Buying a house next to busy road

[OwlHoot]

I used to rent a flat on a busy London high street. The traffic noise was generally ok until you opened a window. However there were traffic lights outside the flat and the screetch of bus brakes was unbearable. ...

Been there, suffered that, and in my case also a loose drain cover, that would go CLANK-CLUNK every few seconds each time a vehicle drove over it.

The council tried fixing it over and over again, but it would always be back to its CLANK-CLUNKing within a week or two.

[d000hg]

Agreed, houses like that should pretty much be free. Location is all that matters, everything else can be changed.

So central London houses should be free?

+1 for spending some time listening both from the road and from inside the house and round the back. If you're used to city living maybe you wouldn't notice, I wouldn't like a constant hum of traffic personally because I like to be outside but if you never open windows or have BBQs, maybe it doesn't matter.

[BrilloPad]

Buy it. Then sell it next year for a million.....

[BlasterBates]

Depends on the speed limit. 30 mph, then doesn't matter that much.

My Grandparents lived on a busy main road, didn't notice it when I visited or stayed over, sure there is traffic noise but you just "don't hear it".

If it's a fast road and lots of lorries probably a different matter.

[SueEllen]

I am having similar concerns about a house that has mainline train tracks running behind the back garden. Again, a really good house - for BTL - in many ways: it's big, will make a great HMO and is less than 10 minutes walk to station (trains to London take 20 minutes) and town.

I wonder if triple-glazed windows might make a difference.

If I was buying for myself/family to live in then I wouldn't even consider it, but as a multi-let it seems good.

Train lines are not actually a problem especially if they are in London or big city, and the garden is big.

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

Agreed, houses like that should pretty much be free. Location is all that matters, everything else can be changed.

Feel sorry for these poor sods (I wonder if the current owners bought before the A12 was expanded to the size it is today but it must have surely always been a busy road)...imagine living here:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.87...7i13312!8i6656

[MrMarkyMark]

Feel sorry for these poor sods (I wonder if the current owners bought before the A12 was expanded to the size it is today but it must have surely always been a busy road)...imagine living here:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.87...7i13312!8i6656

The one on the far right is the OPs planned purchase

[FatLazyContractor]

The one on the far right is the OPs planned purchase

Are there anymore real contractors left on this website?

[Martin@AS Financial]

Been there, suffered that, and in my case also a loose drain cover, that would go CLANK-CLUNK every few seconds each time a vehicle drove over it.

The council tried fixing it over and over again, but it would always be back to its CLANK-CLUNKing within a week or two.

Ouch - and noise isn't the only thing to consider:

UK air pollution is a 'public health emergency

MPs: UK air pollution is a 'public health emergency' | Environment | The Guardian

[AtW]

Works for me...