Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy a house next to a petrol station?

84 replies

BeatriceAndBeau · 29/07/2025 22:39

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.

OP posts:
EmeraldShamrock000 · 29/07/2025 23:35

A bit silly to only consider this now.
It would be handy for late night snack.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 29/07/2025 23:37

BeatriceAndBeau · 29/07/2025 22:48

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

Show quote history

It wasn't the petrol station that caused the explosion, it was a gas leak from the apartments behind it. Criminal charges are pending.

MrsMoastyToasty · 29/07/2025 23:38

I had friends who lived in a flat above a petrol station shop. You couldn't smell anything more than vehicles usually make .

SabrinaThwaite · 29/07/2025 23:38

There’s always a risk of the underground tanks leaking (can’t remember the % that used to be quoted in the 1990s but it was higher than you’d like), but I think your primary issues will be noise, light pollution and traffic.

Magnalux · 29/07/2025 23:41

It was the block of flats behind the petrol station that exploded in the case in Co Donegal

TobiasForgesContactLense · 29/07/2025 23:42

There was a fire at a petrol station local to me a few year ago. The nearest house (literally next door) was severely damaged and the one next door slightly damaged. So it can happen. I assume that insurance paid for repairs.

They are on a busy High Street anyway so less worried about noise and traffic.

Actually just realised that we lived about 25 metres from one about 20 years ago and it never crossed my mind to be concerned.

chattyness · 29/07/2025 23:45

We live close to a petrol station, roughly a 5 minute drive away and luckily we don't have any fumes where we live. I hate going to a petrol station to fill the car up, the fumes really make me feel headachey and sick, so I wouldn't want to live by one.

SilenceOfTheTimTams · 29/07/2025 23:49

I’m loving the fear of exploding petrol stations.

Imagine if that happened a lot! There’d be bits of rubber hose, wilting bunches of flowers, bbq charcoal, Dairy Milk and screen wash bottles all over the place.

SabrinaThwaite · 29/07/2025 23:56

chattyness · 29/07/2025 23:45

We live close to a petrol station, roughly a 5 minute drive away and luckily we don't have any fumes where we live. I hate going to a petrol station to fill the car up, the fumes really make me feel headachey and sick, so I wouldn't want to live by one.

A five minute drive away isn’t anywhere near close - at 20 mph you’re still 1.5 miles away.

Aliflowers · 29/07/2025 23:59

BeatriceAndBeau · 29/07/2025 22:48

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

Show quote history

Just to clarify the petrol station didn’t explode. There was (I believe) a gas explosion in an apartment block which was built alongside it which cause the building to collapse onto the forecourt and shop.

mumda · 29/07/2025 23:59

Does it have a Starbucks or similar? Is it likely to in the next ten years?

Original poster
BeatriceAndBeau · 30/07/2025 00:23

mumda · 29/07/2025 23:59

Does it have a Starbucks or similar? Is it likely to in the next ten years?

No, definitely not. Although it’s busy it’s a very small station. No room for expansion around it either (thankfully)

OP posts:
SeasaltPuppy · 30/07/2025 00:24

Think of all the times you can easily get whatever chocolate you fancy in minutes. Mile when you run out. Amazing

raspberrieswithchocolate · 30/07/2025 00:43

EmeraldShamrock000 · 29/07/2025 23:37

It wasn't the petrol station that caused the explosion, it was a gas leak from the apartments behind it. Criminal charges are pending.

Show quote history

Was just about to post the same. The petrol station wasn't the cause OP.

Being only 20m away from 24h availability of crisps, chocolate and ice cream is a plus point!

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 30/07/2025 00:53

I lived next to a petrol station as a student. The issue was the noise. It was bad.

Mustardly · 30/07/2025 00:56

I've a relative that lives next door to a petrol station, the smell doesn't seem to travel and as it's on a busy fast road I only tend to notice the drone of that. It wasn't 24hr but not sure if it's changed since. It's very handy if you run out of milk or need to fill the car up.
There's not been any safety issues with the garage but relative had a minor fire once and the fire engine arrived very quickly.

Their main gripe is people parking and blocking their access due to the layout but that's probably not an issue 20m away.
Over the years the petrol station has been demolished and rebuilt, they did want to buy the property at one stage to expand but relative declined. It's a prime spot for a petrol station but many have closed and the site changed use or taken over by a car wash/valet.

Derbee · 30/07/2025 02:03

I think it sounds really convenient to be so close to 24 hour supplies!

Almost everyone has to compromise when buying their house. If this is yours, I’d say that’s a win!

WaryHiker · 30/07/2025 02:11

There seems to be a lot of evidence that living next to a petrol station results in adverse health outcomes. I wouldn't personally consider it. A quick Google throws up hundreds of links such as this one.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37249787/

JustGoClickLikeALightSwitch · 30/07/2025 03:37

I’m reading this thread and trying to imagine how I’d feel living 20m from a petrol station, and have just clocked that I do live 20m from a petrol station. D’oh. It’s fine. Occasionally at night you hear (with bedroom window open) the night cashier saying something over a tannoy to a customer. That’s about it.

Bjorkdidit · 30/07/2025 03:51

Love how people are talking as if 20 metres isn't that close. It's literally next door if the house is on a medium sized plot, ie not a modern estate where all the houses are crammed in on top of each other but hardly a country estate either.

I wouldn't be worried about it exploding and the pollution is probably no different to living on a main road but I would be concerned about noise and traffic as it would be annoying to have to dodge people queuing to get in and out of the petrol station but it depends on the layout.

But as a PP says, most people have to compromise somewhere so if the house is otherwise suitable and the detriment caused by the petrol station is bearable, it might still be the best house for you OP.

TwinklyNight · 30/07/2025 03:53

I wouldn't.

TinySaltLick · 30/07/2025 04:18

Only thing would be the car noise, but you don't seem to be bothered by that - the rest of the worries are unfounded. It will be fine - enjoy!

Super useful being that near a shop, I would love the 20m convenience!

jen337 · 30/07/2025 05:13

We live around 50m for a petrol station, it’s not open all night though. Petrol smells are not an issue, traffic is obviously slightly higher and likely marginally worse location for exhaust pollution. Never worried about explosions. Worst annoyances are the sound of the jet wash occasionally can be heard on a quiet day and litter, those plastic gloves and Costa cups sometimes end up blowing into our driveway.

applegingermint · 30/07/2025 05:21

Ground contamination and overnight noise would be my concerns. Cars stopping/starting in the dead of the night are quite noisy.

Strawberrri · 30/07/2025 05:26

Is it upwind or downwind of it