Selling - disclosing letter from neighbour

CNB1

Hi there,

This is my first post so please be gentle with me.

I am selling my house. I get on with all my neighbours and have had no real issues. I don't know them well, just enough to say hello.

However, 5 years ago my neighbour who had just moved in the previous year sent a letter asking me to remove some trees as they were causing his house to subside. I did this and I haven't heard from him since.

It wasn't a problem as they were quite big and I wanted to put a new fence up anyway.

We say hello to each other if we pass and he takes my parcels in when I'm not home.

I have no issue with saying on the form that I had a letter (probably 5 in total) and some emails. All of the letters were very nice, but in the letter he mentions a house that fell down because of subsidence up the road. I didn't even know about this until he told me. I think he was exaggerating! I would have noticed a whole house missing.

I have a really sick feeling in my stomach that this is going to cause major problems now. The buyers of my house don't know that he isn't a bad neighbour. They'll just read the letters and think the house is going to fall down which it isn't and that he's a pain in the backside which he isn't.

I know I have to say I got a letter. I know I cannot lie. But is there anyway to make this sound okay? It's not as bad as they will think it is. Do I have to include the letters if I still have them? Or can I just say that he sent a letter asking me to take the trees down so I did. There wasn't any dispute over it whatsoever. No crossed words, but there is a written paper trail. I don't want to get sued in years to come if there is a problem.

Shall I go and speak with him? What would I say?

I've been reading disputes on MSE for a while now and this is nothing like that at all. There wasn't a dispute and he's not a neighbour from hell. I'm only moving for work otherwise I'd still be here.

Any advice would be very gratefully received.

Many thanks.

Emmzi

why do you think you have to disclose correspondence about a nondispute? I've asked my neighbour not to play the radio in his car when he works nightshift as it disturbs my sleep. He doesn't. Wouldn't dream of telling a buyer about such trivia!

Yorkie1

I'm not convinced this is a dispute which needs disclosing. He asked you to remove trees, you did so and have been on amicable terms since then.

What does your solicitor say?

KateLiana27

You have to disclose disputes.

Your neighbour nicely asked you to do something. You (equally nicely) did it. I'm not seeing the dispute here.

You're both good neighbours. Bin the letters and stop creating problems

Lifes_Grand_Plan

As above, best to ask your solicitor, thats what you pay them for.

Sometimes you are asked to disclose disputes, sometimes its "any written correspondence"....

CNB1

I will be asking the solicitor tomorrow but I couldn't sleep with this hanging over me. There wasn't a dispute so I've answered no to that question. The next question is about have you received a letter which I have to answer yes to. I feel physically sick with worry over this. Thank you for your comments so far. I do appreciate them.

jojo_2012_2

Your digging a hole for yourself when you needn't by telling your solicitor. Sometimes honesty isn't the best policy.

Road_Hog

CNB1 wrote: »

I will be asking the solicitor tomorrow but I couldn't sleep with this hanging over me. There wasn't a dispute so I've answered no to that question. The next question is about have you received a letter which I have to answer yes to. I feel physically sick with worry over this. Thank you for your comments so far. I do appreciate them.

It isn't a dispute. It need not be mentioned, it isn't relevant.

The question about the letter, is in relation to having had a dispute, you haven't had a dispute, so the letter is also irrelevant. My neighbour sent me a postcard, I shan't be mentioning it if I ever sell the house.

G_M

Do you get a christmas card from your neighbour the other side each year? Better disclose that as it could be deemed to be a 'letter' if it comes by post.

Come on! Put this out of your mind.

Opinion

I think you're worrying over nothing If your buyers knocked on your neighbours door and ask if he'd had any problems it sounds as though he'd give them a big fat "No", ergo you have no issue.

LauraFox

No need to say anything, you either like your buyer way too much or you are just to anxious to be admitted to paradise.
As already said, honesty isnt always the best policy.