To buy my dream house even though...

[booksboo]

... it's near a contaminated lake?

I've fallen head over heels with a house that is perfect for our family, having been on the lookout for 2 years. It ticks all the boxes.

BUT it's near a contaminated lake with green algae that is toxic to humans. It's in the countryside so the source of contamination is nearby farms - pesticides and animal waste runoff (lovely).

You can't actually see the lake from the house, but it would only take a couple of minutes walk to get there so it's close.

For context I have children, no pets. The house is not so close to the lake to be a safety issue for the kids I don't think.

All advice and comments appreciated!

I would seriously consider it, if the price reflects all of the surroundings.

Why not as long as you're not responsible for it and the children know not to go in it.

Link please!

Is it a natural lake? Blue/green algae can come and go on lakes due to weather conditions. Is the lake like it all the time from the farms or just a presumption that it is contaminated?

Nope.

Could I have your reason why?

It's a natural lake and it has been badly contaminated for a long time. There is a local team of people trying to work to restore it but it's been unsuccessful.

Lough neagh?

Sure, it's because issues like that won't be resolved (agricultural runoff). If the pollution issues in the lake were to get worse and the lake developed any kind of condition that resulted in it stinking (maybe it does already stink on hot days) it wouldn't be pleasant to live near. For me it would be a compromise not worth making.

Thank you for the info. If you cannot see the lake and you are aware of the situation, I personally would proceed with the house. You know it is there so can avoid walking near it, plus there are attempts to restore it which may come to fruition.

The other way to look at it, you could have purchased the house when the lake did not have algae, and then it changed, you would still be living there.

If you do proceed, I would pay extra for a wide ranging environmental search - wide ranging in area rather than the normal search done on the property.

Probably not with kids, unless it's securely fenced off.
Also look at the flood risk, there's a government website that let's you check by address

It wouldn't bother me at all. Most houses have something dodgy nearby - farms/fertilisers or quarries in the countryside, factories/busy roads in the urban areas. Unless there's any issues with security, or the smell in summer, I really wouldn't give it a second thought.

Most houses have something dodgy nearby??? Seriously, they don’t. Not a useful comment at all. And statistically incorrect.

sorry OP, I wouldn’t but plenty of others would so it’s really a tough decision.

but … put yourself 15 yrs into the future, you cannot sell the house for this reason. Would you regret the purchase if you were left stuck with the house? Had to sell it at a massive discount?

Unless the lake floods then it wouldn't bother me. I would prefer to live a few minutes from a contaminated lake than on a main road.

@Plmnki in terms of contamination/pollution most do. How many people don't have one of: busy road/stream with run off/old landfill/farmers field/light industry within walking distance? It doesn't have to be a rough area, I have friends who go paddle boarding/cold water swimming and they have to be very careful of water quality even in the 'naice' areas!