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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you buy a house very near an airport?

154 replies

Kittypillar · 07/04/2019 23:47

DH and I have started doing some house hunting and we've found a house that we both really like, except for one issue on my part - it's only 5 minutes down the road (by car) from an airport.

We had a viewing on Friday and aside from the airport issue it's perfect. We're talking "dream house" territory - plenty of room, lovely garden, gorgeous rural/village location but also easy access to city we work in, excellent schools nearby. The village itself isn't in the flight path from the runway (it's south of the airport and the runway goes east to west), and the noise from that one visit seemed fairly minimal when we hung around a bit afterwards.

DH absolutely in love but I'm a little reluctant. I'm not 100% sure why but I suspect it's due to air pollution more than anything else. DH thinks I'm being ridiculous because we lived in a zone 2 very busy area of London a few years ago and I never worried about that then, although I've pointed out we have a 1 year old now and it's slightly different circumstances...

AIBU? Is it a bit silly to pass up on an amazing house due to this? WWYD?

OP posts:
SauvingnonBlanketyBlanc · 08/04/2019 09:33

I wouldn't mind it,it would be very handy for future holidays.

greenelephantscarf · 08/04/2019 09:37

depends where you are in relation to the runway(s) and flypaths.

I used to live very near one (less than a mile from the terminal) but as it was a x runway and we were not in the flight paths it was ok. could only hear airport noise (beeps from mashinery mostly) under certain wind conditions.

Likethebattle · 08/04/2019 09:38

I live 8 minutes drive from a major airport (I timed it last time we went oh holiday). Thenplanrs take off and land away from our house but you can hear the rumbling of the big airbus sometimes if you arenoutside so noise isn’t bad. Mil lives 20 minutes from us but isnon the landing path and you see planes with gear down practically buzz her house. Even then the noise isn’t bad as they are over in seconds and dh likes seeing his old home as we come in to land.

Raspberry10 · 08/04/2019 09:41

Nope, used to live very near Gatwick and the pollution was worse than the noise.

poppym12 · 08/04/2019 09:44

The plane noise wouldn't bother me but traffic congestion might if there wasn't a bypass around the village to the airport (especially as some people really are assholes when it comes to parking). I'd love to be able to get a cheap cab to the airport and leave my car at home.
I live very close to a small airbase and not far from a military one where a lot of training takes place. I prefer chinooks and tornadoes flying over to the whiny little planes.

spinn · 08/04/2019 09:54

We live by an airport. Most of the time you don't notice the noise, sometimes the weather makes it noisier and it depends on the direction they are taking off.
Kids love it, they go up and watch them taking off/landing and have a rather good knowledge of different planes😂

The issue around us is the airport parking and taxis - people use the streets for free parking causing hazards and impact on every day parking. Taxis park up everywhere to wait for collections and dropping off.

Schools are quite transient as there is a lot of transient workers in the airport. Also a great rental market for pilots etc.
The locality yo the airport also means we have fairly good village amenities and transport links which we wouldn't usually have

Having lived there now, it wouldn't phase me at all to buy a house by an airport. I don't think around, here anyway, that it affects resell.

Practicallyperfectwithprosecco · 08/04/2019 10:00

Had 2 houses very close to Luton airport and you do get aircraft noise particularly in summer however you soon get used to it. Aircraft fuel smell can be overpowering at times though. One house was nearer the far end of the runway and that could be noisy especially cargo planes taking off and landing. Other house was nearer the apron and a bit quieter. But planes don't always take off and land in same direction so noise did vary.

Worst bit of living near airport is cheeky fucker holiday makers using your road to park cars on for 2 weeks then taxi up to airport! Or workers that can't get parking

It's a major issue for a lot of the roads surrounding Luton airport.

Malbecfan · 08/04/2019 10:12

If you're south of the runway and only 5 minutes' drive away, I doubt very much you'll have aircraft going over you as most aircraft using Bristol will be going East or West at that distance away. I don't think they have a massive holding pattern/problem there either, but google is your friend there.

As a PP poster has stated, the prevailing winds in the UK, and particularly that area are SW. Fumes & noise will tend therefore to go to the NE, and away from you. You will notice more noise when the wind is northerly.

I live 8 miles SE of Exeter Airport. It's quicker and easier to get there than to the main railway station in Exeter. We rarely hear anything large unless the winds are easterlies/northerlies when they then come in over Exeter city and take off towards Honiton. Anything heading south then comes over us, climbing out towards the sea. They are normally at around 5000ft by the time they come over and I quite like watching them. The small planes are more irritating (being hypocritical as DH flies one) and the military helicopters shake the house, so we honestly don't mind the planes at all.

