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Original poster

Does anyone live on an unmade private road?

17 replies

Honey1975 · 12/04/2017 20:17

The house we have offered on is on an unmade private road. It's bumpy but as the house isn't too far down it doesn't bother us.
When we spoke to the neighbours they said it can be dusty and when I drove past earlier I could see clouds of dust in the sunshine where a car had just gone by.
I'm a bit worried about us kind of breathing this in, especially the little ones. I imagine it must come in through the open windows in summer too.

Is it a problem or am I just finding something else to worry about?!

OP posts:
Blinkyblink · 12/04/2017 20:18

I do.

No issue whatsoever in any shape of form.

specialsubject · 12/04/2017 20:37

No one is that fragile. More of an issue is the dirt that will be tracked in and the wear on your car.

Chaotica · 12/04/2017 20:41

Yes. It's not an issue.

Asmoto · 12/04/2017 20:43

I lived on one a few years ago, and it didn't cause any issues. Bear in mind that if any maintenance is needed, you and the other residents will have to arrange and pay for this - when I moved from the house there was a question on the form I had to complete about what road repairs had been done (if any) how much it had cost and whether anyone had refused to contribute - so if you want this info, it should be something your solicitor can request from the sellers.

EmmaC78 · 12/04/2017 20:45

I am just about to move somewhere that is a mile up an unmade private road and am not concerned it will be an issue at all.

BarchesterFlowers · 12/04/2017 20:45

We did and it was fine for many years, until the farmer that owned it sold some old buildings to a developer. He also sold the road beyond our house to the developer. The developer then took on maintenance of the whole road and we were saddled with a bill every year for gold plating it.

We had lived there for many years as a bumpy farm track.

You need to find out who owns it and what your liabilities are.

TheScottishPlay · 12/04/2017 20:48

I do. No issue with breathing. We are on a farm, it's windy here most days and you see dust clouds. I would rather breath this in than exhaust/chimney fumes.
The suspension on my car suffers a little though.

Original poster
Honey1975 · 12/04/2017 21:15

Great thanks, feeling suitably reassured!

OP posts:
amymel2016 · 12/04/2017 21:17

I grew up on one and my Mum still lives there, no problem at all. You could always see if the other neighbours are happy to club together to get it tarmaced.

Shadowboy · 12/04/2017 21:24

Me too- never had a dust problem. I love being on a private track away from traffic!

Greenvalleymama · 12/04/2017 21:34

We do, on a farm a mile from the main road and have had no issues up until now other than the suspension on our car, however it has been recently stated in our local rag that the Council are stopping collecting bins and recycling from all private roads and unadpoted highways in the Borough so we may have to start dragging our bins a mile to the top of the road (which fills me with joy, as you can imagine!).
It might be worth seeing if your local council has any plans to do the same in your borough? (We are in Newcastle Under Lyme)

BarchesterFlowers · 12/04/2017 21:39

I am a mile from a village on an unmade road - another one from the issue upthread. Both here and there we had end of lane collection so it isn't unusual sadly.

The first road was only 100ft away so we dragged the bin out but this one is a mile so we leave the bin at the end and take our rubbish out when we are in the car.

Minor inconvenience for living where we do.

CountMagnus · 12/04/2017 22:38

I would check the state of the road - if it breaks up considerably into potholes then it will be hard on your vehicles. What agreements are in place with the other householders on the road for repairs and maintenance? Having lived on an unadopted road myself I would be cautious - it can be an absolute minefield.

PettsWoodParadise · 12/04/2017 22:43

I have an aunt who lives on an unadopted road. There is some sort of legally set up fund the homeowners pay into each year and about every twenty years the road gets resurfaced professionally with minor potholes dealt with inbetween. seems a sensible solution but I could imagine it can have problems if someone doesn't pay. When I looked at an unadopted road near me - there was no such fund and the worry about a large unexpected cost as well as it being a potential difference of opinion between neighbours about when & what repairs to carry out did put me off buying the house.

CountMagnus · 12/04/2017 22:52

I have a friend with a house on an unadopted road which had deteriorated to the extent that damage to cars was to be expected. She spent stupid amounts of time trying to get all the householders to agree to repairs, and was stymied by just one person to the extent where the contractor that had quoted for the work (at a very reasonable cost) would no longer have anything to do with it.

Unless you are the house closest to the made up / adopted road I would be very wary.

Pradaqueen · 13/04/2017 20:57

I live on one. Not ideal but I really wanted the house st the end of it Wink Pluses are that I own the lane and they neighbours have right of way so I control the bills... Plus you don't tend to get people driving up 'to have a look' as the road is so shite. Ours is a mix of concrete and some Tarmac. Minuses, I had to get rid of my posh car for a discovery (FWP I know). And I have to drive the bins down to the end of the lane (thankfully we have weekly collection) Dust not an issue. Hope that helps!

jazzmin · 14/04/2017 16:32

My road is quite dusty. Just means I need to wipe down my front door etc more often. The children will play in the back garden away from it won't they?

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