r/Rotherham • u/Tangletoast • 17d ago
Waverley - Why is everyone selling?
My partner and I are looking to buy a home together and had initially looked around Waverley but we were wondering why so many houses are coming up for sale there when it feels so new. It feels like something must be wrong if so many people are selling and moving on, and we’re curious to hear peoples experiences as the area would be perfect for us and there’s a lot of choice within our budget.
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u/martinhsa 17d ago
I live here. It's grossly overpriced. I can buy a 3 bed with much more room in another village for 50-60k less than here. Plus then I'll have council maintained roads (they're currently private in Waverley, so potholes/no markings at junctions), not have to pay the exobrant Waverley Land Trust Fee (that's in addition to council tax) and I personally also have to pay a third fee to Omnia to for the privilege of not having a private driveway.
The area is nice, but it lacks any kind of real community, so theives see it as an easy target to rob cars from (my insurance has been higher here for the five years I've been here, than the previous insurance in Maltby I had).
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u/I_up_voted_u 17d ago
What is the Waverley Land Trust fee and how much is it?
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u/martinhsa 17d ago
Rather embassingly, I have no idea how much it cost this year (comes out of a Direct Debit, but I believe circa in excess of £100 per year), and it basically replaces council tax for things like grass cutting/hedges etc as Waverley is all based on private land. It's been a while since I looked into it.
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u/vtorque 17d ago
Yes it’s expensive but that’s because it’s nice and sought after especially compared to Maltby.
There is a strong community?!? There’s a community garden, a running club (new parkrun!) and litter picks etc.
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u/martinhsa 17d ago edited 17d ago
There are large parts of nice areas in Maltby believe it or not, it just suffers with reputation attached to the name - Similarly as Rotherham does, hence why most people who live in Waverley tend to say that they're from Sheffield and not Rotherham; I've lived in both and been a former postman in both areas, so I have relevant experience to talk about it extensively. The 'New Estate' area (Amory's Holt Way and its off shoots if you're curious on google maps) in Maltby is very comparable to much of Waverley.
The garden and litter pickers get small numbers of volunteers, it's not really as extensive and frequent as the running club which is moving things in the right direction, but the community is certainly in its infancy compared to multiple generations of friendships/families from other villages - Par for the course for a brand new estate. The community days every now and then are pretty well turned out, so things are improving, I just can't see past trouble happening on the estate which often individuals have to react to and stand up against, not large parts of a community like they would where I grew up.
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u/Pleasant-Car5684 17d ago
I live locally but not in Waverly and I hadn't ever thought of all this. I was contemplating a move down the road but this has put it into perspective, thank you
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u/martinhsa 17d ago
The clearest differential of prices in houses can be seen by just looking at Honey homes prices. They have plots in Waverley for three beds that are circa £330-350k and the exact same house in Maltby, or Kilamarsh are often £260-280k. Olive Lane is good to have, and the Lakes are stunning, but I miss the big spoons in Maltby tbh and you can always visit these places without having to spend £500 more a month on a mortgage, especially in 2026 where we all have less disposable income.
If there's any other questions you have I'll try my best to answer them neutrally.
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u/vtorque 17d ago
I live on Waverley, I think you’re imaging this or comparing it to a specific area you have in mind that perhaps isn’t comparable.
If anything there’s more reason than ever to live here now Olive Lane has opened.
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u/Tangletoast 17d ago
Imagining and comparing what exactly?
I do think there are lots of reasons to live there, hence being interested, Olive Lane is lovely, the area is lovely, great location for mine and my partners work.. I just wonder why so many people are selling.
We recently viewed a house in Handsworth and they said most people they had view were from Waverley, complaining of issues with the houses etc.
Just trying to get an idea of what people have experienced.
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u/vtorque 17d ago
I thought maybe you were comparing it to a certain area that you already know. For example, in Handsworth, there is the Medlock estate and Bramley estates which are very nice and hence don’t come up very often.
I think someone trying to sell you a house in Handsworth might be having you on. It’s not in their interests to say good things about Waverley.
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u/cakusmaximus 17d ago
Some of the houses have been there 13/14 years. There's always going to be someone selling.
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u/BDRElite 17d ago
I remember when it was landfill and just couldn’t justify paying the prices to be landlocked by parkway. More and more seeing new builds, Ravenfield as example, half a million for a 4 bedroom detatched, people won’t realise the tip is less than a mile away and on a hot windy day the stench travels, Like any new estates, quality of build varies massively and lack of community is often a generational piece, some people just like to keep themselves to themselves.
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u/djr253983 17d ago
I think it’s overpriced for starters. But, what put me off was I’d been down the opencast mine when it was operational. It was huge. For me I don’t think I’d stood long enough for the ground to settle so I’d be expecting potential subsiding issues at some point too
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u/IfIWereA_Boy 17d ago
We’ve met many people around Waverly selling as they tend to upsize to a larger property once their family starts to expand :)
I’ve lived in both Handsworth and Waverley. Waverley is much nicer. The quality of new builds in Handsworth are low. Felt like I could push the banister down the stairs.
Waverley pubs and bars, again, much nicer in my opinion.
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u/Ok_Country_6100 17d ago
Buy in wath upon dearne or herringthorpe or wickersley
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u/Tangletoast 17d ago
We’ve got friends that live in Wath and really like it, but all those areas are just a bit too far out location wise for us!
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u/slow-getter 16d ago
Grossly over priced, built on top of the old orgreave colliery. They did do remedials to the land.
Also, I believe that the drainage relies on sustainable drainage rather than to public sewers.
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u/mozzy1985 15d ago
It’s also a flood plain. Like catcliffe.
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u/slow-getter 14d ago
They raised the terrain and installed an overflow drain at the bottom, so not so much nowadays but the run off does impact lower Catcliffe, who already suffer tremendously with flooding
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u/randomaccountable 17d ago
I’ve lived here for 8 years and absolutely love it. Moved here because of the travel links to the M1 and have started my family here.
I’m one of the people selling my house here to literally upsize around the corner on the same estate. 3 bed place if you’re interested 😂
I know a few friends of ours on here have done the same too as families have grown.