To buy a house next to a petrol station?

[BeatriceAndBeau]

The sale is due to complete in a few weeks and now I’m having second thoughts. Help!

Finally found our unicorn home - within budget, in our preferred area and nicely presented with no major renovations needing done. The only issue is it has now dawned on me that it might be slightly cheaper than comparable houses in the area for a reason..

It is 20m down the road from a 24hr service station. I love the house and really don’t want to let it go but I’m now panicking that this could pose safety issues - eg: bad air quality, risk of explosion. I don’t mind the fact that there will be noise and vehicles around as that’s the price. you pay to live in the city. I really just don’t want to put us in any danger or risk health problems.

I couldn’t stand the smell but it’s probably a bit late.

Is the air quality around a petrol station any worse than anywhere else?

Also, do you know of many petrol stations that have exploded? I suspect it’d take out more than just the house next door.

Have you checked you can get house/contents insurance? Presumably it’s okay if the current owner has a mortgage, but that would worry me! I couldn’t do with the smell and traffic either.

How long are you planning on living there? I’d be happy for a few years but not for a forever home. The noise and pollution from passing cars would worry me.

Petrol stations are very heavily regulated, there won't be any health risks. The only problem will be the 24 hr opening.
There is always a compromise when buying and this is yours.

I know one petrol station that exploded but have heard of more explosions due to dodgy gas work that petrol stations.

Have you exchanged?

Unfortunately yes! There was a tragic petrol station explosion in Creeslough, ROI a few years ago. I accept that this was an incredibly rare disaster but it’s all that’s going through my mind at the moment

No. Due to exchange in mid Aug

I got quotes for house insurance done today - all seemed very typical price wise so I don’t think that the insurers see it as a big risk. Mortgage and survey both fine as well

Not to late to pull out. I think the fumes, noise & smell would end up driving me mad.

I thought you were going to say it was literally next door!

I once was very keen on viewing a house, then got there and saw that it was indeed right next to a petrol station. I thought the noise and comings and goings would be too much. But 20m down the road I'd think you were fine!

No advice really, planning has been approved for one behind our house which I'm not thrilled by to put it mildly. There's nothing I can do about that except look at the positives like when I need milk.
Hoping everyone's gone electric by the time it's built!

If your mortgage is approved then that bodes well for future sales, and it sounds as though you love the house - maybe just cold feet?

Wouldn’t bother me massively. I’d like having a 24 hour shop nearby!

As has been said, there should not be fumes. Thats not the issue. The issue is potential noise. How busy is the ss?

My cousin lived fairly near a petrol station, don't recall a smell. Also, most towns hardly have any petrol stations now, so it will probs close soon

You say 24 hour petrol station, I say 24 hour chocolate! 😬

It might put me off, though it's not as bad as being next door. I am a bit of a worrier about that sort of thing. However, I lived about the same distance from a car mechanic garage for 15 years and didn't think anything of it until I read this post! Mainly liked the fact that I didn't have to go far for my M.O.T or any repairs. Certainly didn't consider it when we bought the house, but we were young then.

I don't think the worry about explosions is realistic - they're much better regulated than private homes, and when you consider homes have gas then you're probably more at risk of an absent minded neighbour than you are of a petrol station!

The thing i would be concerned to check is whether the petrol station is intended for just cars and vans, or HGVs (ie with a higher roof) Whilst traffic noise is something you might be used to, traffic stopping and starting is far louder than just passing traffic. If it's 20m away for cars that wouldn't be an issue but if it's lorries I would maybe go visit and see. I lived near a cross roads where lorries regularly had to stop and the noise and vibration of them starting up used to make my windows rattle, and sometimes my bed shake!

Used to live back to back with a service station and never minded. It was very handy. Quite well stocked M&S stock open 24/7 every day of the year.
Noticed you forgot carrots on Christmas morning? Nip to the garage. 2am period cravings? Nip to the garage. I miss it.

Im probably about 20 m away from petrol station and honestly you’d never know. Non issue

i lived near a petrol station for a year. It was opposite a pub, with a 3 lane road in between, and i was next to the pub on the side street, so more than 20m away, but not much.

There was no more noise than elsewhere in the city centre, and no fumes. The worst thing about it was being able to go and buy biscuits at 3am.

Well lots of petrol stations will be closing in the coming years. So there’s that.

I used to live above a petrol station and I occasionally worried about it. I did write to the local politician in charge of the fire service in my region because I am that sort of saddo. They clearly had done analysis of the risks of building above petrol stations and it was very reassuring.

I could never smell it but i faced into the back of the block.

The traffic noise would drive me mad now though!

We have lived behind a petrol station for nearly 30 years and have had no issues with smells or noise (or explosions) but they have recently added a very noisy car wash which is very annoying.