The UK is set to endure yet more cold weather over the Easter weekend, with temperatures forecast to be as low a -10C in some mountainous areas. Britain has been blighted by freezing weather conditions in recent weeks with heavy snow showers from Siberia being given the title, ‘the beast from the East’.

Despite the benefit of weather forecasts, it always surprises me how we struggle with adverse weather conditions, with schools closing and disruptions to public services and travel. Yet in places like Canada, where winter temperatures regularly fall way below zero coupled with heavy snowfall, life goes on as normal. At times like these, I’m sure everyone will have heard someone say, “It was much worse than this when we were kids.” We can all remember walking to school, trying to make fresh tracks, knee deep in snow.

What I can’t remember however, is the state of our roads being as bad as they are now. Driving my car at the moment is like competing in a vehicular obstacle course, trying to avoid the deep craters that have sprung up everywhere. I’m sure the recent spell of bad weather has exacerbated the problem somewhat, with cars struggling for traction grinding out the road surfaces. It is to be expected as the ever increasing number of vehicles on our roads will no doubt be putting a strain on the infrastructure.

The problem is so bad that the transport secretary, Chris Grayling has announced an extra 100m of funding to be shared among local councils to deal with it. Many infuriated drivers have questioned their local authorities’ action, or lack of, in dealing with the issue. One person has remarked, ‘even the potholes have potholes’. There have been innumerable cases of damaged alloy wheels, tyres and suspensions, leading to insurance claims against local councils and people querying why they are paying their council tax and where it is being spent.

Local councils are not legally bound to maintain all roads. Unadopted roads are the exception. Although they do not have to be adequately maintained by the highways authority, by law they still have to be maintained by whoever owns the road, usually the owners of properties adjoining that particular road.

The road to ruin

Solicitors have to make prospective purchasers aware of the legal issues of buying property on or near an unadopted road. The conditions of such roads can vary dramatically, and those in a poor state of repair can prove expensive to remedy. Properties on unadopted roads can prove difficult to sell for financial reasons, as some lenders will be hesitant to lend and prospective buyers might be put off by the potential arguments that could arise with neighbours who have a joint duty to maintain the road. Would be buyers may have to take out an insurance policy to cover injuries suffered by joe public as a result of using the road.

It begs the question, do potholes devalue property prices? That remains to be seen, but I would hazard a guess that a poorly maintained road would definitely put some buyers off from buying a property.

Whether you have a property to sell on an adopted road or an unadopted road, Sharpes Property Auctions can help. We cover the North West and the North East including Bradford, Halifax and Leeds in Yorkshire and Nelson, Burnley, Darwen and Bolton in Lancashire to name a few.

Call the Sharpes auction team now on 01274 731217 or 0161 302 9782 for a free appraisal of your property or visit www.sharpesauctions.co.uk.

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