Fuel accessibility
Urban living can create a sense of expectation that everything you need for your day to day life will be instantly, or at least easily, accessible. This includes use of the gas grid and mains electricity. However, if you live in a rural or remote area, these services cannot be taken for granted.
More than 11 million people in the UK live in rural areas and around 15% of that number are living in properties that are off-grid for mains gas. To exacerbate the problem of heating these homes, many are old and poorly insulated. Where there is no possibility of a connection to the mains gas supply, many homes use oil fired central heating or LPG.
There are only around 2,000 homes in the UK that are not connected to mains electricity, so electric heating is an option for most rural homeowners although the cost is often prohibitive. With renewable energy sources now more widely available in the form of solar panels and wind turbines, it is getting easier for many homeowners to generate their own power.
Drainage
Just like access to power supplies, the presence of mains drainage for the majority of the UK population makes it easy to take this service for granted. In rural areas, and for more than 3 million people, a septic tank is the only solution for disposing of sewage and waste water.
The homeowner is responsible for the maintenance and emptying of the septic tank as well as ensuring that it complies with government legislation. This includes the way in which the tank discharges waste, its state of repair and its suitability for the size of property that it serves.
Failure to meet these requirements can result in a heavy fine of £100,000 from the Environment Agency. If septic tanks are found to be non-compliant, the homeowner could also face a three month prison sentence, if convicted in a magistrate’s court. When selling a property with a septic tank, the conveyancer must make the buyer aware of the presence of the tank and whether it is compliant. This can affect the sale or the asking price.
Getting cut off in bad weather
Severe weather such as heavy snowfall, flooding from prolonged rain or strong winds can effectively cut off rural or remote areas in the UK. This doesn’t just mean being unable to drive on certain roads but also having no electricity, transport infrastructure grinding to a halt and food deliveries unable to reach local shops. Storms and high winds can close bridges and shut down ferry crossings which affects island dwellers.
Of course, bad weather affects towns and cities as well, particularly flooding when persistent rain overwhelms drains but in general it doesn’t stop people going about their normal routine. Most cities have services in place which keep roads clear of snow, and can deal with flash floods or any storm damage quite quickly.
Most rural dwellers are used to episodes of bad weather and make provision for times when they are unable to leave their homes for a couple of days. This means stockpiling basic food stuffs, fuel and water. So, while country living is generally less stressful, it pays to be prepared for the unexpected.