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Original poster

Would you buy near a river?

51 replies

Badgerstripe · 31/10/2021 13:58

The house is very old and has, as far as i know, never flooded, but its right next to the flood plain. The last time the river flooded 2 years ago it was about 30m away from the water with only a slight incline protecting it.

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 31/10/2021 14:00

Nope I wouldn’t

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 31/10/2021 14:00

Hell no.
We bought near a river 20 years ago, we had a devil of a time reselling.
Just don't!

Original poster
Badgerstripe · 31/10/2021 14:02

@Ihopeyourcakeisshit

Hell no. We bought near a river 20 years ago, we had a devil of a time reselling. Just don't!
Thanks, i think these sellers have the same problem.
OP posts:
CeeceeBloomingdale · 31/10/2021 14:02

No, it's a problem that will get worse with global warming and insurance companies are wise to it now.

BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 31/10/2021 14:04

30m away for an incline of a flood plain is quite a bit or can be depending on the size of the flood plain, also the other point to consider is what is the lowest point on the boundary of the flood plain, would the water continue flowing towards the house or is there another outlet that would be hit first?

hemhem · 31/10/2021 14:05

I wouldn't. My inlaws house value has been absolutely destroyed because their local council built a new flood protection system on the river at the end of their garden. Its taken away part of their land and is ugly as hell.

Its absolutely awful for them and cuased them so much stress. They've had a terrible time with so much disruption both during construction works and also now having to take legal action to claim compensation for the loss in value. They've been trying to sell their house for 4 years with hardly any interest. The house itself is lovely inside, new kitchen, new bathroom etc, but noone will touch it when they see the massive metal and concrete flood wall

Original poster
Badgerstripe · 31/10/2021 14:06

@hemhem

I wouldn't. My inlaws house value has been absolutely destroyed because their local council built a new flood protection system on the river at the end of their garden. Its taken away part of their land and is ugly as hell.

Its absolutely awful for them and cuased them so much stress. They've had a terrible time with so much disruption both during construction works and also now having to take legal action to claim compensation for the loss in value. They've been trying to sell their house for 4 years with hardly any interest. The house itself is lovely inside, new kitchen, new bathroom etc, but noone will touch it when they see the massive metal and concrete flood wall

Thats awful, your poor inlaws.
OP posts:
DaxtheDestroyer · 31/10/2021 14:17

Nope. We nearly did, a few years ago. We couldn't get insurance on it so pulled out - very glad!

TheEconomista · 31/10/2021 14:24

We lost out on one sounding identical recently and are now glad we did. It’s never flooded YET. But we know the water came about 20m away two years ago and there’s only a slight slope. Extreme weather is only getting worse and I reckon it’ll flood in the next 2-5 years.

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 31/10/2021 14:33

@BaronessEllarawrosaurus

30m away for an incline of a flood plain is quite a bit or can be depending on the size of the flood plain, also the other point to consider is what is the lowest point on the boundary of the flood plain, would the water continue flowing towards the house or is there another outlet that would be hit first?
The technicalities are all well and good, but I think it's largely about the perception the average Joe has. More people are aware of global warming and the horrors of flooding. I wouldn't risk it from a reselling perspective, lets be honest it's not going to get any better.
Lilboots · 31/10/2021 16:44

I used to rent a first floor flat one block away from a river. When there was major flooding locally, the building was inundated by storm water overflowing from drains sometime before the river actually broke its banks. So the incline may stop river water, but that's not necessarily the whole story.

Skysblue · 31/10/2021 17:03

Nope. Global warming, sea level rising, floods definitely increasing

It’s just easier to buy a house that isn’t near a flood plain. Also my friend owned a house near a flood plain and it was surprisingly tricky getting insurance for it even thoigh it wasnton the flood plain…

Cyw2018 · 31/10/2021 17:11

My last house was less than 50m from the sea. It was 100 years old and had never flooded (elsewhere in the village had), so I bought it.

Things to consider are...
Insurance, some companies cover based on distance from nearest flood (and 30m is close), others based on history, so you would probably end up doing a lot of ring around.

Is there risk of rising flood water under the floors, via springs, or is it purely external flooding?

If you bought it could you invest in new flood proof sealed doors and air brick covers?

Are you planning on renovating it much? There are ways of designing it for damage limitation, eg. electrics above waist level, tiled floors downstairs, marine grade kitchen cabinets etc.

Don't rule the property out, but do your research.

DogDaysNeverEnd · 31/10/2021 17:19

Get an insurance quote, you will be able to see straight away how a professional organisation that assess risk views it! In fact, get 2 just to see.

Ifailed · 31/10/2021 17:22

Given that rivers are now being used as open sewers, no I wouldn't.

roofingexpert · 31/10/2021 17:27

Nooooooooooooo

porites · 31/10/2021 17:28

Check the Environment agency flood risk maps.

seb342 · 31/10/2021 17:41

I live approximately 15 meters from a river and whilst the actual river didn't flood us back in February 2020 the drainage system couldn't cope and we got flooded because of this. You'll be lucky to get an insurance quote online if you live so close to the river and in a flood risk area, we always have to phone up to get insurance and lots of places won't even give us a quote.

It's been over 40 years since my home last flooded before 2020 and we were still classed as high risk because apparently you had to be clear of flooding for a ridiculous number of years before they decide to take you off the high risk category.

Would I recommend it? Hell no! After experiencing a flood myself I would tell anyone don't buy in a flood risk area. We lost everything, the whole downstairs of our home, two cars and then went into a pandemic and lockdown with basically a soaking wet home that had to dry out for months before we could even think about putting it back together. For me it wasn't about losing things like the cars or kitchen it was things like photographs and personal stuff that I'll never be able to replace. Oh and we lived in that for months because there were no hotels available due to so many people impacted by the storm. I didn't even have uniform for work because it was in the washing machine when disaster struck and it's the things like that I remember and I'm still petrified it will happen again if we have heavy rain.

I hope I haven't sounded too dramatic but the aftermath of flooding is something you won't ever understand unless you go through it and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Boudiccasback · 31/10/2021 17:43

We did, it hadnt flooded since 1970s

saleorbouy · 31/10/2021 17:51

We bought a terrace house in Carlisle which never was flooded.
The 2010 floods were classed as once in 100year. In 2015 the city was once again flooded and the water reached our doorstep.
We were lucky that no damage was caused but our house was on the market at the time and trying to attract potential buyers when 3/4 of the street was uninhabitable with skips outside each property was no easy task.
We eventually sold but had to reduce the price by 30K.
Think hard about it and with the recent and likely bad weather and storms I'd be wary.

hedgehogger1 · 31/10/2021 18:54

Near me villages that didnt used to flood, flooded really badly last year. Due to building going on upriver on floodplains which they then tried to "protect" by opening the flood defences too quickly then flooding everything down stream. I wouldn't touch it

Original poster
Badgerstripe · 31/10/2021 21:08

Thanks everyone, lots to think about.
@seb342 sorry you’ve had such a bad time with flooding.

This house should have sold by now. The fact it hasn’t is very telling.

OP posts:
Animood · 31/10/2021 21:15

I'm near a river but it has VERY high banks built up around it.

Easy to get insurance. If there are floods that high, I'll have more things to worry about than the value of my flat.

ApplesAreTheBaneOfMyLife · 31/10/2021 23:00

Yes, we are next to a river. Our road floods every few years but the house is elevated and never has. Insurance isn’t a problem.

nocoolnamesleft · 31/10/2021 23:02

No. When I was looking at properties, I discounted several because they were too near a waterway. 2 of them have subsequently flooded.

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