Need to Sell Urgently

strobo

Hi all.

Apologies if I ramble a bit, but I ought to give you some background first.

We've lived in the same house for 30 years and are now desperate to get out asap. We moved in in 1980 as Council Tenants and bought it under Right to Buy in 1990. We live in the farthest corner of a small cul-de-sac and for many years everything was nice and quiet.

Gradually everybody else on the street bought their homes with the exception of the chap next door to us (the adjoining property), who passed away around 3 or 4 years ago. After the council left it vacant for two years, they moved in a couple that can only be described as absolute neighbours from hell. They have created nothing but misery and havoc since moving in.

Initially they attempted to destroy our boundary hedges (hoping at one point to claim our front garden as their own), and were only stopped by the Council after a LOT of wrangling by us. This developed into parking issues and noise, all of which we have taken through official channels. Even the ASBO department at the Council had been involved but they simply refused to act so we gave up in the end.

But STILL our neighbours insist on picking a fight, to the point where yesterday I was pinned up against my own gate by BOTH of them threatening to knock my block off - simply because I was shovelling the snow to clear our drive (they're both scared of hard work in case you hadn't already guessed). The police were called, but yet again, their advice is to let it all die down and hope the problem goes away.

So now we need to get out as quick as possible - it's gone beyond a joke and our personal safety is now potentialy at risk.

The problem is we simply can't afford the cost of moving, so we're wondering what options we have. I'm aware of the companies that will buy properties in a hurry with a price hit to be taken, but we're willing to take that if it gets us out. Can anybody recommend any good ones, or any alternatives we may have? We're absolutely stumped at the moment and need to get out desperately.

Approximate house value is around £125,000, but we'd happily take £100,000 just to get away.

BitterAndTwisted

Price it attractively and it will sell. Your only obstacle is that you will have to disclose the neighbour-dispute to any potential vendors.

strobo

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Price it attractively and it will sell. Your only obstacle is that you will have to disclose the neighbour-dispute to any potential vendors.

Yeah, it's the dispute bit that we're worried will frighten people off. We could hope it wouldn't, but I can't help but think it'll cause problems.

hshen

Just curious, what happens if a vendor doesn't reveal any dispute and it was discovered once the buyer moved in?

Does the buyer have any come backs?

strobo

hshen wrote: »

Just curious, what happens if a vendor doesn't reveal any dispute and it was discovered once the buyer moved in?

Does the buyer have any come backs?

I believe if it is deemed to affect the value of the property (i.e. they paid too much, thinking it was a nicer area etc) then they are permitted to take legal proceedings.

curlytop12

hshen wrote: »

Just curious, what happens if a vendor doesn't reveal any dispute and it was discovered once the buyer moved in?

Does the buyer have any come backs?

think also you have to declare any neighbour dispute on a form when you sell,so you could then be charged with fraud if you lie on it-its a "YES" or "NO" answer.

G_M

Compare this thread here. Not identical, but similarities.

TrickyDicky101

Firstly, I have great sympathies with you. I am afraid I think this problem (which you must disclose) will massively impact the value of your property - I think you would be exceptionally lucky to get £100k if fair value (without these neighbours) would be £125k. It will halt very many buyers from proceeding once they find out.

Tiddlywinks

Really sorry to hear your troubles.... how about...

... approaching the local council to see if they are buying properties or see if they are interested in renting it for someone on their list and then rent somewhere else for yourself. Or...

... progressing with the council the harassment, unreasonable behaviour aspects of your neighbour's actions.

... next time you have to call the police insist on them taking action; ask to speak to a more senior officer if you must. Threatening behaviour is not acceptable.

In the meantime, keep a diary of everything and seek help from your local counsellor and MP - yes, it's going public BUT you'll already have to report the police actions etc anyway if you find a buyer so you don't seem to have anything to lose there.

Do any of the other residents have any issues with your neighbour?

strobo

Thanks all.

Other residents on the street have varying levels of problems with the neighbour, with some pandering to him, and others just keeping out of his way. We live on a cul-de-sac of 10 houses, where a lot of curtain twitching goes on and not a lot else. During the ASBO period, we had numerous incidents witnessed by neighbours, but despite their promises, when it came to signing our diary sheets most backed away. This is the bit we can't understand - the idiot next door has caused parking issues (amongst others) for pretty much everybody, and yet it seems to be only us that have the nerve to complain.

And as we are the quiet house in the corner, we have been singled out for most of the trouble with that old school bully mentality - beat up one poor innocent kid and watch all the others quake in their boots with fear. So far we haven't taken a beating and we're standing up to them, but the threats of on-going violence yesterday seemed quite sincere, and it's only a matter of time.

Which is why we're desperate to get out. Don't worry, we're putting together the necessary letters and emails to the necessary people (again), but we want a plan B.

I was looking at The Advisory website earlier, where they'll put sellers in touch with professional buyers. Has anybody had any experience with them? I know a lot of these professional buyers aren't so worried about dispute issues, so they might be a better bet than selling the house using traditional methods.

EDIT - Tiddlywinks, good thinking on the selling back to the Council idea. We've heard about that, but didn't think it actually happened - I take it it does...??? Our house is on a large corner plot, and a developer of sorts (like the Council maybe) could squeeze an extra property into the space.

brit1234

strobo wrote: »

Need to sell urgently

You do not need to move urgently you need them gone. Don't let them ruin your life and your neighbours.

Vast sums of money have have been spent on setting police safer neighbourhood teams. They have the time and should have the knowledge to work with the council to get them out.

Check your local police site and the link to your safer neighbour hood team. These aren't the officers who come to 999 calls but ones who deal with anti social behaviour.