House next to railway?! advice please

Angelboots

Hi Guys,

After being badly guzumped two weeks ago, my sister and i are back to viewing properties.

We have seen a really nice property, everything is perfect apart from one thing.... at the back of the property are railway lines- as East Croydon station is near.

Now, for those of you who don't know this neck of the woods, East Croydon is one of London's busiest railway stations! So trains were passing even as we were viewing the house, two trains in fact.

I need advice... would you buy a property with this problem? will double glazing help with the noise? do you think it will be harder to sell on? Does this type of property attract... i hate the say the word mice?!!!!! :eek:

I await your responses before making an offer.

Thanks

K

Curv

My BIL just bought a house with a railway line at the bottom of the garden. It's a really nice house but you can't get away from the fact that every now and then - maybe eight times a day - a train passes within forty feet of the house. No amount of double/treble glazing will take away that fact when it comes to resale value.

I wouldn't buy a house close to a railway line. But that's just me.

ETA: Don't let the emotion of being gazumped rush you into making any rash decisions. How long did it take you to find the house you were going to buy? Take your time and the right one will come along. I think the fact that you are even asking this question shows you have doubts.

tanith

you do get used to the noise so maybe it wouldn't be too bad but I am afraid it will affect a sale as many people just are not interested in living with the noise and vibration which no amount of triple glazing will make a difference to

epz_2

i live throwing distance from the train line though its only twice an hour and city diesels i really dont notice them at all.

i would expect to get the place at a lower price however as it uts down the market, cant exactly let the kids run about in the back garden alone when there is a busy train line.

silvercar

Double glazing will help, triple glazing even more. No windows in the garden though!

It will effect resale value, but then you should be buying it for less than if it was in a better position.

When you are living there you won't notice the trains; until you move somewhere quieter. (speaking from 10 years experience.) We only really noticed the trains when we were in the garden, but we were about 200m away.

Passenger trains are fine, freight trains are a different matter and can shake the houses. We used to have a real bone shaker every sunday night. The people who lived nearer the line could feel their house shake.

pinkshoes

My parents live about 100m from a railway line, and at first it drove me crazy, especially the freight train that came through at 4am, but after a few months you stop noticing it. (so long as I didn't put anything on the windowsil that had a bumpy base, because it would rattle!)

Running_Horse

Having had a bedsit next to a major London dual carriageway, I wouldn't buy next to a railway line, but no doubt this property is more affordable as a result. I'd be more worried about buying in Croydon though.

Magentasue

I live near a railway line and love it. The noise is only a problem when you're sitting in the garden; I hardly notice the trains when I'm in the house as they're no louder than traffic. That said, we don't have that many come past, only one or two are freight and there are none at night. I like the look of the trains all lit up at night when I'm standing at the kitchen window and it means nothing will be built behind our house.

We are selling our house and haven't noticed a problem with prospective buyers. As everybody says, you get used to them but it might take longer with a busier line!

As for mice, our cats have caught mice and, er, rats in the spring but not every year. This has been the case everywhere we've lived. I don't think there are any more around here and if it wasn't for the cats presenting us with what they catch, we wouldn't be aware of the rodent population.

Debt_Free_Chick

A railway at the foot of the garden wouldn't normally bother me, but East Croydon is VERY BUSY!!

That said, it's popular with buyers, especially those wanting to commute to London - and especially as trains go to Victoria and London Bridge. I don't think you'll have a problem selling, especially (why do I keep repeating that word? ) FTBs

Mice? I don't think there's a bigger risk of mice near a railway. Come to the country where the rats vie with the birds for the seeds off the bird-table!!! :rotfl:

sexy_fufu

We rented a house on the WEST Coast Main Line, which is very busy and trains passing all the time. you could see the trains from our bedroom window and the track was at the bottom of our Garden.

When the High Speed trains go past we used to feel the house Shake.

As for the noise after a month you get used to it and it feels no different.

I LOVED IT I DID, we did move when we brought our own house, but i wouldnt be put of living so close to a railway.

Angelboots

Thanks guys for your varied responses, i think i will give the property a miss. I can't wait to have a garden for once (i live on a 4th floor flat) and i dont want anything to spoil it, mice or noise!

Im sure i'll be posting more threads asking for advice on other properties.

Have a good weekend all.

K