Should I buy house with mobile phone mast at end of garden?!

ElsieMonkey

So have been house hunting, and finally a house has come available which ticks 9/10 boxes (so it seems - we're going to see it on Saturday). BUT, and it could be a big but (this is what I want your opinions on), I've spotted in the marketing photo of the garden, there appears to be a mobile phone mast on top of the building (an auctioneers) which runs along the back of the garden. Typical. The garden looks to be about 10-15 metres long (so the mast is this far away from the back of the house, but if you're at the end of the garden you're pretty much underneath the mast).

I really don't know what to make of this. I'm reading a lot of conflicting info online about the safety/health implications of masts, but realise it's one of those subjects that I will never be able to get to the bottom of.

We're looking for a family home, somewhere we can start a family. Now I have visions of sickly children and tin foil hats...In all seriousness, would you buy a house where a mast was overlooking (effectively IN) your garden? I'm a bit of a worrier anyway and like to have concrete evidence/definite answers, so think maybe for me, this wouldn't be a good idea...(but the house could be great for us - dilemma).

Thanks :think:

marleyboy

If the house suited me Yes, a mast staring at me might put me off, but only in as much as it being unsightly. At least you would be guaranteed a decent mobile reception.

joeistheone

I probably would, if everything else about the house was right. You may already live very near one and not even know it as I believe some are fairly inconspicuous. At least you'll get good mobile signal, depending on your provider.

ElsieMonkey

Hmmm, excellent phone reception or cancer...decisions decisions! I guess I could always take it out at night by chucking a big brick at it...

steeeb

2 things to consider:
- If it's causing you slight concern, it likely will for others in the future when you come to sell it.
- If some evidence comes out that they cause issues then it could have a massive effect on your lives and also trying to sell.

It won't bother some people being there however.

marleyboy

Not sure throwing a brick at it is going to do much, although it might graze it.

ElsieMonkey

Since it coming to my attention I've realised that I do actually live next to THREE! Now my partner is suddenly getting a headache lol.

davidmcn

Depends what the view is like really - you say "mast" but also that it's on top of a building, so what are the relative heights?

As for the health effects - I'm never sure what to make of people who seem paranoid about masts but think nothing of storing their personal radio transmission device in their trousers (or occasionally holding it next to their brain).

PasturesNew

The thing with tick boxes is you end up with so many that no property in your budget will ever tick them all.

Then along comes "something a bit iffy", such as a phone mast, or a short lease, or subsidence, or non-standard construction - and suddenly it's on your radar as it's in your price bracket.

If it didn't have the mast there it'd be way out of your budget ....

And that's why it's so difficult to decide.

Fact is - it's cheaper than it would be if there were no mast. Many people are funny about masts. When you come to sell again you will find fewer buyers.

Also, with a mast, you can never be sure that there won't suddenly be a big new study saying they're the worst thing ever .... causing its relative value to drop further.

I'd not buy it.

dc197

No, because I would want my bees in my garden and bees hate mobile phone signals.

ElsieMonkey

steeeb wrote: »

2 things to consider:
- If it's causing you slight concern, it likely will for others in the future when you come to sell it.
- If some evidence comes out that they cause issues then it could have a massive effect on your lives and also trying to sell.

It won't bother some people being there however.

OMG that is VERY true. If I was living there, and in X amount of years they decide they DO cause health issues, I'll feel sick with worry and ant to get out that house asap (but as you've said, it would then be difficult to sell). Thank you, I do think you're spot on and I seriously need to consider this. In fact, I think the thought of that is enough to put me off to be honest (very annoying though as I thought this house could have been the one)!