Canals - what do you think of living next door?

[MadScientist10]

Essentially it’s all in the title. Looking at a couple of places. Both are new(ish) and back onto the canal. One has access (as in a little dock and gate) whilst the other is set further back and has bushes, etc...separating it from the water.

I can’t figure out if it’s a good thing or a bad thing?! What are the pros and cons??? Thanks!

No risk of a canal flooding is there? ...in which case I think direct canal access sounds absolutely lovely. Does it overlook your garden? You might have boaters travelling past.

Rats come to mind, perhaps you'll need a cat. Also bloody midges all summer with the stagnant water.
Also young dc who could fall in. Increased insurance premiums?
I imagine it could be quite nice though, calming and idyllic.

I've seen quite a few massive rats around canals, especially at bits with houses.

I went to look at a house a short while ago where the back of the house was directly against the tow path - about 3 ft - of a canal. In the half hour I was there, many, many people, most with dogs walked past , so not much privacy.

Also, not many of the dog walkers picked up after their dogs, to the point where I imagine the smell in the summer would have been rather minging.

I didn't buy it!

Some useful comments on canals on a previous thread.

Is there a towpath behind you or is that on the other side?

We used to have a house backing onto the canal, with a towpath running behind us. The walkers/cyclists etc weren't a huge problem except perhaps in high summer when you want a lie in and there's families and dogs etc going past. Wouldn't put me off at all though.

The dog poo thing is true although we never smelled it in the house, but sometimes you'd go out the back and discover some cretin had let their dog shit on your canal access steps. Again, not enough to put me off the location though.

We had a hedge and fence separating us, further up on the other side were big fancy pants houses with direct canal access (no tow path) and they often had nothing screening them from the water, presumably for the views. I wouldn't be keen on that but of course that can easily be rectified.

It was lovely for us to be able to get straight onto the canal for a walk but it was equally easy for burglars, twice, once via our own gate and once via someone else's. We were specifically targeted by people who knew we had certain high value easy to sell items though, none of our neighbours were burgled while we lived there. Ultimately that's why we sold the house though.

Just not for children and dogs that leap into the water. Lots of houses and flats are canal side and don’t have any problems.

I've lived beside a canal for the past eleven years. We have never seen a single rat.The garden is a fly trap throughout Spring and Summer though. It's a lovely place to go for a walk (or a run), however lots of inconsiderate dog walker's around here. It's generally very peaceful and pleasant, love seeing the boats come by.

If there are houseboats moored, the smell of burning wood from them can be quite strong at this time of year

I love backing onto a lock of a canal. (clue is in the name!). We have a good 50ft of garden, then a fence with a gate, then the canal-authority owned strip of land alongside the lock, which we walk along to get to the little lock bridge to cross over the canal onto the tow path.
There is a line of tall trees between the canal and our garden.
I can see joggers, cyclists, walkers etc from my kitchen window and patio but privacy is not an issue really.

It has never flooded, insurance was not a problem.
Rats are not a problem. In fact, my best friend lives backing on to open fields and she has huge rats in her garden.
We have never been burgled, neither have our neighbours. That said, these are modest 50's semi's, not mansions.

I love spring and summer when the lock is in use and the boats come through. This does not happen often (our canal was always a 'failure' in engineering terms and is now a site of special scientific interest due to the diverse plants / wildlife that lives here), we see maybe 30 boats come through over the course of a summer. We quite often pop out with a cup of tea and dh will lend a hand if needed.

We bought this house because of the canal, and I love it!

live, not love, in first sentence...

Lived in a canal side flat in the centre of the city for a year. Never saw a rat, although we saw a mink from time to time. Seeing kingfishers from the breakfast table was a highlight.

Hi, thanks for all the replies. The tow path is on the other side. The garden (not huge) has a low-ish fence and then I think that’s it. We do have young kids but I think we would be looking at raising that boundary if we were to go ahead.

Glad that rats aren’t a thing 🤢. Hopefully burglars are also not keen if they have access to the property by boat mostly?!?!

I live in a city with a canal. I run along the towpath sometimes. There are very picturesque bits and other not so picturesque bits. Some strips are a magnet for antisocial behaviour, drinking and drug use and pockets of the homeless population use the canal side as a hangout, as it is quiet and away from the main drag. More of a problem in the summer than winter.

I think it sounds idyllic!

I lived very close to a canal for 7 years. Midges were never a problem (they were terrible by the river, a short distance away, but not by the canal). Neither were rats. I loved being close to the water, and I really miss seeing all the wildlife. I'd be wary if the towpath was just the other side of your hedge, but sounds like it won't be. So it wouldn't put me off at all.

Went and saw the place again and the towpath is definitely on other side. Garden opens onto a little dock/water. Would definitely have to figure out the gate as we have young kids. Put in an offer today! There was someone fishing on the tow path who could see right into the garden and living room of the house though. Thought that was a bit weird!! We will see how it goes!