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We've just sold our house, and ready to buy a new one. Found one that's pretty perfect - beautiful house, great location, in our price range.
Went to see it today and while chatting to the owners it transpired that a previous buyer pulled out because an environmental search showed up that it's on contaminated land.
There has been a factory nearby, but not for over a decade - and the house predates the factory. There have also been new builds put up nearby recently.
We're not too worried about the risk of contamination itself, more that it could throw up issues with mortgages in the future. And also when we come to sell (though we're hoping this will be a long term house).
Should we run away? Or is it likely not to be a problem in real life. There's nothing else on the market nearby in our price range that suits as well.
Some good information here https://www.environmental-protection.org.uk/policy-areas/land-quality/papers/contaminated-land-and-your-home/
Seems that it may be an issue for your lender.
Contaminated with what?
We've not seen the full report, but from what I know of the area there was the base for a series of local car dealers there from the 40s to the early 90s. I think there was some coach building went on there and I guess servicing, car prep etc.
I guess if you intend never to move house again and don't mind growing an extra head then crack on...
Serious answer: depends what the contamination is and likely potential cost of any future work required to mitigate/remove the risk(s).
Depends on what it was contaminated with. Is it the actual land that comes with the house that is contaminated, or land around it? If the house predates the factory (if that was the source) it could be the latter?
The most crucial thing is whether it stops you getting a mortgage.
If the vendors haven't yet sprouted any obvious extra digits - or lost any - make a cheeky offer to reflect the potential difficulties the contamination may cost you.
I'm assuming that they aren't selling up because of the contamination.
It was flagged on a house we sold, cost us about £30 for an indemnity policy that the buyer's lender wanted. The factories etc were still there with that house too.
When was the house built? If it's recent and there was a genuine problem any contamination should have been dealt with as a planning condition.
The report won't say what it's contaminated with but rather that there is a potential source of contamination, either existing or a historic one that's been removed. I do this sort of thing for a living, send me a PM and I'll see if I can give you some pointers.
Ours showed up as being at risk - despite the fact it almost certainly isnt. Cost us £300 for an insurance policy we can transfer on to a future buyer. It seems like a clever scam by the insurers.
My line of work relates to this as I work for a manufacturer of ground gas mitigation products.
The first thing you need it a ground investigation report to understand what you are dealing with. It may well be contaminated with hydrocarbons as is implied (car dealers therefore petrochemicals).
Any design of your house will have to confirm to BS8485 and Ciria c735. The ground gas mitigation methods are fairly simple (ventilated/suspended floor/gas membrane etc) but it does depend upon exactly what contaminants you are dealing with. Google the Source-pathway-receptor model; with the mitigation measures in place you are essentially diverting the pathway so the receptor (you) is unaffected.
I don’t think this will be an issue with a lender, however building control/planning will be your biggest hurdle.
You can get your property on the contaminated land register by getting a spilled pot of paint reported.
Proportionality is important here. You need you understand what the risks are deemed to be and you wont know without going to the public register.
Once you have that info you can make a judgement on the risk. Indemnity insurance is almost certainly the way to go.
building control/planning will be your biggest hurdle
Surely, for an existing house, planning is irrelevant unless changes are intended, and Building Regulations don't generally apply retrospectively.
As various posters have mentioned very much depends what the contamination might be. Few splashes of diesel is a different beast to an old gas works!
Source pathway receptor model is fairly easy to get your head around. Residential with you growing stuff maybe is the tightest criteria for comparing any testing against. Could be worth looking on the planning portal for any nearby developments? Might be some useful reports. Look for stage 1 or phase 1 desk studies to start with.