Neighbour dispute - disclose at sale?

Dontknow_2

Hi there,

I'm a little confused as to what to do & wondered if anyone had some advice..

Without going into too much detail - my neighbour & I have been having ongoing problems - his child (12 yrs) staring & hassling my children (7 & 5). My children stared back at his child - his child went inside & got his dad. His dad came out & called me out - he squared up to me & was shouting "What are you doing?!" I told him they are tired of his child staring at them. It escalated & he finally said "Go back to America. No one wants you here" He also said this back in 2006 over another dispute but I never filed a complaint as I just laughed it off. This time I left the situation saying I was calling the police. I haven't had any issues with anyone - never called the police over anything before. When I spoke to the police they said yes, it is racial discrimination & if I wanted to file a complaint he'd be spoken to & if it happened again, he'd be arrested. His wife came over (she's Indian) tried to make out that she wanted to smooth things over & (I think she wanted to know if I was serious about calling the police..) & she left saying she'd "sort out child & husband." The next day she called the police on ME by saying that I took a picture of their child?!?! I didn't & the CSO said no further action would be taken. BUT she said I could still file a complaint about his comment to me...which he actually admitted to the CSO (!)

My problem: We have been very hesitant to get the police involved as we plan on moving in a year & if we can just bide our time that would be ideal. However, as they have already involved the police /Community Support Officer - would we have to declare this when we move? Would filing my complaint against him make it more official? At which point do I have to declare it? Many thanks for any advice.

kford224

I believe that as soon as there is a record of it anywhere, you need to declare it, but someone may be able to confirm. You don't want to risk not saying anything and then a buyer pulling out at the last minute because they discover what has happened.

Sounds like a horrible situation to be in

Dontknow_2

Thanks kford. I agree - it is horrible.

I have trolled all through the net to find as much info about this as possible and I'm none the wiser! I just called my local non emergency police number to ask them at which point our dispute becomes declarable - is it fair that I'm now tarred b/c of a lie my neighbour said to the police? Hardly fair! The police lady said that even if I decided to formally complain to them about my neighbour that it still wouldn't have to be declared as per data protection. She went on to say that if someone interested in a house called them & asked if there were any neighbour disputes, they by law couldn't disclose that info...

Does anyone have any experience of this at all? What would you do in my situation?

madmish00

I don't know whether there is a rule that you must 'disclose' this information but if you are specifically asked and reply that there are no problems and the problems are subsequently discovered then you could be sued for misrepresentation.

Dontknow_2

Thanks mad. I mentioned this & the police officer said "just say that you don't really know them." She went on to say that it's really very hard to prove this & if the neighbour disclosed this to the new owners he'd look the fool..it's such a grey area & so confusing!

bobthedambuilder

This looks to me like a disagreement between individuals and has nothing to do with the properties per se, so I wouldn't think it necessary to declare in any sale. If you were arguing about boundaries or light being blocked etc, that would be a different matter.

Dontknow_2

Good point, Bob. I suppose that's why the police said it doesn't have to be mentioned...just wish it was clear as a dispute can be on anything really!

cjmumto2

I'M with Bob on the this one too. The next people may have no issues with them at all. I would move ASAP if I were you. Just dont put a forsale board up incase they try to cause issues

SuzieSue

cjmumto2 wrote: »

. Just dont put a forsale board up incase they try to cause issues

They could cause problems, but from what the OP has said, her neighbours would probably be happy if they moved so I can't see that putting a For Sale board up would matter.

I do feel for the OP, it would seem that the neigbours' son has some emotional problems which aren't helped by his aggressive father.

System

I just had a look at the information that was asked from the people selling my house and I don't see any information requested that is of a personal nature. All questions were specific to the house and selling process.

Dontknow_2

cjmumto2 wrote: »

I'M with Bob on the this one too. The next people may have no issues with them at all. I would move ASAP if I were you. Just dont put a forsale board up incase they try to cause issues

They are just very odd people & true, they may get on with their new neighbours, but I somehow think they are incapable..

SuzieSue wrote: »

They could cause problems, but from what the OP has said, her neighbours would probably be happy if they moved so I can't see that putting a For Sale board up would matter.

I do feel for the OP, it would seem that the neigbours' son has some emotional problems which aren't helped by his aggressive father.

I think they'd be happy if we moved considering he said it twice now..but I'd absolutely love it if we sold to a buy to let person...new tennent every 6 months or so would be ideal!:rotfl:

The kid is odd & the parents are just so wierd. We live in a really nice neighbourhood & we have loads of friends here...I truly think they'll have their hands very full as the child gets older & police may be a regular issue.

Walcott wrote: »

I just had a look at the information that was asked from the people selling my house and I don't see any information requested that is of a personal nature. All questions were specific to the house and selling process.

I know when we sold our other house we were asked during exchanging contracts by our solicitor if we had any problems with our neighbours (he could have said disputes, it was about 10 yrs ago..)

If it purely goes on building work & fencing issues then I'm a lot less stressed about going ahead & filing a formal complaint now...