Phone Mast

guitarman001

Quick one here...

Buying a new house. There's a phone mast (looks like a lampost and is 1.5x the size approx) about 20m or so to the back garden. Other houses are closer.

All I want is to find out who (solicitor or builder) has checked that the distance from the mast to the nearest house is ok. I know there are unfounded health concerns. The tangible issue is that it does look a little imposing and some buyers might try and knock the price down in future.

Solicitor said he doesn't deal with that sort of thing and that it's the builder who will have carried out some sort of survey with council permission. The builder says it should be a case of paying the solicitor to do the checks (whatever these are).

I might be over-reacting but I'd just like to know who's responsible and how I can find out. Feels a tad like I'm getting ping-ponged.

Thanks!

da_rule

Try your local planning authority (council). They may have policies on mobile phone masts in terms of heights and distances from buildings.

There doesn't appear to be any national guidance on this so it will probably come down to the planning rules/policies in each area.

AdrianC

guitarman001 wrote: »

All I want is to find out who (solicitor or builder) has checked that the distance from the mast to the nearest house is ok.

By whose measure of "OK"?

You're the potential buyer. It's your measure of "OK" that's the only relevant one. Do you think it's too close?

FatVonD

I spent some time opposing a phone mast going up near my last house, any health concerns will be dismissed (apparently lots of schools have phone masts on their premises, who knew?) If I recall correctly the siting of a phone mast will be flagged up on the search of any house within 300 metres of one.

Ultimately it's up to you how you feel about it, the Government say they're safe but they said British beef was safe when the rest of Europe wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. Do you trust them to care about your health where big business is concerned?

guitarman001

I know what you're saying.
It's a tad close for comfort but my partner has terminal cancer and it's the house & development she's always wanted so she's getting it. It's not a deal-breaker. Just wanted to know if there is any consideration of this sort of thing by council / builders.

AdrianC

FatVonD wrote: »

I spent some time opposing a phone mast going up near my last house, any health concerns will be dismissed (apparently lots of schools have phone masts on their premises, who knew?) If I recall correctly the siting of a phone mast will be flagged up on the search of any house within 300 metres of one.

Ultimately it's up to you how you feel about it, the Government say they're safe but they said British beef was safe when the rest of Europe wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. Do you trust them to care about your health where big business is concerned?

Bet you'd be the first to moan if you didn't get a signal.

FatVonD

AdrianC wrote: »

Bet you'd be the first to moan if you didn't get a signal.

Actually, no, at the time I didn't use a mobile phone though I do have one now.

davidmcn

guitarman001 wrote: »

I know what you're saying.
It's a tad close for comfort but my partner has terminal cancer and it's the house & development she's always wanted so she's getting it. It's not a deal-breaker. Just wanted to know if there is any consideration of this sort of thing by council / builders.

The council will only care to the extent that it (and the house) needed planning permission (you don't say which came first) - and they almost certainly both have any necessary planning permission (you can probably check for yourself on the council's website). No other reason why the builders or your solicitors ought to be involved.

guitarman001

The mast was there before.
I e-mailed my council

Runningfast

All you can really do is check that is has planning permission and that it holds an ICNIRP certificate.

ICNIRP is an independent international body who carries out scientific study and sets standards on radiation exposure all of the UK's mobile mast providers have adopted the ICNIRP standards for UK masts.

kinger101

FatVonD wrote: »

I spent some time opposing a phone mast going up near my last house, any health concerns will be dismissed (apparently lots of schools have phone masts on their premises, who knew?) If I recall correctly the siting of a phone mast will be flagged up on the search of any house within 300 metres of one.

Ultimately it's up to you how you feel about it, the Government say they're safe but they said British beef was safe when the rest of Europe wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. Do you trust them to care about your health where big business is concerned?

I bet you don't worry about radio waves when you hold the phone against your face.