House near canal

David_Aston

I presume the easy access for getting rid of bodies and supermarket trolleys must be a plus point?

Annie35

David_Aston wrote: »

I presume the easy access for getting rid of bodies and supermarket trolleys must be a plus point?

Nah there's no current so any 'foreign bodies' just hang around :rotfl:

You want derwent waters for that :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

jonnygee2

I live in flat overlooking regents canal in London. Properties in my block which overlook the canal fetch about a 15k (~5%) premium over those facing in other directions.

Another thought here though is security and noise. If the property backs onto a canal, this provides a unlit, unmonitored pathway to the property that anyone can walk down day or night. Unlikely to be a problem in most places, but could be if the canal also leads to nearby rougher neighbourhoods you might get some problems and need a good fence / security camera etc.

Overall, though, I think for most people it's a bonus - views of water and also of local life (families cycling and kids feeding ducks, passing barges etc), walking opportunities, and the quietness that comes from it not being a road.

Also if you buy an inflatable canoe and a fishing rod you can have loads of adventures along the magnificent British Waterways!

EachPenny

Stubod wrote: »

..personally I would love to live near a canal. As per above, canals can't flood, (unless there is a "breach").

As others have said, canals can flood, it is just that they were designed and maintained not to flood. Lock keepers or lengthsmen were employed to do various tasks including opening sluices in times of heavy rainfall in order to maintain the levels.

But urban canals have certainly been used for surface water drainage over the years (in part to provide a 'free' water supply) so the potential is always there for heavy rain (or failure) to cause flooding.

These days it is unlikely the canal will be monitored and controlled by an employee living locally, but there should be a process in place where warnings of severe weather and predictions of flooding get translated into operational decisions to manage the canal to reduce (if not eliminate) the risk of flooding.

It is however something that buyers need to be aware of.... even the best maintained systems sometimes go wrong.

Murphybear

We lived opposite the canal in Milton Keynes. It was lovely, we never had any problems. Apart from a nest of swans a few feet away, they can be vicious when breeding

gcoopermax

Rats are more likely in urban areas where there's more food. . Midges a possibility same as any damp area, depends how close. Is this backing onto the canal or huntdreds of meters away ?

The property (terraced house) is roughly within 70m from the edge of the canal. There is about 40m wide grass field between the canal and the building.

Smells ? Go and take a sniff !

Indeed, but this being still relatively cold weather may not be representative of what will happen during warmer summer season. If we ask the agents/owner of course they will be biased so we will be asking to neighbours as well, but am also interested in knowing about the experiences of the folks here.

PixelPound

What smells? Canals used to be smelly because of local industries using it, not so much now. Canals now are lot cleaner. If the canal is 70m away, that's probably far enough to not be a concern,though good as a local amenity. Canals don't really flood, they are engineered that way.In Leamington, the canal crosses over the Avon, i.e. is higher so there is more risk from the river flooding than the canal

walwyn1978

cjdavies wrote: »

Increase premium on insurance.

Flood risk.

Thats just my thinking and It wouldn't get a viewing from me.

We lived next to a canal in Enfield years ago. Our insurers said we didn't need specialist flood insurance and there was no increase on premium for standard insurance for the canal.

Agreed entirely with those who have said it's a great thing to live next to.

davidmcn

I frequently run alongside a canal - no smell, not aware of any flood risk. I suppose the towpath might attract antisocial behaviour in the same way as any other footpath, if it's a likely teenage drinking etc route/hangout (often nice and dark rather than streetlit). But if you're 70m away I don't see the concern.

Wyndham

Used to have a house which backed onto a canal (Leeds-Liverpool in this case). Loved it! We were on the opposite side to the tow path though, and that may make a difference. It was lovely to see boats going past, and also people walking, but still some way from our property.

We did have rats one year, but they were easily dealt with. I didn't ever see them, but a neighbour who had lived there for years saw them (think they knew what to look for more than we did).

Don't think there is an increased flood risk, as others have said, they are meant to stay level.

It also meant that we were not directly overlooked by other properties, and that was a definite plus point for me!