Would you buy a nice house that is below a dam?
Poll: Would you buy a nice house that is below a dam?
Total Members Polled: 59
Discussion
Just sold our house and looking around. Found a lovely house in a peaceful area, the only noise being the sound of the stream that runs buy. Really really like it, EXCEPT - it is a valley about 300m away from a medium sized dam, 100 foot of water behind it. The dam was built in 1930s.
Love the house, but the dam worries me a bit. It feels a bit unnatural to think that you could be in bed, but just a short distance away is a dam that could, given an Act of God or the like, wet your bed in quite a serious manner if it goes for broke. Is that an irrational fear, or would you be completly OK with the idea, when you could be living next to a nuclear powerstation, under powerlines, or even worse...a 24 hour Tescos?
Love the house, but the dam worries me a bit. It feels a bit unnatural to think that you could be in bed, but just a short distance away is a dam that could, given an Act of God or the like, wet your bed in quite a serious manner if it goes for broke. Is that an irrational fear, or would you be completly OK with the idea, when you could be living next to a nuclear powerstation, under powerlines, or even worse...a 24 hour Tescos?
Simpo Two said:
You'll be fine until you hear the rumble of Lancaster bombers approaching...
Or people talking funnyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYClSGINHyU
JR said:
Earth dams fail. Concrete dams fail. The Reservoirs Act was passed to prevent failure but it's not perfect. People also buy houses on flood plains and cry when their houses flood. Such is life.
Though it is getting more draconian by the minute, and they beat you over the head with it every 30 seconds.Personally I wouldn't see it as a problem, and insurance isn't a problem either assuming you use a decent insurer and not a high-street philanderer.
In answer to some questions here: The house is one of about 5 or 6 in the valley behind the dam. There are plenty of trees around the back that obscure the view of the dam, but probably not enough to break up a 100 foot high wall of water. The dam is no more than 300m away, possibly more like 200m. If it went, so would the houses, without a doubt! Very very pretty all the same, and various mill ponds and trout lakes further downstream. Lovely really, but deep water above my head cannot be ignored!
and phone around for quotes on flood insurance.whythem said:
It would not bother me. But I would check you can get a mortgage on the property, and also check if it is on a flood plain. I think there is a website you can check this on.
The environment agency, as as per my post above, it's inner-M25 b
ks. A half decent mortgage company and insurer will laugh it out of town.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff