Living next to a commercial property?
Poll: Living next to a commercial property?
Total Members Polled: 113
Discussion
Morning chaps and ladies.
Been a PHer for a good while now and value the knowledge this forum brings.
My wife and I have just finished our current mortgage on a 3 bed, 2 bath terrace with driveway and garden in Kent.
We earn enough to mortgage about 400k, id rather not borrow all available monies, perhaps half of this at most id be comfortable with thinking of children in the near future. Suspect we would need to borrow somewhere between 150 - 200k.
We want to move to a more rural area and have found this house. The house is owned by the fencing company, it was rented previously.
[u]House specifics:[/u]
Been up for sale since April 2024. Has been reduced in price. Currently 500k.
Estate agent tells me they have had an offer that starts with a 4.
Owners wants to sell it before April 2026 for 'tax reasons' (No idea why?)
Snag 1 - It needs a full modernising. Happy to do the work to the house as we go. I am not a tradesperson at all so most of this work would be paid handsomely for id imagine.
Snag 2 - Its next to Jacksons fencing commercial site. The estate agent told me straight off ''there will be noise between 6am - 6pm weekdays and 6am - midday on Saturday'. There is conifer tree coverage which could be improved and a 7ft high wooden fence installed by the fencing company.
Snag 3 - There is a calor gas tank on the grounds and I have read these can be a pickle to deal with in terms of supplier/rental/fixing.
The noise is barely perceptible inside the house (has old 80's looking double glazing) but you can hear it outside. There is a constant hum from the machines and some beeping from reversing lorries and vans. My initial thought was 'people live next to train tracks and other noisy places and get used to it.' I also thought 'this beeping would drive me mad' so I am torn. My wife loves it and tells me she cannot hear the noise and doesnt focus on it. Its me with sensitive hearing.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/160803506#/...
I did take a video of the surrounding noise outside but it seems I was too far away to pick it up accurately. I could nip back and take another recording as its 13 mins drive from my current house.
I have half a concern about air pollution also. The area was not particularly dusty but I am assuming they use chemicals to treat the wood.
Any thoughts or suggestions you guys have would be appreciated. Its worth noting that if the wood yard was somewhere else the house and grounds would be too expensive for us to buy. The price would probably start with an 8 or 9.
Thanks all.
Been a PHer for a good while now and value the knowledge this forum brings.
My wife and I have just finished our current mortgage on a 3 bed, 2 bath terrace with driveway and garden in Kent.
We earn enough to mortgage about 400k, id rather not borrow all available monies, perhaps half of this at most id be comfortable with thinking of children in the near future. Suspect we would need to borrow somewhere between 150 - 200k.
We want to move to a more rural area and have found this house. The house is owned by the fencing company, it was rented previously.
[u]House specifics:[/u]
Been up for sale since April 2024. Has been reduced in price. Currently 500k.
Estate agent tells me they have had an offer that starts with a 4.
Owners wants to sell it before April 2026 for 'tax reasons' (No idea why?)
Snag 1 - It needs a full modernising. Happy to do the work to the house as we go. I am not a tradesperson at all so most of this work would be paid handsomely for id imagine.
Snag 2 - Its next to Jacksons fencing commercial site. The estate agent told me straight off ''there will be noise between 6am - 6pm weekdays and 6am - midday on Saturday'. There is conifer tree coverage which could be improved and a 7ft high wooden fence installed by the fencing company.
Snag 3 - There is a calor gas tank on the grounds and I have read these can be a pickle to deal with in terms of supplier/rental/fixing.
The noise is barely perceptible inside the house (has old 80's looking double glazing) but you can hear it outside. There is a constant hum from the machines and some beeping from reversing lorries and vans. My initial thought was 'people live next to train tracks and other noisy places and get used to it.' I also thought 'this beeping would drive me mad' so I am torn. My wife loves it and tells me she cannot hear the noise and doesnt focus on it. Its me with sensitive hearing.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/160803506#/...
I did take a video of the surrounding noise outside but it seems I was too far away to pick it up accurately. I could nip back and take another recording as its 13 mins drive from my current house.
I have half a concern about air pollution also. The area was not particularly dusty but I am assuming they use chemicals to treat the wood.
Any thoughts or suggestions you guys have would be appreciated. Its worth noting that if the wood yard was somewhere else the house and grounds would be too expensive for us to buy. The price would probably start with an 8 or 9.
Thanks all.
Looking at the satellite view, the property appears to be surrounded by at least 135-180 degrees of potential noise from industry to the North.
I can't see there being anything you could do with fencing or conifers to reduce the impact of engines idling, reversing bleepers, blokes shouting across to one another, radio's playing, horns blaring, pallets being dropped....and that's before you consider the dust, smell of diesel fumes plus any other chemicals they are using/combusting....dare I say it, it would almost be like living directly adjacent to a permanent construction site.
I can't help but thinking sitting out in the garden on a warm sunny day, possibly at any time other than a Saturday afternoon or Sunday would be horrible....unless you are the type who can tune out. (I am not such a person). Same for having windows open during warmer weather.
That doesn't appear to be a normal Jacksons fencing site either, is that their South East hub / manufacturing site? Again, from satellite view, the site is absolutely huge! There must be 150 cars parked in the car park there?
I think this would be a very brave call, even despite the price.
I can't see there being anything you could do with fencing or conifers to reduce the impact of engines idling, reversing bleepers, blokes shouting across to one another, radio's playing, horns blaring, pallets being dropped....and that's before you consider the dust, smell of diesel fumes plus any other chemicals they are using/combusting....dare I say it, it would almost be like living directly adjacent to a permanent construction site.
I can't help but thinking sitting out in the garden on a warm sunny day, possibly at any time other than a Saturday afternoon or Sunday would be horrible....unless you are the type who can tune out. (I am not such a person). Same for having windows open during warmer weather.
That doesn't appear to be a normal Jacksons fencing site either, is that their South East hub / manufacturing site? Again, from satellite view, the site is absolutely huge! There must be 150 cars parked in the car park there?
I think this would be a very brave call, even despite the price.
Pretty much as Matty has said.
Looking too at the height differential could also be an issue especially when outside.
House is currently rented presumably because they couldn’t sell it previously.
I like the drive which will also need updating / upkeep and perfectly possible to get Jackson’s to supply motorway type noise suppressing fencing but then outside space will feel somewhat claustrophobia and defeat the object of moving rural.
A quick look at the photos and it doesn’t come across as needing just a bit of updating.
If you had a very decent budget for doing this and the house was say half of that price I think you’d still need to think very long and very hard.
I’d certainly be visiting for 20 mins a few times a week and just sit outside in the garden to think about it.
Looking too at the height differential could also be an issue especially when outside.
House is currently rented presumably because they couldn’t sell it previously.
I like the drive which will also need updating / upkeep and perfectly possible to get Jackson’s to supply motorway type noise suppressing fencing but then outside space will feel somewhat claustrophobia and defeat the object of moving rural.
A quick look at the photos and it doesn’t come across as needing just a bit of updating.
If you had a very decent budget for doing this and the house was say half of that price I think you’d still need to think very long and very hard.
I’d certainly be visiting for 20 mins a few times a week and just sit outside in the garden to think about it.
Hiya, thanks for your thoughts.
I suspects it is their main manufacturing hub in the south east. I visited it for 45 mins on Saturday and there was ambient noise. Beeping and the constant hum. I agree that sitting in the garden at any other time would be difficult for sure. The noise level may have been reduced due to it being 1hr to closing on the Saturday.
This is assuming the fencing place doesnt close or get moved at any point in the future. Hell of a gamble though. I am clutching at straws here.
The red is loosely the land for sale. The green line is the driveway which is owned by Jacksons fencing company.
I suspects it is their main manufacturing hub in the south east. I visited it for 45 mins on Saturday and there was ambient noise. Beeping and the constant hum. I agree that sitting in the garden at any other time would be difficult for sure. The noise level may have been reduced due to it being 1hr to closing on the Saturday.
This is assuming the fencing place doesnt close or get moved at any point in the future. Hell of a gamble though. I am clutching at straws here.
The red is loosely the land for sale. The green line is the driveway which is owned by Jacksons fencing company.
alscar said:
Pretty much as Matty has said.
Looking too at the height differential could also be an issue especially when outside.
House is currently rented presumably because they couldn t sell it previously.
I like the drive which will also need updating / upkeep and perfectly possible to get Jackson s to supply motorway type noise suppressing fencing but then outside space will feel somewhat claustrophobia and defeat the object of moving rural.
A quick look at the photos and it doesn t come across as needing just a bit of updating.
If you had a very decent budget for doing this and the house was say half of that price I think you d still need to think very long and very hard.
I d certainly be visiting for 20 mins a few times a week and just sit outside in the garden to think about it.
Agree on all these points. I will visit again mid week and see what the noise level is like. Il also take a recording to upload. Looking too at the height differential could also be an issue especially when outside.
House is currently rented presumably because they couldn t sell it previously.
I like the drive which will also need updating / upkeep and perfectly possible to get Jackson s to supply motorway type noise suppressing fencing but then outside space will feel somewhat claustrophobia and defeat the object of moving rural.
A quick look at the photos and it doesn t come across as needing just a bit of updating.
If you had a very decent budget for doing this and the house was say half of that price I think you d still need to think very long and very hard.
I d certainly be visiting for 20 mins a few times a week and just sit outside in the garden to think about it.
Will see whether it sells at all. I think you are right on the rented cos cant sell it idea.
I suspect, as with those houses I drive past on the North Circular, someone would eventually buy it for the right price. The OP really needs to figure out how bearable the nuisance would be for him and then pitch an offer (or not) accordingly.
But the blight (and the vendor’s self-imposed deadline) suggests that cheeky offer starting with a 3 might be a decent initial gambit if he remains interested!
But the blight (and the vendor’s self-imposed deadline) suggests that cheeky offer starting with a 3 might be a decent initial gambit if he remains interested!
Years ago we moved into a new build home, construction work continuing just a stones throw away. You learn to block it out but that doesn't stop you looking forward to the evenings and Sundays when it all falls silent. Even when construction moved a bit further away it was still background noise and it's only when they stopped you'd appreciate how much you were still picking up. At least we had the reassurance of knowing the building work would finish (eventually).
It might not be too bad this time of year, but come summer you'll want to open windows and sit outside, although I guess you could invest in a decent pair of noise cancelling headphones
I'd also be put off by not owning the driveway - what guarantee do you have to continued access? Especially if it changes ownership, etc?
It might not be too bad this time of year, but come summer you'll want to open windows and sit outside, although I guess you could invest in a decent pair of noise cancelling headphones
I'd also be put off by not owning the driveway - what guarantee do you have to continued access? Especially if it changes ownership, etc?
CinnamonFan said:
Agree on all these points. I will visit again mid week and see what the noise level is like. Il also take a recording to upload.
Will see whether it sells at all. I think you are right on the rented cos cant sell it idea.
I think yet another point to consider is would this be your forever house ?Will see whether it sells at all. I think you are right on the rented cos cant sell it idea.
Even if you were able to acquire for a more realistic price and then spend the same again getting it perfect for you both only to then realise you don’t like it and then can’t sell.
alscar said:
I think yet another point to consider is would this be your forever house ?
Even if you were able to acquire for a more realistic price and then spend the same again getting it perfect for you both only to then realise you don t like it and then can t sell.
That was my first thought.Even if you were able to acquire for a more realistic price and then spend the same again getting it perfect for you both only to then realise you don t like it and then can t sell.
The access road would massively put me off too.
Also bear in mind that it's nice that opens to a field, but that often means you'll get rats coming in.
When I opened that link my first thought was this place could easily swallow £200k plus of refurbishment costs (insulation to the walls, loads of old windows, complex roof, replumb and rewire) before you even furnish it. It really does need gutting. After all of this you will still be have a compromised location so think hard about an asking price of £4XX plus renovation costs, can this number get you a better all-round (location, less work etc) walk in property. A renovation project is a big stress to take on and almost always goes over budget.
