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Original poster

Dream house has an electricity substation!!!

94 replies

FluffyCubs · 14/09/2015 08:10

We can't proceed, can we? Apparently, it reduces viewings by 60% and that's before factoring in health issues etc. So disappointed.... Can't believe I was talking about naming it yesterday!

Nobody would buy that, would they? Or am I being over dramatic

OP posts:
atticusclaw2 · 14/09/2015 08:15

A full blown substation? Or just a tower in the garden?

atticusclaw2 · 14/09/2015 08:22

Our neighbours have an elevated final distribution station in their garden (the type on very tall poles). I looked into it when we bought our house. Its about 100m from our house and there is woodland in between and so there are no health risks. Your house has to be within a few metres of the field for there to be any potential health risk and all UK substations are required to keep their fields within acceptable levels.

Floralnomad · 14/09/2015 08:26

The problem isn't really whether there is an issue with it as it is more than likely safe , the problem is most people would not buy the house because of it so resale would be very difficult .

meadowquark · 14/09/2015 08:44

I withdrawn my offer for the very same reason, I.e.substation at the back of the garden. I was convinced that it had no harm at such distance, but I could hear the hum on a quiet evening and resale would have been difficult.

ihatethecold · 14/09/2015 09:02

I wouldn't buy a house with an electricity sub station close by.

Swimmingwithsharks · 14/09/2015 10:58

I've seen properties similar to that when we were looking. The photos look great, the house looks great..then you click on to map and street view and there is a major electricity station opp the house that takes up the entire opp side of the street. It's either that or a sewage works. That's why the houses look great, they are really cheap so they can afford to do what they want to them. Obviously people do live in these houses but I just couldn't get out of my head the sat nav in my brain telling me to turn right at the substation/sewage works and then telling me I had reached my destination!

specialsubject · 14/09/2015 11:15

there are no proven health issues, and any of the tinfoil hat brigade who think they are but still have electrical supply and wifi in their house, and use giant mobiles are talking out of their arses.

there may be a minor noise issue so take a listen.

unfortunately with having scientific knowledge regarded as being a geek (guilty as charged, MN) a lot of people are really ignorant and there may be a resale issue. So make sure you get it cheap.

atticus are you my neighbour? We've got that, and an overhead cable crossing the garden. It's great, we get paid a wayleave and free tree surgery every 2-3 years.

LaNouba · 14/09/2015 11:17

No, not over dramatic Op. I'm quite surprised the Estate Agent didn't mention this on the property details. We looked at two houses last year and both had disclaimers about issues with both properties. One was a substation and the other was warning that the view from the garden was soon to be filled with 300 houses. Maybe we were fortunate to be dealing with that rare breed of ethical Estate agent (apologies to any EAs) we obviously avoided both. I think you are wise to go with your instinct here.
It's so stressful trying to find a new house. Are you in a chain?

atticusclaw2 · 14/09/2015 12:15

Possibly special if so would you mind sending your free tree surgeons next door to have a go at mine too? Grin

specialsubject · 14/09/2015 12:20

I'll let you know. Grin

a 300-house estate built next door is not just a disaster for the view. It is a traffic problem and a flood risk, an overload for local schools and other services.

Original poster
FluffyCubs · 14/09/2015 12:58

It's quite big..... Had not been given planning permission either, do illegal also which adds to my irritation

Dream house has an electricity substation!!!
OP posts:
HerRoyalNotness · 14/09/2015 13:02

Having seen the picture that wouldn't bother me at all.

Pigeonpost · 14/09/2015 13:06

It's outside the garden though right? Is the house the one behind the hedge which you can see the top of in the photo? We had one of those in the corner of the garden of our family home when I was growing up. I don't ever remembering anyone mentioning it or it being relevant at the point of sale. Might be wrong though.

Millymollymama · 14/09/2015 13:09

That is not a sub station in my book!!! We have one like that in our village and no-one bothers about it! It is also in a garden but fenced off. It does not hum either. Overhead power cables do. Just screen it and go for a price reducstion.

The substation near our old farm covered several acres and had about 6 lines of pylons going out from it. Now that is a real substation - not a shed. It probably pre dates planning permission! The locality has to have electric distributed somehow so what would you suggest? An underground one? That installation is tiny!!!

Fizrim · 14/09/2015 13:17

Dream house? So you went round it and didn't notice any noise? It's not actually in the garden is it, is it on the main road at the back?

Swimmingwithsharks · 14/09/2015 13:20

Hang on FluffyCubs! That seriously isn't an electricity substation! That looks like a little shed. Accidentally plant a climber over it and buy the house!

kinkytoes · 14/09/2015 13:29

Isn't it proximity rather than size that is the problem though?

GudrunBrangwen · 14/09/2015 13:40

We looked at one of these houses on the bottom right of the picture.
It was cheap, long garden, three bedrooms and not much work needed...but we didn't buy it for obvious reasons.

Dream house has an electricity substation!!!
PigletJohn · 14/09/2015 13:52

Fluffy

It might be a gas cabin, or even water.

Read the yellow label on the door.

Ta1kinPeace · 14/09/2015 14:36

OP
That is not a major substation.
It poses no health risk
If the house on the other side of the hedge is fab, buy it.

goblinhat · 14/09/2015 15:12

I have one at the bottom of the garden- no problem with it. It didn't put me off buying the house.

If you live in the city these things are everywhere- you may be living in a flat right on top of one and not even know about it.

goblinhat · 14/09/2015 15:13

My ajoining neighbour who also has the substation at the bottom of his garden is a retired GP and is equally unconcerned.

Original poster
FluffyCubs · 14/09/2015 15:15

It's definitely lecky... If you all want to kick my head on for being a drama Queen, do go ahead, I'd be delighted to be worrying over nothing. It's about 2mx2m....

OP posts:
Ta1kinPeace · 14/09/2015 15:17

I'll admit I would not buy a house with that in the vicinity
because
I have tinitus that tunes in to "the hum" and I suspect it would tune in to that.

but for anybody without weird nerve endings like me, there is absolutely no reason to worry about it.

Original poster
FluffyCubs · 14/09/2015 15:18

It's outside the hedge....technically not even on the same Street but a couple of metres from our house through the hedge

OP posts:
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