House near pest control business

[Tigress2014]

We are due to exchange on a lovely new build house in a quiet residential cul de sac. It has a great floorplan (really works for us) but a small disappointing garden. We had accepted we couldn't make the garden any bigger but that all things considered it was still worth buying.... Just going through all the search documents and it has come up that one of the other houses in this quiet cul-de-sac operates as an active pest control company. Had seen this earlier and assumed it would be just the registered office basically a PO box but thought to quickly call the company and ask. And, no, it operates from there, stores all its fumigants, pesticides, insecticides etc in the garage. Had a look from the outside and they have about 5 large bins outside their garage which makes me think they dispose of the waste chemicals from there too. The house we are buying is about 30 metres from this one but it has still made me think hmmmm. We have three young children and not sure about living so close to an active pest control company. Would it put you off?

No it wouldn't put me off. If they store chemicals outside their house and you think it might be dangerous, you can inform Environmental Health.

If the stuff is in their garage /shed, who knows what is inside anyone's garage!

Does the house have planning permission for this business? It might not bother me too much as long as anything is stored properly. How do you know it is?

Hazardous materials must be safely stored and safely disposed of. It seems this type of work from Home may need pp due to it not being a standard home business. I would speak to your Council and check if the storage and disposal of the chemicals is safe.

He is a one man band so doesn't need planning. We spoke to the council, HSE, cosh etc and it seems he probably can. I just feel anxious at the prospect of it being near where we live, discarded liquids on the communal road, walking shit into the house etc when I have a baby and two young boys. Not sure what to do!

He may well store them very carefully but who knows?!

The bins are probably also for all the pests they've managed to control and dispose of... mainly dead rats I expect. Euuugh.

Okay - you have doubts and I think you are looking for something to use to get out of purchasing the house. You've already said it had a small, disappointing garden, but presumably you'd decided to compromise on this, but now you've realised it's actually more important to you. If you don't want to go ahead then don't. Yes, you'll lose the fees you've paid, etc but don't go ahead if you are going to regret it. The best thing to do is see what else has come into the market that looks like a possibility and go and view this weekend before you make a final decision. If you find something better for you then pull out of the other purchase. If you don't, then decide whether you can live with the compromises and go ahead and exchange.

The company would do no harms. Just be sure about the chemical smells. Consult the professionals. This may be of great help. In fact, though for the smaller time period, if you face any bad pests infestation, calling them would be much easier. Visit Granite Bay Pest Control for more information.