Is your house near a landfill site?
Most estate agents will tell you it’s really hard to sell. I’ve proven them wrong many times.
I’m Saif Derzi, founder of Property Buyers Today. Since 2015, I’ve specialised in buying properties that others won’t touch.
Landfill sites scare off traditional buyers. The smell, the stigma, the mortgage problems – I understand completely.
But here’s what most people don’t know.
These properties can sell. You just need the right approach.
In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to sell your landfill property quickly. You’ll learn realistic price expectations, how to handle mortgage restrictions, and why cash buyers are often your best option.
No false promises. Just practical advice from someone who’s bought these properties many times before.
- Understanding the Impact of Landfill Sites on Property Values
- Selling Options for Properties Near Landfill Sites
- Common Issues When Selling Near a Landfill
- Legal Requirements and Disclosure Obligations
- Strategies to Make Your Property More Attractive
- Understanding Environmental and Health Considerations
- Why Choose Property Buyers Today for Selling Your House Near a Landfill
Understanding the Impact of Landfill Sites on Property Values
Landfill sites hurt house prices badly.
Homes near active dumps lose 10-20% of their value. I’ve seen buyers walk away when they find out about nearby rubbish sites.
Distance matters a lot. Houses within 500 meters lose the most money. Properties a mile away drop around 5-10%. The smell and trucks put people off.
Closed dumps cause less damage than active ones. Modern waste sites affect prices less than old dumps.
Key price factors:
- Active vs closed
- Distance from home
- Wind direction
Prices recover slowly after sites close. But full recovery takes 10-15 years.
Flood zones and dirty land create the same problems. Check the government contaminated land guidance for your area.
Want to know your house’s true worth near a landfill? Get a professional valuation that accounts for the location.
Selling Options for Properties Near Landfill Sites
Here are the 3 primary approaches to sell your property when located near a landfill site…
Estate Agents
The conventional route presents significant challenges for houses near landfill sites:
- Standard sale timeframe: 6-12 months (extended duration – buyers are concerned about odours, health risks and property values)
- Many sales fall through when purchasers discover landfill proximity
- You need agents experienced with landfill properties and environmental disclosure requirements
- You’ll encounter these costs:
- Agent commissions (up to 3%)
- Solicitor fees (up to £4,000)
- Environmental searches and contamination reports (£200-£500)
- Enhanced marketing to attract buyers (£1,000-£5,000)
- Price reductions due to location stigma (varies significantly)
- Limited buyers interested in landfill-adjacent properties
Property Buyers Today
When a landfill site proximity makes your property challenging to market:
- We can complete within just 7 days
- No financing difficulties or environmental concerns required
- What you gain:
- No agent fees
- We handle legal costs
- No property viewings – we buy landfill-adjacent houses as they stand
- No marketing expenses – we understand location challenges
- We know landfill properties and buyer hesitations
- Completion date you can depend on
- Trade-off: Obtain up to 85% of property value (frequently better after marketing costs and lengthy delays)
Specialist cash house buyers like Property Buyers Today understand landfill property obstacles and handle all arrangements.
Property Auction
Auctioning attracts purchasers who work with landfill-adjacent properties:
- Timeline: 3-4 months
- Transaction completes immediately when the gavel drops
- Important factors:
Property sold as-is – bidders can assess landfill distance- Attracts investors and rental specialists
- Perfect for buy-to-let portfolios – draws appropriate buyers
- Landfill proximity visible during viewing days
- Wait 4-8 weeks until auction date
- Wait 28 days to finalise sale
- Entry costs (up to £1,000)
- Auctioneer charges (up to 6%)
- Bidders evaluate the landfill location themselves during viewings
Check our guide on selling a house at auction to learn how this process works for properties near landfill sites.
Common Issues When Selling Near a Landfill
Selling a home near a landfill is hard. Buyers worry about smells, pests, and noise. These problems mean your home takes longer to sell and you get lower offers.
Smell Problems
The smell is the biggest issue.
Landfills smell bad from rotting rubbish. Hot days make it worse. Wind blows the smell to your home.
Some days are fine. Other days, you can’t open your windows.
Buyers notice right away. Bad smells make selling really hard.
Pests
Landfills bring rats, mice, and bugs.
These pests find food at the landfill. Then they come to nearby homes looking for more.
Buyers don’t want pest problems. Homes with pests don’t sell easily because the problem keeps coming back.
Noise
Landfills are noisy places.
Big trucks come all day. Machines crush rubbish constantly. The noise never really stops.
Buyers hear this during viewings. Many decide it’s too noisy to live there.
Bad Views
Nobody wants to look at a landfill.
You see rubbish piles or machines from your windows. This makes your home less appealing.
Nice views help homes sell. Landfill views do the opposite.
Bank Problems
Getting a home loan is tricky.
Some banks won’t lend money for homes near landfills. They think the house might lose value.
This means fewer people can buy your home.
Fewer Buyers
Most people don’t want to live near landfills.
Buyers skip your home when searching. Your home stays unsold for months.
The few buyers who look want big discounts. They often offer 10-15% less than your asking price.
Legal Requirements and Disclosure Obligations
You must tell buyers about nearby landfill sites.
The TA6 form asks directly about waste sites near your home. Lying on this form breaks the law. I’ve seen sellers face legal action for hiding landfill problems.
Environmental searches show up old dumps automatically. Buyers’ solicitors run these checks every time. Local authority searches reveal waste facilities within your area, too.
