Radon

[absolutmum]

We've just had an email from our solicitor telling us that the house we are trying to buy is within a radon affected area. The local authority report states it is more than 25 metres away from the source so protection isn't needed!!!
Has anyone had experience of this, not sure what to do next?

It's a non issue. You can test for radon if it bothers you a lot but the reading needs to be done over a period of time so not really feasible to do whilst buying.

You can arrange for the solicitors to keep back a bond to pay for any remedial work that may be needed - such 'work' entails fitting a filter to filter out the gas and costs less than one k.

If your survey says no action is needed then I wouldn't worry about it tbh.

It is a naturally-occurring slightly radioactive gas that seeps out through the ground depending on the rocks beneath. Some rocks are naturally slightly radioactive. it happens in parts of the West Country, they usually line the oversite concrete (under the floor) with a polythene-like barrier, and ventilate the subfloor void (using extractor fans instead of airbricks) to prevent the gas accumulating.

If it is a modern house and there is a polythene dpm under the ground slab, it might not need anything. I don't know but the council should have a leaflet or website.

However if your house is outside the area and protection isn't needed, you are not obliged to do anything.

I would be interested to know how much further away than 25 metres the source is.

Around here it's entirely normal. You can test and take remedial action if you would feel happier about it once you're in.

I learned about during a past purchase. I worried until I discovered that my existing property was exactly the same.

If action were needed the survey would have said that, AFAIK.

Normal here too. I had the very same last year when buying our house. No action required however it was noted on the survey. I was worried but was assured by everyone it was the norm for this area.

Just to add that long term exposure to high levels causes lung cancer, that's why they have to mention it. It is only a problem if it is not ventilated properly though. More info here

Our whole town comes up high on Radon readings.

All my houses have either been within or very near Dartmoor National Park, so lots of radon in the granite, or a 15 mile radius of nuclear submarines. I wouldn't worry.