Property Information Form

10_to_3

Our flat is for sale but our neighbours' kids are playing football non-stop in the communal garden by our living room window. We think it is putting viewers off the property and big bald patches are now appearing in the garden.

The obvious thing is to get them to stop by asking the parents or reporting them to the management company. But we have become paranoid about doing anything which might be construed as a dispute or potential dispute wth our neighbours and which we would have to disclose on the Property Information Form for anyone who puts an offer in.

The neighbours are kind of decent but we have seen them causing major ructions with other neighbours, screaming, shouting and calling the police for no reason.

So, do we leave them be and hope viewers don't see them or care or do we do something and risk a conflict? We did consider having a quiet word, even giving the kids some pocket money to keep them occupied (not playing football) for the next couple of weeks but were worried that this could be construed as disguising a problem from potential buyers and might come back to haunt us.

Any ideas as we are getting a bit stressed out about it.

mountainofdebt

Personally I think its abit harsh to ask children not to play outside.......especially as we adults seem to moan at children who simply plonk themselves in front of a computer/tv.

I think I would be more inclined to ask the EA why they think there's been no interest/lack of offers.

sanfrancisco

Could you wait and sell in October when they are back at the computer and grass has grown back?

clairehi

Are they actually out there while viewings are going on. If so, why not have a word with them or their mum 15 mins before viewers are due to ask them to quieten down for a while. is there somewhere else they can go for 30 mins?

I really dont think this could be seen as a dispute with the neighbours - esp. if you offer to buy them a new football when you sell the flat :-)

10_to_3

It's a bit more serious than some posters seem to imagine. There are several parks nearby. A communal garden is being monopolised and disfigured by one particular family. Other residents are being put off using their own communal garden by the kids' behaviour. In fact no one else now uses it. The kids play noisily right in front of sitting room windows (when there is plenty of room elsewhere in the garden) with no concern for those inside.
Their behaviour is obvious to people viewing the flat, I have not been there for the majority of the viewings but one person I showed around specifically mentioned the kids' behaviour as a reason for not making an offer. It is a deterrent to people buying the flat. It's not the only deterrent but it is important to some viewers.

So, if I arrange for them to disappear am I doing anything wrong, anything that the buyers could come back and complain about? Perhaps I'm just being a bit too straight laced?
Does a request to the management company to ban ball games demonstrate that there is a problem with the property, something a buyer should be aware of, once the selling process has begun?
Also, when doesan argument turns into a dispute? If I make a suggestion to the family which does not go down too well and I then let the matter lie, is that the sort of thing that needs to be mentioned on the Property Information Form?

Too be honest I am surprised at my reluctance to take action but I have been frightened by the dire warnings of a relative on the need to avoid disputes or potential disputes with neighbours.

gringo80

10_to_3

I agree that this is a tricky situation - i know someone who had noisey neighbours and didn't dare call the council to complain for the exact same reason - the problem with declaring a dispute. My friend was so nervous about viewings because of the noise and it caused alot of stress.

Maybe you could have a word with your solicitor about the exact type of disputes that have to be declared and the best way to phrase them? If you are reasonable with these children and their families maybe it can be worded in such a way that won't alarm your potential buyer.

Also, i know it's hard to believe but that kind of noise doesn't bother some people, maybe you'll find a buyer who has kids and would be happy for them to be playing outside your window. You never know!

10_to_3

Thanks gringo80,

We recently dealt with a local solicitor on another matter and found him to be friendly and knowledgeable. We were going to get him to do the conveyancing so we might just start the ball rolling a little earlier. Last time he gave us 20 minutes advice before we even signed up with him. Decent advice too.