"Most farming comes with associated smells; some better than others. The worst tend to come from poultry farms; just because you can’t smell it when you view a property, don’t assume all is well. Be very wary about buying near a chicken or turkey farm"
- Anto Clay - Stacks Property Search
It’s easy to romanticise country life. Property buyers moving from busy, traffic-heavy cities often picture rural peace, quiet lanes, scenic walks, and fresh, unpolluted air.
James Greenwood of Stacks Property Search says, “Country living can offer all these joys, but buyers would do well to leave their rose-tinted specs at home and pause for a reality check before finding themselves seduced by a charming home in the middle of nowhere – without first checking for rural red flags."
"Farming is, of course, the main country industry – and it’s a big industry, with big vehicles, big smells and the potential for big disruption. Lanes can be small and tractors huge. If you’re stuck behind one in a car, you may have little chance of passing, so anticipated travel times can be way out of kilter. Late summer is always particularly busy during harvest time, day and night.”
Anto Clay of Stacks Property Search explains, “Most farming comes with associated smells; some better than others. The worst tend to come from poultry farms; just because you can’t smell it when you view a property, don’t assume all is well. Be very wary about buying near a chicken or turkey farm; search for local poultry farms and check distances, prevailing winds and topography."
"Higher welfare farms will be less odorous than those that farm intensively. Living near a bio-digester can also score high on the pungent scale, while the associated traffic, as colossal lorries from miles away bring in a range of organic materials, including food waste, animal manure, crop waste, sewage sludge and energy crops, can be challenging for locals. More lorries then come and collect the product.”
Village parking can also be a source of frustration. Louise Ridings of Stacks Property Search says, “While buyers from the city are used to parking difficulties, lack of a spot near your country home can be much more frustrating. The absence of all but minimal public transport means that cars are used much more regularly, and the politics of parking in a village are very different from those in London."
"Living in a popular village or town without your own dedicated off-street parking can be frustrating, and while a resident has no right to the on-street space directly outside their house, some believe they do! And don’t forget E-charging; in London, car owners can plug into a lamp post; not so (yet!) in a rural village.”
Access to the surrounding countryside is not guaranteed. Anto Clay notes, “Rights of way and permissive paths are essential. As well as the traditional OS Explorer maps, there are fantastic online options that will quickly reveal just how much exploring is available to you. And it’s important to do some research as to what activities you may encounter locally, such as shooting and trail hunting."
"Ask locals, as neither of these activities is likely to come up through the usual search methods. On the subject of shooting, check the local area for clay pigeon shoots and schools, which are considerably more disruptive than seasonal pheasant or partridge shoots. They can be active seven days a week throughout the year, and if you can hear one from your home, it will be intrusive. Clay pigeon shoots are advertised and can be found easily on Google Maps or an internet search.”
Car access is another key consideration. Greenwood comments, “While buyers may have left the grid-locked roads of the city behind them, country lanes can be shocking. Holiday periods in some counties, Devon being one of the most obvious, with its skinny lanes and high hedges, can see vast quantities of traffic unsuited to the size of the road."
"Locals tend to get expert at reversing and squeezing into hedges, but those less accustomed to single-track roads with occasional passing places can bring the flow to a standstill. Many locals will get out and direct traffic, and sometimes offer to reverse people’s cars, to unblock a total impasse. What looks like a five-minute drive to a main road can turn into a half-hour or more nerve-wracking ordeal in the prime holiday season.”
Finally, the social side of rural life can be unpredictable. Ridings says, “Check the friendly factor before assuming that neighbours and locals are all going to become your new best friends. If you’re looking for a community, you may want to avoid dormitory villages where everybody leaves early for the local or not-so-local city and returns late. If there’s a school and a shop and a pub or two, there’s a greater chance of a more diverse population. Heading to the pub, or the café, or for a local walk will quickly reveal how receptive the locals are to a friendly chat and what the social vibe is.”