Also think about the time you come to sell, for the same reasons you are doubting this property it will be a hard one to shift, even if it is a perfect modern house (which it currently isnt). May not be a problem if you see it as a forever home but at some stage the house will likely become too big / rural for your needs, that driveway alone could be a challenge (maintenance, access etc).
Also think about the time you come to sell, for the same reasons you are doubting this property it will be a hard one to shift, even if it is a perfect modern house (which it currently isnt). May not be a problem if you see it as a forever home but at some stage the house will likely become too big / rural for your needs, that driveway alone could be a challenge (maintenance, access etc).
Edited by acer12 on Monday 15th December 11:58
We want to move once to our forever house ideally. The stamp duty costs cause me a bit of rage tbf.
The more I think about it the more I feel there are a lot of potential headaches with it and for the money we could get something else.
We dont have a lot of funds for renovating and would renovate as we earn. Although my earning potential is good.
Had not considered the driveway point imagine if its sold and I cannot even reach it. Unless buying the driveway with the house can be part of the deal.
The more I think about it the more I feel there are a lot of potential headaches with it and for the money we could get something else.
We dont have a lot of funds for renovating and would renovate as we earn. Although my earning potential is good.
Had not considered the driveway point imagine if its sold and I cannot even reach it. Unless buying the driveway with the house can be part of the deal.
CinnamonFan said:
This is assuming the fencing place doesnt close or get moved at any point in the future. Hell of a gamble though. I am clutching at straws here.
Yes - I would say that is a non-starter, sadly. The large building to the East of their site with solar panels on the roof looks pretty new, if not still under construction when the satellite image was taken.....from this I would say they are not going anywhere anytime soon due to the investment.A quick look at their website tells you that Ashford is in fact, their UK Headquarters and manufacturing hub. Furthermore, interesting to see that as well as treating timber products, they also manufacture steel gates and fences too, hence you'll also have cutting, pressing, welding, painting/powder coating operations somewhere on that site too....my concern would be air quality/odours from that too on certain days.
Edited by MattyD803 on Monday 15th December 12:14
).I do live next to what was a car main dealership but in the sticks.
My house is far enough away not to hear anything but my garage/workshop is the other side of some high conifers.
There is always some background hum/noise as you've identified. For me the worst thing was reversing bleepers and tannoy. But at weekends it's very quiet which, on balance, I'd prefer to neighbours who are noisy at weekends. No lawnmowers, parties, kids, revving cars, hedgecutters etc.
I'm guessing you'd have to pay many multiples of that price to get that view and no neighbours, but only you can weigh the benefit of that.
My house is far enough away not to hear anything but my garage/workshop is the other side of some high conifers.
There is always some background hum/noise as you've identified. For me the worst thing was reversing bleepers and tannoy. But at weekends it's very quiet which, on balance, I'd prefer to neighbours who are noisy at weekends. No lawnmowers, parties, kids, revving cars, hedgecutters etc.
I'm guessing you'd have to pay many multiples of that price to get that view and no neighbours, but only you can weigh the benefit of that.
Sheepshanks said:
alscar said:
I think yet another point to consider is would this be your forever house ?
Even if you were able to acquire for a more realistic price and then spend the same again getting it perfect for you both only to then realise you don t like it and then can t sell.
That was my first thought.Even if you were able to acquire for a more realistic price and then spend the same again getting it perfect for you both only to then realise you don t like it and then can t sell.
The access road would massively put me off too.
Also bear in mind that it's nice that opens to a field, but that often means you'll get rats coming in.
To reach some of our land we have a similar separate access and a Developer tried to purchase an adjoining plot and "move" said access.
When it then transpired he couldn't guarantee the same width the whole project was shelved.
Rats I wouldn't worry about unless he suddenly wants to get stables or livestock which I doubt.
Even at £250k that house is seeming more and more expensive but more importantly simply not worth it !
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