible precautions and ventilate your house (particularly the cellars as radon sinks downwards) you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

http://www.ukradon.org/

greenbee

My survey flagged up that I was in a radon-affected area, but as it doesn't impact the mortgage there is no need for it to cause a delay.

As Smith007 says, it is only houses that are poorly ventilated that have problems with it, so if you decided to do a test (and the website referenced recommends doing it AFTER you purchase, as it takes 3 months) you'll probably find that if you open the windows occasionally there won't be a problem.

It doesn't cost a huge amount to do something about if you are impacted, but if you are really worried you can ask your solicitor to request a retention of whatever the website estimates the cost to be for 3 months or until you get the radon test results.

Or you can just open the windows and air your house regularly.

easilydistracted

This is quite common I think, came up on ours. When you read the detail of the report does it not inform you the level of concentration risk and whether it is a mortgage pass? The details section should tell you whether to be worried and also your solicitor could advise if this is a significant issue.

ag19lfc

Our solicitors have sent this query to the vendors solicitors:

Please advise whether radon levels have been measured in the property and whether any radon protective measures have been incorporated in the property.

If the vendor answers 'no' to both of those questions, what's the next step?

Would we have to wait until he gets the house tested before we could exchange? Or can the exchange still go ahead and the testing gets done after we move in to the property?

ca55ie

When you first read this in a survey or search it does sound shocking. Further research will show - like the other posters here have already said - just keep the house ventilated. But then most people do that anyway - don't they?
Large regions of Derbyshire and Cornwall show the presence of Radon gas and there are very few places were this is an actual problem. Can't see that its a deal breaker unless the levels dangerous.

Ivana_Tinkle

ag19lfc wrote: »

If the vendor answers 'no' to both of those questions, what's the next step?

Would we have to wait until he gets the house tested before we could exchange? Or can the exchange still go ahead and the testing gets done after we move in to the property?

It's entirely up to you. The testing takes 3 months, so it's pretty unlikely your vendor will agree to postpone the sale until you get the test results back.

More likely, if you're worried, you get the test done after you move in (as long as you're not doing building work, as that messes up the results), and if there's a problem you get a radon sump installed. From memory, that's a few hundred quid, but it's very much a worst case scenario so I can't see many vendors being willing to give you a retention (although you could always ask).

Smith_007

ag19lfc wrote: »

Please advise whether radon levels have been measured in the property and whether any radon protective measures have been incorporated in the property.

If the vendor answers 'no' to both of those questions, what's the next step?

:rotfl:
Typical bloody clueless solicitors questions!
They did not ask if dangerous levels have been found and if protective measures were necessary.

Anyway
As Ivana Tinkle said above, a radon survay takes a few months but is not expensive. Very, very, very worst case scenario is you may need to fit a radon sump or active vents. This is not expensive (few hundred) and the link I gave above gives an idea of prices.

Honestly, you are worrying about nothing. Your weekly fry-up will be far more of a health risk than living in any radon affected area. To be very blunt, this kind of backward-forward asking of poorly worded questions (when the answers can be quickly and easily given) and causing you worry must be how solicitors make extra profit

I'm a scientist who has worked with radioactive sources. This does not make me biased. It makes me informed.:cool2: