Would you view this house?

[IloveSooty424]

We have been looking to buy for several years, finally have enough funds for a 25% deposit to get a better mortgage deal. There is very little on the market in the areas we’d like to move, but have seen this house. We haven’t viewed it in person yet and are driving down to view of from the outside tomorrow. The one massive downside is the electricity pylon overlooking the back of the house. The cables don’t go ver the house and I’ve measured them on Google Earth and they’re around 170 meters away. I have a 7 year old and don’t want move anywhere that would risk his health. I’ve done lots of reading online and there doesn’t seem to be any clear evidence on electrical cables and childhood cancer. The pylon can be seen in the photo of the dining room, but there aren’t any photos of the master bedroom which makes me question things. You can also see the cables from the front of the house if you look closely. Here’s the link:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/105550412#/

The pylons buzz, it can be really irritating. Personally wouldnt want to live there with kids because of the pylon issue.

Can you get a house in the region for 235 without pylons though? I'm in the SE so have no idea.

No, as I wouldn't want to look at that all the time. I also think it would put off some buyers in future when you come to resell (as you are querying now).

I lived under a Pylon many years ago.
Buzzzzzzzz and when it rained it was supper buzzy

For me it would depend on whether that would be a ‘cross country’ style line or a ‘local distribution’ line; enormous differences in voltage transmission and therefore the electromagnetic radiation. The difference is 500kV or 11kV to give you an idea of scale.

It’s not just cancer but other more minor and ‘ignorable’ symptoms from electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) which include:
Headaches
Fatigue
Anxiety
Insomnia
Prickling and/or burning skin
Rashes
Muscle pain

It would also certainly need to be a forever home, because yea you’re absolutely right it would affect the resale value.

@idontlikealdi, no you can’t really get anywhere decent for 235. It’s a very good price for the location and five bedrooms (not that we need five bedrooms). Three bed detached houses are selling for a similar price but there aren’t many available, especially in this village.

I’m very noise sensitive and the buzzing noise is one of the things that’s making me anxious as well, hence us going to check out the road and pylon tomorrow. I know someone who lives much closer to a pylon and have never heard it buzz once when sat in the garden or indoors. Is there anyway of finding out if a pylon is active?

I made it more like 50 metres on google maps. I think the advice is to avoid being closer than 100 metres if possible. The EMF levels are meant to drop pretty low at 50m though.

No, they make a terrible noise. Also, it's 2 staircases which would drive me crazy and is really quite impractical if you need to use those bedrooms for children.
I did like the label of "back room" though (very northern!) and the price is incredibly attractive for that size of house.

Is bedroom 5 only accessible by going back downstairs and round to the other stairs? That would be off putting enough before even got to the pylons.

This is a good summary of research into the risk of childhood cancers and EF:

www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/radiation/electromagnetic-fields-fact-sheet

As a scientist, I would be very cautious about concluding there is a link between childhood cancers and EMF because the sample sizes are very small which can skew data.

As a parent, I would be even more cautious about living next to a pylon because the results do suggest there might be a link. There is enough evidence that I wouldn't want to take the risk, even though I understand that it is weak evidence.

Also the buzzing is very annoying and I get headaches from them. Although I don't have any scientific proof that is the cause but it happens every time I spend more than a few minutes near a pylon... But that's enough evidence for me to know that I wouldn't want to live next to one and risk being plagued by headaches, even though it could just be a coincidence.

No. The pylon would put me off.

No I would avoid it like the plague. But I have very close family whose home was similarly sited near a pylon. Their first born DS died of a rare cancer (of which there was no family history on either side) at the age of 8. My family still bears the scars of this.

Of course that may be a total coincidence but it's enough for it be a definite no from me.

Bit cheeky calling that Cheshire, Madeley's in Staffordshire isn't it?

Yeah the pylons would put me off too, sorry. Worth taking a drive and checking for yourself though.

No and even without the Heath issues and it’s very sad to read some of the stories on this thread and the noise they just look horrible.

Thank you you’ve helped me make my decision. The very weak link is too much of a link to risk it.

@UniversitySerf

No and even without the Heath issues and it’s very sad to read some of the stories on this thread and the noise they just look horrible.

Yes it’s Staffordshire but for some bizarre reason it’s got a Crewe postcode.

House prices are shooting up in that area, aren't they?

No I wouldn't. Even without the pylons there is too much I'd need to change in the house (I hate shiny floors).

I'd be very unlikely to buy it and therefore would be unlikely to view. However in your situation there is no harm in viewing it, seeing how close the pylons are in real life and how much the buzzing is audible from the garden.

I grew up in house with a pylon literary at the end of our very small garden. My parents still live there and are in their 80's and we'll. I don't remember the noise people are mentioning tbh. I wouldn't buy a house next to one now but it was a non issue when I was growing up as I didn't know any different.

*well

I would view it. A pylon buzzing 170m away is hardly likely to keep you awake at nights.

I think you would need to view it to get a better idea. And walk round the area also.

I would have mixed feelings too.

I have a friend who lives near one and says it doesnt bother them at all.

No because weirdly the buzz from the pylon makes my dp need a poo 🤷🏼‍♀️ I can't imagine what he'd be like if we lived there 😂

Definitely visit. Difficult to tell whether you'd hear it or not, if you can visit ion the rain they tend to buzz more then.
On viewing, consider whether a specimen tree in the garden near the back would work to hide much of the view of the pylon.

We are going to drive down tomorrow and have a walk around the road and listen out for buzzing!