CabbageHippy · 08/04/2019 10:17

we live very close to an airport but it is a private airport so we only get a large amount of noise when it's airshow time. Rest of the time the planes are small however they are not taking/off landing directly overhead

Dieu · 08/04/2019 10:29

Go for it! My mum lives a stone's throw from an airport, and I grew up in that house. It was - and continues to be - a non issue. And it's definitely not a sharp or annoying noise, like car traffic would be.
My mum does a good trade in Airb&b too!
Lots of new builds going up where she lives, and they sold like hot cakes.
Only minor grievance is people who are too tight to pay for airport parking, rocking up on her street. But then her street has no parking restrictions, which is unusual.

Dieu · 08/04/2019 10:33

It won't be hard to sell at all, btw. Some people don't know what they're talking about.
Mum is beside Glasgow Airport if that helps. It's really pretty busy, but not huge. As I said, it hasn't been a problem whatsoever.

Dieu · 08/04/2019 10:35

And she has been there for over 30 years! sorry for the multiple posts

bluetongue · 08/04/2019 10:37

I wouldn’t but then I’m very noise sensitive. My house is a 15 minute drive to to airport but not under a flightpath. There is still noise. Depending on the wind direction I can sometimes hear the planes taxi-ing which is a noise that can really travel a surprisingly long way.

The airport has a curfew but recently lots of the airlines have decided to have their flights between 10 - 11pm. I think half the city can hear the Emirates 777 10.45pm when it takes off!

NewYoiker · 08/04/2019 10:42

Used to live under the flight path of Leeds and Bradford airport and the noise was unbelievable. Having to pause the tv in the middle of summer because the window was open and you'd miss what was being said, having to pause on the phone as well

Redglitter · 08/04/2019 10:44

My last house was on a flight path. After staying there a short time I got used to it and barely even registered the noise

Bentley11 · 08/04/2019 10:50

Hi OP,
I grew up in one of the closest houses to Bristol airport & my DPs still live there.
It's a fantastic area and in honesty, have never felt affected by noise/pollution. So easy to get to both Bristol & Bath, schools are great. I had a fab childhood.
Feel free to message me Smile

Innernutshell · 08/04/2019 11:03

For most people dreams usually come with some compromise.

It's more a question of whether this single compromise is too big to have your dream in your hand right now.

Perhaps the better choice is to wait however many more years it would take to be able to afford to have your dream realised without an airport nearby.

Remember we can't always future proof our choices because there is never any guarantee that A, B or C will even happen.

Sometimes it's ok to just go for it.

outpinked · 08/04/2019 11:03

It would deter me simply because you will struggle to sell it if you ever need to in future. Not many people want to live close to an airport.

Original poster
Kittypillar · 08/04/2019 11:32

@Bentley11 ah thanks so much, I will do :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Kittypillar · 08/04/2019 11:37

@Dieu don't be sorry at all, it's really useful info :) I'll have to check if the street has any parking restrictions. I can absolutely imagine some CFs do try to leave their cars there and head off on their holiday for a couple of weeks...

OP posts:
letsdolunch321 · 08/04/2019 11:40

I live half hour from Gatwick airport, we are not on the flight path and hear no noise at all.

If it is a smaller airport and the house is what you are looking for - go for it

Original poster
Kittypillar · 08/04/2019 11:41

For most people dreams usually come with some compromise.

Exactly what my husband is saying. We've chatted a bit more this morning and I'm starting to feel a bit more happy with the idea. Lots of homework to do before we make any steps forward I think but been really helpful to have so much input here. So thanks everyone :)

OP posts:
IncrediblySadToo · 08/04/2019 12:06

Unless there is a good chance of compulsory purchasing (for a new runway etc) then I wouldn’t be worried about reselling.

How many empty houses are there? How many listed on Rightmove that haven’t sold? (That are reasonably priced). I’d hazard a guess at the same percentage as anywhere else.

You’ll get it at a price that takes the location into account, so if you sell it at a price that takes the location into account, you’ll have no trouble selling it. The problem arises is when people buy it at a good price because of the location but then expect to sell it as though it’s in an entirely different location.

If there’s no sign of new runway plans, I’d buy near Bristol airport, no problem.

YesItsMeIDontCare · 08/04/2019 12:14

Make sure you get the FlightRadar24 app on your phone 😁.

QueenEhlana · 08/04/2019 12:26

I wouldn't even look at a house that close to the airport so wouldn't be in a position to fall in love with it. I have a friend who owns a house in a similar situation to the one you you looked at, absolutely stunning house, don't hear much noise as not on the flightpath, and the agent has admitted that if it had been anywhere else then he'd have sold it by now. A lot of people just won't look at properties near airports.