When buying a rural home there are a few additional things to think about. The general process is exactly the same as buying any other house but as rural homes are usually a little off the beaten track they may come with further considerations. We have put together a small checklist to help guide you through your purchase.
Buying a Rural Property Staffordshire
Check where your connections are. Some houses or villages don’t have typical connections and understanding the differences and the implications is important before making the commitment to purchasing a property.
Most homes have a power connection unless it’s a complete project with the need to fully renovate. But get checks made as to how recent the wiring and connection is. Sometimes, power lines are overhead, it can be costly and sometimes not possible to have them hidden underground. There is nothing wrong with them being overhead for functionality, but if it bothers you aesthetically, it could be worth looking into.
How is the house heated? It is rare to have a mains gas connection in a rural location. Alternatives are electric heaters, air source heat pumps, biomass boilers, oil central heating or LPG powered central heating. All options come with their pros and cons. Make sure you understand which source of fuel powers the heating at the property and understand the costs of running it and how it is maintained.
Finally, it might come as a shock but not all water is on a mains supply. Be sure to find out if you will be on mains or if your water will be fed from a private bore hole either on your property or a neighbour’s. There is fairly significant differences in maintenance and running costs.
This is one we hate to think about but not all wastewater drains into an underground sewer system and it is fairly normal to find septic tanks and waste management systems in rural locations. Regulations regarding wastewater changed in 2020 so you should ensure the property that you are buying has a wastewater system that meets new regulations.
Whilst most broadband providers are doing their best to provide high-speed connections to all corners of the country, there are still some areas that don’t achieve the speeds that you might require. It isn’t always as easy as plugging in your router. You will need to check that there is a phone line to the property that also has the capabilities to provide you with the internet speeds that you hope for. Most providers can give you this information over the phone if there is a connection. Do your research early on to avoid disappointment.
On an urban estate, boundaries and borders to your property are normally fairly self explanatory. However, when purchasing a rural property, it might not be quite as straight forward. Your nearest neighbour may be a few miles away! You need to be clear on where your legal boundary lies and also who is responsible for its maintenance. Your solicitor will look into this with Land Registry but it is well worth walking the boundary with the seller and asking the questions early on to be clear in your own mind of what you will be taking on.
The boundaries of School Catchment Areas aren’t always as clear as they may seem. Ask your agent the post code of the property and double-check with the school before you commit to a property should your move be based around a school. In rural areas, catchment areas may stretch out further than you think. It is also worth considering school transport links, check in to see if there is a pickup and drop off service to help you with the school run
Most roads in the UK are adopted, meaning that they are maintained by the Local Authority. In rural locations, properties are often served by unadopted roads, which are usually maintained by those who use them and need a specific right to be granted in the property’s title deeds to pass over them with vehicles or on foot.
Buying a Rural Property Staffordshire
A “How To” guide on buying a home with James Du Pavey.
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