Buying in low risk Radon affected area (New build)

andy444

Radon can be a significant problem depending on where you live in the country and what type of property you live in. 

It is a radioactive gas, and although exposure to it may not necessarily lead to health problems, long-term and concentrated levels of it with a property may be a contributing factor to health problems.

The OP should check with the developer as to whether any radon mitigation measures have been enacted for the houses' design and construction.

tinytiddles

We have an 18 month old new build in the South West where radon is common, our solicitor’s report advised that new builds have to have radon protection as part of the construction otherwise they won’t get NHBC cover (or other IBG of choice) - so no need to worry if yours is fairly new. 

Spies

tinytiddles said:

We have an 18 month old new build in the South West where radon is common, our solicitor’s report advised that new builds have to have radon protection as part of the construction otherwise they won’t get NHBC cover (or other IBG of choice) - so no need to worry if yours is fairly new. 

You're very trusting that the developer actually does what they're required to do! 

tinytiddles

Spies said:

tinytiddles said:

We have an 18 month old new build in the South West where radon is common, our solicitor’s report advised that new builds have to have radon protection as part of the construction otherwise they won’t get NHBC cover (or other IBG of choice) - so no need to worry if yours is fairly new. 

You're very trusting that the developer actually does what they're required to do! 

Well you kind of have to really when it comes to the parts of the construction that you can’t see! 

Not all new builds are rubbish you know, just the ones you hear about on here or social media or on the news which actually is a drop in the ocean compared to the thousands built each year.

Johnhowell

We had the same survey result when buying this house.  We got the free testing kit from Public Health England and after 3 months sent the units back for testing.  The results came back at 27 Bq/m³ and the action level is 200 Bq/m³.  Therefore, nothing needs to be done.

Also, this means we have the paperwork when we sell this house and PHE can refine their maps with actually results...

Troy_af

user1977 said:

Check the planning papers - will have come up there if it was at all relevant. 

Where can I find planning papers? Is this something the solicitor will provide me with?

user1977

Troy_af said:

user1977 said:

Check the planning papers - will have come up there if it was at all relevant. 

Where can I find planning papers? Is this something the solicitor will provide me with?

You look up the planning application for the development on the local council's website.

Lavendyr

We bought a house in 2021 in an area where radon was detected. Our vendors had conducted a radon survey and provided the result. It's not unusual in certain areas of the UK. If you don't have a radon survey provided by your vendors, get one done. Simples. 

RelievedSheff

tinytiddles said:

We have an 18 month old new build in the South West where radon is common, our solicitor’s report advised that new builds have to have radon protection as part of the construction otherwise they won’t get NHBC cover (or other IBG of choice) - so no need to worry if yours is fairly new. 

Not true at all. Areas with a high radon risk have to incorporate radon precautions into the build.

New build properties in low risk areas like the OP's do not. 

A lot of developers now choose to install a precast concrete suspended ground floor with a ventilated void beneath (due to cost and timescales) and this to a degree mitigates risks associated with radon.

Murphybear

Just for interest Dartmoor prison has been closed due to the unacceptably high levels of Radon