Looking at a flat adjacent to a takeaway ... thoughts?

AnotherJoe

Yeh i think that sums it up. Tell your solicitor first as that's where most costs will be.

HuSkYuk

need_an_answer wrote: »

For me my concern would be not the smell of the property but what happens at the back of it.

Do you overlook the back or front or a side elevation?

How is bin storage and waste storage,can you see those,do you overlook them.

Is there a courtyard area at the back that is used by staff when on breaks to chat or smoke for example,is that area overlooked by you and kept tidy or is or rubbish strewn.

Not ideal to have any takeaway as a near neighbour but some people get used to it some don't.

If you are having reservations then think hard,this is not only your home but a major purchase and not something that you want to regret 6 months after getting the keys.

Good points - thank you.

My lounge/ kitchen do not overlook the rear of the property, my bedrooms do. This only really dawned on me once I could look out of the bedroom windows now that the scaffolding has been removed with its protective sheeting.

From the bedrooms, I overlook everything at the rear - storage cupboard for bins, the extractor chimney and another another storage area for cleaning products I suspect. Everything looks tidy/ clean, no smell of waste/ chinese when leaning outside the window.

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Yeh i think that sums it up. Tell your solicitor first as that's where most costs will be.

Thank you for your additional comments, much appreciated.

Wyndham

I think you need to go back a few times - try the 'teatime rush' around 6pm, but also later on in the evening. Check weekdays and weekends - they may well have different vibes to them.

Unless you own all the buildings around you, you have no control over what they might become in the future. In a block of flats, with windows open, you can often smell other people's cooking, or hear them talking loudly, and that's in a residential area. I'm in a detached house, but have smelt more bbqs in the last few weeks than I thought possible

I think for me the overlook of the back of the place might be a problem. Find out which day is bin collection, then go the day before - does it smell, is it overflowing, or neat and tidy and well maintained.

Good luck whatever you decide.

MysteryMe

You have smell, noise, bins that will stink in the hot weather, early morning wake up calls when the dust cart collects. They are often magnates for people hanging around and you are likely to have litter.

Other than that sounds ideal.....

Owain_Moneysaver

HuSkYuk wrote: »

Everything looks tidy/ clean, no smell of waste/ chinese when leaning outside the window.

That's now. The problem is the place currently has planning permission for Hot Food Takeaway and future operators of the premises may be a lot less conscientious.

humptydumptybits

My DD lived next to a kebab take away. Her flat was first floor. The smell wasn't much of a problem, noisy customers more so but the worst thing was the staff making a noise at the end of the day, they would be out in the yard talking loudly, banging bins around. She was happy to move.

HuSkYuk

Thank you for the continued replies, particularly from those that have had experience of living above/ next to a takeaway.

Popped around tonight - 9pm. No smell at the front of the takeaway - although a slight breeze in the air to assist carrying away any smells I guess (also 21-22 degrees). 2 customers had just collected their food, so you'd expect some form of smell if they had just finished cooking. Unfortunately I still can't get near the rear - i.e. be within the same distance as my flat windows.

Going to check the bins tomorrow - hopefully. Collection is Monday, so they'd be near full. Also going to try speaking with the neighbours.

I don't think smell with this takeaway in particular will be the issue ... the issue is future/ unplanned thinking:

+ Whilst it has been there 20+ years, it could always move on and become something else. It's too small to be a restaurant, and there's no room to extend out the back. Could always be bought for flat development. A lot of new builds down this road in last 12-15 years. 7 in total I think it is.

+ I'm being offered a mortgage from multiple lenders for my flat, who must obviously take into account this takeaway. Would anything make them change their mind in the future for another buyer? This location will always be sought after, I have no doubt about it.

On a side note, I drove about 10 mins away to another takeaway. Could smell it from the front - from say 6-7 feet away. Got within 7-8 feet from extractor out the back, could smell it there. So I can see examples from both sides.

boliston

acceptability of local takeaways is going to be completely dependant on the area - in a town or city centre location it's going to be pretty much accepted that there are some sources of 'annoyance' but many people will accept this for the convenience of having everything so close (bars, shops, restaurants, entertainment, transport etc) - if you can post a streetview link it would give an idea of the area - there is a pizza takeaway a few doors down from my flat and i notice they have quite a noisy extractor fan and quite a few flats are right next to it although it sounds like the fan could be faulty.

HuSkYuk

I try and avoid bumping old threads, just so newer threads get the attention they need - but I thought I'd post an update - particular for those users who kindly added their feedback to this thread.

I ended up withdrawing my offer ... although the eventual withdrawal wasn't because of the external flue, it was a huge factor.

With regards to the external flue, I liaised with the local council. I expressed my concerns over email and following a phone call, I was told: "as the external flue passed all planning permissions when it was installed, they're not required to alter the external flue just because the developers built all the way up to it". Makes sense. I.e. it was there first!

What caused me to withdraw was valuers (on behalf of numerous mortgage lenders) not valuing the property at purchase price. I asked the developer if they would match the valuation, they said no, and with the external flue factor, I pulled out.

Lost some money, but now a week has passed - I'm happy I made the right decision and have learned quite a lot from this process.

00ec25

so you have already reserved a plot?

your concern is therefore academic...
a) someone is going to buy and live there, it will be you if that is the most you can afford
b) if you can afford more then it should not be you because you can afford better

but it's all too late as you are already committed....