Issues buying a house next to an empty house

gwernybwch

I did a viewing on a terraced house yesterday where one of the adjoining properties is currently empty. Judging from the back of the house it hadn't been lived in for quite some time (although strangely it looks like there had been a new roof fitted in the last few years).

The positives as I see it are more parking and less noise! But has anyone had experience of this or any comments to make?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

pmlindyloo

If you are interested in buying this property why don't you knock on one of the neighbour's doors, say you're thinking of buying it and ask a few questions about the local area and sneak in a question about the empty house?

tom717

The house across the road from me has been empty for as long as I can remember. The biggest problem with it was that kids would break in and a couple of times started fires. Last year the council eventually put up a secure fence around the property and are trying to force a sale.

lottiegirl

we have lived in a terraced house for past 18 years , until 2 years ago the house next door was empty.The owner came every few months and checked the place over, work would be done intermittantly as required. It was bliss! Now she has leased it to the housing authority to a family for the next 7 years noise is ++, so much so that we have sold our house and are moving. Agree with above poster re speaking to neighbours to establish info re owner.

gwernybwch

Thanks all for the replies. I did as suggested and knocked on the neighbours doors to try and find as much info as possible. Seems that it has been empty for many years, although the owner does tend to it ocassionally. Turns out that it is owned by a local retired estate agent!

Anyway I've decided that the asking price doesn't really reflect that it is next to a disused house and there is too much of a risk involved, so won't be putting an offer on it.

maryjane01

I would be worried about living next door to squatters and vermin.

WhiteHorse

gwernybwch wrote: »

Anyway I've decided that the asking price doesn't really reflect that it is next to a disused house and there is too much of a risk involved, so won't be putting an offer on it.

You could use that as a lever when you put in a really low offer. Alternatively, make an even lower offer for the empty house.

gwernybwch

WhiteHorse wrote: »

You could use that as a lever when you put in a really low offer.

I did think about putting a low offer and see what happens, but it has only just come on the market so I doubt that the seller will interested at the moment. I'm still pretty much of the mind-set that it would have to be a bargain before I would take a risk on it.

WhiteHorse wrote: »

Alternatively, make an even lower offer for the empty house.

That had also crossed my mind, hence me making some enquiries into who the owner is. Although trying to buy a house directly off an estate agent with a lifetime of experience of the tricks of the trade, might be a step too far for me at the moment.