Problems with neighbour :(

PJD

I've lived in a leasehold maisionette above a shop for four years. Shortly after I moved in the shop owner downstairs installed an air-con unit on the roof outside my bedroom window. This didnt look pretty so I politely asked him how long it was going to be there. He was quite hostile telling me that it's commercial property & that it will be there permanently.

I spoke to the managing agents who confirmed that he has no rights to place the unit there & that it'll need to be moved. Since then the shop owner has been bitter & has been making my home life a misery in any way possible. He's careful though not to do things which are illegal or could be proved in court.

He's latest one was to get his wife (using her maiden-name I reckon) to put in an offer on my flat. She negotiated via the EA with me over days & we agreed on a price. When the memo from the EA came through I was suprised that this woman was using the same solicitors that the shop owner has used before. I have the shop owners address, but he thinks I do not know where he lives. My curiousity regarding this buyers choice of solicitor got the better of me, so I dug out the shop owners address & lo & behold its the same address. So he's trying to buy my flat, but is trying to disguise his identity, I thought.

Well, there was two mistakes in the memo containing the buyers address, one in the street name, and one in the postcode. I expressed my concerns with the EA about this, I said that not only does this address not exist, but it's been over a week since the offer & a survey hasnt been arranged so i'm concerned that this buyer is not genuine.

The EA tried to clarify the postcode with the buyer, & they've straight away pulled out without reason.

It's obvious that this shop owner is still carrying a vendetta against me. He's making my home life a misery.

Is there anything I can do?

david29dpo

i take it your flat IS on the market? you dont say if it is or not.

Bossyboots

Perhaps you could list some of the things he has done. You may have a case for harassment which has a lower burden of proof and could seek injunctive proceedings against him. A solicitors letter warning him about his behaviour and the consequences of continuing it could be enough to put a stop to it.

My young colleague has been having problems with a neighbour who has picked on her and her partner since they moved into their new flat. He is clearly just a bully. The other night they had had enough and they went over and challenged him in front of his friends (he was having a barbecue) and asked him what his problem was. Since then, he has backed off so it would seem that meeting his bully boy tactics head on was the solution for them and is likely one that will work for you. These sorts of people will continue their poor behaviour until challenged in a no nonsense manner.

Debt_Free_Chick

Bossyboots wrote:

Perhaps you could list some of the things he has done. You may have a case for harassment which has a lower burden of proof and could seek injunctive proceedings against him. A solicitors letter warning him about his behaviour and the consequences of continuing it could be enough to put a stop to it.

My young colleague has been having problems with a neighbour who has picked on her and her partner since they moved into their new flat. He is clearly just a bully. The other night they had had enough and they went over and challenged him in front of his friends (he was having a barbecue) and asked him what his problem was. Since then, he has backed off so it would seem that meeting his bully boy tactics head on was the solution for them and is likely one that will work for you. These sorts of people will continue their poor behaviour until challenged in a no nonsense manner.

I agree that bullies need to be dealt with but there is, of course, a sting in the tail with this where property is concerned.

Once you escalate any dispute with a neighbour to a "formal" stage, you then have to declare this to any prospective seller. Many sellers (OK maybe not all) will be put off with the thought of buying next door to a "difficult neighbour".

My advise to PJD is to live with this neighbour and sell the flat as quickly as possible - provided, of course, the neighbour doesn't get really nasty, when further action ought to be taken. But ... just sell ... move on, move out, move up

lynzpower

Has he got any planning permission for the aircon etc?

I have a freind who has noise/ smells/ harrassment issuees from the owner of a shop they live above. If you have any of these, write a diary, and also speak with enviromental health.

PJD

Yes, my flat is on the market David.

I could take legal action I guess BossyBoots, but that'll be costly & declared to a prospective buyer. Plus getting anything to stick will be difficult. I thought all his petty antics were over, as we shook hands a couple of years ago & things have been better since. Why he's decided to do this I dont know. Very malicious, - it's stressful enough selling/moving without this.

I'm agreeing with Debt_Free at the moment. Just can't wait to move away, live in peace & get on with my life.

No planning for the air-con Lynz - it was moved weeks after it going up - that's why he holds this vendetta against me. I've already had the Env Health round, about all sorts, excess noise blah blah blah - all goes against me when I sell.

He can make my home life hell, shut up shop, go home & forget about it, because it's his place of work. The 'war' will always be harder for me, because it's my home he's 'attacking'.

Oh well - I thought i'd run it past you lot just in case there was anything I hadn't thought of...

Cheers

Careful_girl

I know what you mean I had an awful neighbour and effects your whole life. I hated going home. However I did sell the house!! No neighbours round here.....:j Oops about to move!!:eek:
Seriously I found my solicitor very helpful with our nasty chap. He advised us to write everything down...you know the stuff. Get some advice but make sure you are ready for the buyers question about what are the neighbours like? I didn't want to lie but wanted to sell. However different people get on with others in different ways. So I was careful about what I said. Bware of making any dispute too formal because of the questions asked on the sellers information forms. I am sure your solicitor will advse. Otherwise the Ctizens Advise are cool and free!!!:money:
Loads and loads of luck and hang on in there. It is temporary!!
CG.:beer:

nelly_2

just sell it to him/her then.

puffinmuffin

I thought, from this tale, that the point was that they don't actually want to buy it and are just wasting the OPs time in a petty manner.

PJD

<QUOTE>The EA tried to clarify the postcode with the buyer, & they've straight away pulled out without reason.
</QUOTE>

Soprano

It is also possible that he actually wants the flat but changed his mind last minute?? Or thought you wouldn't sell to him?? Just a guess.

When is the last time you had a problem with him?

Not sure I understand full details, but I presume you work and by the time you come home, his shop is closing soon?

Just keep you head down and hope it sells quickly.