Check for old landfill near a house
Old tips sit under parks, playing fields and housing estates across the country, many closed long before the homes around them were built. The Environment Agency keeps a record of where they are.
Free to start with a postcode. No account needed. See an example report.
How to check for landfill near a property
Check within 500 m
The full report lists historic landfill sites within 500 m of the house, and says if the house is inside one. Where recorded, it shows when each site was used, the kinds of waste it took, and whether there is gas control.
Read it in context
Being near an old landfill isn’t evidence of a problem. What matters is what it took, how long ago it closed, and how close it is.
Ask your solicitor
An environmental search covers contaminated land as well as landfill. Your solicitor can also ask the council whether the land is on its contaminated land register.
What we check
- Historic landfill sites within 500 mFull report
- Whether the house is inside a landfill siteFull report
- When each site took waste, what kinds and whether gas is controlledFull report
Coverage: England. Active landfill sites aren’t included.
Sources: Environment Agency Historic Landfill Sites. All data sources
Why landfill matters when you buy
Some older landfill sites produce gas, and some contain waste that can contaminate the ground. Building on or next to a site can also bring settlement.
Most homes near an old tip have no problem from it. The record tells you whether to ask more questions, and what to ask.
Questions to ask the seller, your solicitor or surveyor
- Does the environmental search flag landfill or contaminated land?
- Is the land on the council’s contaminated land register?
- If the house was built on or next to a landfill, were gas protection measures fitted?
The full report ties questions like these to what it finds at the house.
Common questions
Is living near a landfill site a problem?
Often not. It depends on what the site took, when it closed and how close it is. Some older sites produce gas or contain contaminated material, which is why an environmental search is worth reading closely.
Does the check cover active landfill?
No. It covers historic landfill sites recorded by the Environment Agency, which have stopped taking waste.
Why within 500 m?
Most effects from an old landfill, such as gas, are close to the site. 500 m covers the sites most likely to be relevant, and the report gives each one’s distance.
Official records, not advice. We never score properties or tell you whether to buy. Check a postcode