Will More Extreme Weather Conditions Influence Where You Choose to Live?

Davesnave

Already, at the beginning of another winter, there are people being flooded-out. Most of us have been subjected to high winds this week too, but the experience for those living on the Atlantic coast or in exposed places has been particularly intense. A cold January and February is also predicted, which might be of particular concern to those living in the north and east of the country.

Given all this, against the background of climate change talks in Paris, has the prospect of more frequent extreme weather events played any part in your deliberations regarding where to live, or which house to buy?

If not, do you think it might have some influence within the forseeable future?

moneyistooshorttomention

A good question.

I suspect the answer is that it won't influence the majority of people - because there is very much an automatic assumption that the weather "there" won't be that much different to the weather "here" (ie wherever "here" is to us).

So - personally - I chose my first house (ie about 30 years ago) bearing in mind the risk of flooding increasing in the future. Obviously, it was a factor borne in mind for my second house as well and I wouldn't have chosen one that was at risk.

But - apart from flooding - then yep...I am guessing most people assume they will have "more of the same (ie weather)" to what they've been used to - even if they move to elsewhere in the country.

I know....I know...ahem....

That's pretty much what I did (and I'm from Southern England)...I know....I know. So I knew not to pick Northern England upwards (ie as they would be too cold for me personally). It didn't really occur to me to think any further on the weather apart from that.:o

In mitigation - I'm very very far from the only person who thought that way. There are villages/locations here in West Wales where many people from elsewhere in the country move to. They then spend their first winter here - and there is a good chance they are putting their house on the market in the springtime afterwards. There are a couple of places near me that are absolutely notorious for incomers thinking "Oh that's nice" when they see them in the summer - and then moving again after a winter there.

So - in summary - I think people will be aware of flood risk (if only because the insurance companies are so aware of it these days) BUT that's probably about the extent to which most people will think about it.

Obviously council planners and builders don't think people will even think much about flood risk - with the way they allow/do so much building on floodplains these days.:mad:

Gigervamp

I can imagine houses in flood prone areas might be tricky to sell, especially in Cockermouth (?) where they've had flood defences built after the last flooding there, but even those were overwhelmed.

I certainly wouldn't buy a house where there has been flooding not just once, but twice or more.

Also, I have to say, as much as I love living in Wales, I do get fed up with all the rain we get. It's especially annoying during summer when the south east is enjoying weeks of warm/hot sunshine and the best we get is that the rain lets up for a while, but we still can't see the sun!

worried_jim

I've lived on the south coast for 15 years and in all that time we have had 3 or 4 hot summers. Global warming my !!!!!

moneyistooshorttomention

Gigervamp wrote: »

Also, I have to say, as much as I love living in Wales, I do get fed up with all the rain we get. It's especially annoying during summer when the south east is enjoying weeks of warm/hot sunshine and the best we get is that the rain lets up for a while, but we still can't see the sun!

Well I guess we should try and see the positive in that - ie it would be more than a little difficult for Welsh Water to get away with saying "Not enough water - we're going to impose a hosepipe ban".:rotfl:The positive side of weather here is I very rarely find myself too hot of a summer night to be able to sleep properly - whereas I am very used to hot sleepless nights.

I have to admit though that, when someone I don't know (also from Southern England by her voice) had identified the connection of us both coming from there - then my second conversation with her in the street was conducted whilst it was the type of summer weather we are used to and she said "Now this is what I call PROPER weather" and winked at me (cue for mutual grins about it.....).

I do admit to having taken to checking the weather forecast since moving here and then telling myself off of "You never used to check it before deciding what to do!".

At least no-one recently has commented on "Nice weather isn't it?" to me - when it isn't at all imo.

agrinnall

I think people are become more aware of the possibility of flooding, and I for one didn't consider any house where it might happen when I was looking earlier this year. There could well be a fall in the value of houses in flood prone areas, and even at lower prices they could become much more difficult to sell because people don't want the disruption that flooding causes.

chris_m

agrinnall wrote: »

I think people are become more aware of the possibility of flooding, and I for one didn't consider any house where it might happen when I was looking earlier this year.

I'd agree with that - certainly, when I've been looking (yes, in Cumbria) the second website I've looked at, having seen potential properties for my requirements on Rightmove, has been the Environment Agency's flood risk maps.

Missus_Hyde

Davesnave wrote: »

Already, at the beginning of another winter, there are people being flooded-out.

After seeing pictures on the news of those poor souls flooded out and with neat sewage running through their homes, I think Cumbria would be pretty low down on my list of places where I would like to live; albeit very beautiful in the dry weather!

Davesnave

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I suspect the answer is that it won't influence the majority of people - because there is very much an automatic assumption that the weather "there" won't be that much different to the weather "here" (ie wherever "here" is to us).

Are you sure? Even after doing secondary school Geography for a couple of years, I was aware that things were different over in the South East as regards rainfall and winter temperatures.

But even without considering schools, the media constantly constantly highlight regional differences and educate about the driving forces behind the weather we experience.

There are simple practical observations we can make too. For example, if I drive south to a garden I know on the Exe estuary, I know it will be up to a month ahead of mine, even though we're in the same county.

But it's extremes I'm concerned with here, not the run of the mill stuff, though overall climate will feed into that. For example, it's more likely that droughts will hit the South East, while flash flooding, though possible anywhere, will occur most in western areas.

marksoton

Missus_Hyde wrote: »

After seeing pictures on the news of those poor souls flooded out and with neat sewage running through their homes, I think Cumbria would be pretty low down on my list of places where I would like to live; albeit very beautiful in the dry weather!

Better add a large area of the Thames region to that too!

chris_m

Missus_Hyde wrote: »

After seeing pictures on the news of those poor souls flooded out and with neat sewage running through their homes, I think Cumbria would be pretty low down on my list of places where I would like to live; albeit very beautiful in the dry weather!

It all depends on what part of Cumbria. Bear in mind that the main flooding locations are where there are large rivers fed off the high fells, some of which have received over a foot of rain in 24 hours landing on already well sodden ground.
There are plenty of parts which are not at risk of that sort of inundation. Where I'm buying, in the South Lakes, is fine - albeit a tad tricky to get to/from at present due to all the main roads being flooded in places.