Three people have narrowly avoided serious injury after a bus crashed through three properties in North Ryde in Sydney on Saturday afternoon.

The bus mounted the kerb on Epping Road shortly before midday, crashing through the fence of one property before hitting two neighbouring homes.

The bus, which belongs to a private company, had no passengers at the time.

Two women in one of the houses suffered minor injuries, and were taken to the Royal North Shore Hospital for observation.