Council records list all historical landfill sites. The contaminated land register shows problem areas. Your buyer will find this information whether you mention it or not.
Searches that reveal landfills:
- Environmental reports
- Council records
- Land registry checks
Hiding landfill proximity can kill your sale. Buyers can pull out at any stage if they discover undisclosed issues. Worse, they can sue you after completion.
Your solicitor must check all records during the conveyancing process. They’ll advise you what to disclose.
I’ve watched sales collapse when sellers tried hiding nearby dumps. Check the government contaminated land guidance to understand your duties.
Always disclose early. Honest sellers avoid legal problems later.
Strategies to Make Your Property More Attractive
Selling near a landfill is tough, but you can improve your chances.
Smart ideas make your home look better. This brings more buyers and better offers.
Strategic Timing & Presentation
Pick the right time for viewings.
Show your home on cool, breezy days when smells stay away. Don’t pick hot, still days because smells travel more. Check which way the wind blows first.
Open windows on fresh days to air out rooms. Use air purifiers to keep the air clean inside.
Morning viewings work best. The landfill isn’t busy yet, so there’s less noise and smell.
Visual Barriers & Screening
Hide the landfill from view.
Plant tall hedges or trees between your home and the site. Fast-growing plants block views and cut down noise quickly.
Put up fences or bamboo screens for instant results. These make your garden feel private and separate.
Make your garden look nice with flowers and tidy grass. This takes attention away from the landfill and shows off your outdoor space.
Transparency with Data
Show buyers the facts.
Get air quality tests done by experts. These reports prove your air is safe with real numbers.
Ask the landfill for their monitoring reports. Official papers show what’s happening and help buyers trust you.
Share these with serious buyers. Being honest while showing proof works better than hiding problems.
Competitive Pricing Strategy
Your price really matters here.
Get a professional house valuation without selling first. This shows what buyers will really pay.
Price 5-10% lower than similar homes in nicer areas. More people will come to see it.
Don’t ask for too much. Your home won’t sell, and you’ll have to drop the price later anyway.
Highlight Unrelated Strengths
Talk about your home’s good points.
Show off your modern kitchen, big bedrooms, or new bathroom. New boilers or windows add value, too.
Tell buyers about good schools, shops, and buses nearby. These things matter even with a landfill close by.
Mention low energy bills if your home is cheap to run. Buyers care about what they’ll pay each month.
Understanding Environmental and Health Considerations
Modern landfills follow strict safety rules.
All sites must monitor gas levels regularly. Methane can build up underground and move toward nearby homes. Councils test this constantly at active sites.
Groundwater contamination is a real risk. Old dumps often leak chemicals into the soil and water below. I’ve seen buyers demand soil tests before completing purchases.
Air quality reports show pollution levels near waste sites. These measurements help you understand the risks. Health studies link some landfills to breathing problems in nearby areas.
Key safety checks:
- Gas monitoring results
- Water quality tests
- Air pollution data
Environmental permits control what sites can do. They limit smells, noise, and truck movements. Future plans matter too – some sites expand while others close.
Get a specialist survey if you’re worried. These cost £500-£1,500 but give you facts. I’ve helped sellers use good reports to reassure nervous buyers.
Contaminated soil needs expert handling when selling land. Check government waste management guidance for current rules.
Know the facts before you sell. Evidence beats worries every time.
Why Choose Property Buyers Today for Selling Your House Near a Landfill
Let’s be honest here…
Selling a property near a landfill comes with significant hurdles. If you’d rather not endure months of fruitless viewings, deal with buyers who lose interest once they learn about the location, and face constant rejections from mortgage lenders, I totally get it.
Now, I should be transparent—we won’t offer you the full market price because we have our own costs and we aim to sell the property on as quickly as possible.
But despite this, here are the reasons so many people still choose to sell their house fast with us…
Speed
Most house sales take months, but we can buy your property in as little as 7 days.
This quick process is perfect if you need to move soon or want to avoid being stuck in a long chain of buyers and sellers. We have the cash on hand so don’t need to wait for mortgages or a chain to collapse.
Guaranteed Sale
Did you know 1 in 3 sales fall through on the open market?
We know how frustrating it is to get 6 months into a process and have a buyer pull out.
When we give you the final price for your house, that’s the amount you’ll get. Guaranteed!
No Costs
You won’t face any costs with us.
We handle all the expenses involved in buying your property, including legal fees and surveys. You get cash in your bank when the sale is complete, and there are no surprise estate agent commissions to worry about.
No Stress Or Hassle
Our team supports you through the whole selling process.
We keep you updated about what’s happening and answer any questions quickly. You’ll always understand what’s going on with your sale and what happens next.
Free Property Valuation
Our property experts will value your house at no cost to you.
They look carefully at your property and check local market prices to give you an accurate figure. This professional service comes with no obligations.
No Viewings Required
Forget about cleaning and tidying for viewings.
We don’t need multiple visits or open houses to make our offer. This means no strangers walking through your home, and no disruption to your daily life.
All Properties Welcome
Whether your house needs work or is in perfect condition, we’ll buy it.
We have experience with all types of properties and conditions. This means you can sell your house to us no matter what state it’s in.
Professional Legal Service
Our expert team manages all the legal requirements for you.
We work with experienced property lawyers who make sure everything runs smoothly, and put your property at the top of their list. This gives you peace of mind that your sale is being handled properly from start to finish.
