Neighbour trying to sabotage house sale- please advise

dizziblonde

rentergirl wrote: »

Sounds like a 'front garden sweeper.' Bored elderly people at home all day who imagine they are helping, and pursue bizarre vendettas. I agree with talking with them. But be aware, in my experience, this can make them even angrier. I would point out that this (might...) be an offence ie slander. And be nice, saying you would hate to get someone into sooooo much trouble. Boredom and idle hands spread rumours. I think you have to point out that a slightly deranged person is doing this (to the agents) but then you have the can of worms about the legal requirement to inform purchasers about neighbour disputes.

Heck I had to fight the urge to do this - at one point (but I'm too damned nice)... we had an offer in on the house on the same street, guy came to view one of the other houses at a point when three were on the market, and because of where he'd parked he was stood outside my open bedroom window speculating loudly on "I wonder what that one up there (pointing at what would become our house) has the offer in on and if there's a deal to be done"... even then, when I would have been perfectly poised to go pour some scorn on the neighbourhood and get rid of Mr Potential Gazumper I didn't do it because it's just a crap thing to do to people. Wouldn't have taken much - just a few intakes of breath through teeth and comments about the parking would have driven most people away (although in reality it's not bad cos the neighbours are generally fairly considerate) - but I still wouldn't have done it.

He thankfully bogged off into the sunset, our purchase went through with no problems, the house he was viewing got taken off the market (think they were just testing the waters really) and the world continued to turn as normal.

momo_gogo

The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that rentergirl is right and that it is the busybody old lady. If anybody wanted to profit by us selling them the house for cheap they would have come up with a more coherent and plausable story than a house nowhere near ours being let to different tennants every fortnight. That just doesn't make any sense- far more likely do what dizziblonde considered and say "oh it looks quiet now but they have terrible trouble with the shared driveways" or "oh the police are always up here dealing with trouble- the neighbours are known criminals" or something.

Up until 2008 we really did have some terrible neighbours immediately next door to us, and they really did cause trouble. Another elderly neighbour who was friends with my suspect was convinced that different people were moving in each week even though it was actually just a stream of their schemey associates turning up to visit the same couple that lived there (when one of them wasn't in prison). We thought at that point that we would never be able to sell our house and were sooooo relieved when they left (had managed to produce enough children that they could afford to rent a bigger house :eek:). I have been wondering if those previous neighbours of ours were the basis for this story, but given it was over four years ago, you would surely think people on the road would know that those people had gone? The total absence of armed police busts would be a good start! Plus the house described to the buyers was apparently the one at the other end of the road.

If it is this lady in her late 80s/90s and she really feels this is a terrible place to live, hates her neighbours and blames the road as a whole for killing her husband, what do you think I should do? Currently I am feeling pretty disheartened and thinking we should just make the house so cheap that she won't manage to collar everyone. Very expensive solution though. I am not at all convinced that legal action would be an effective solution. Maybe I could mention to viewers who ask about the neighbours that they are all fine apart from this one lady who is going senile?

princeofpounds

Here's an idea- do accompanied viewings. Meet them outside, escort them around. Chat to them on the way back to the car. No-one is going to interfere when you are present, and if they do then you know what's happening.

RobertoMoir

momo_gogo wrote: »

If it is this lady in her late 80s/90s and she really feels this is a terrible place to live, hates her neighbours and blames the road as a whole for killing her husband, what do you think I should do?

Nothing until you have proof. This isn't an episode of scooby do.

momo_gogo wrote: »

Currently I am feeling pretty disheartened and thinking we should just make the house so cheap that she won't manage to collar everyone. Very expensive solution though. I am not at all convinced that legal action would be an effective solution. Maybe I could mention to viewers who ask about the neighbours that they are all fine apart from this one lady who is going senile?

Or maybe you couldn't descend to the levels of despicable behaviour that you only suspect her of.

momo_gogo

princeofpounds wrote: »

Here's an idea- do accompanied viewings. Meet them outside, escort them around. Chat to them on the way back to the car. No-one is going to interfere when you are present, and if they do then you know what's happening.

We have been doing accompanied viewings, they came back when we were away.

Mojisola

momo_gogo wrote: »

We have been doing accompanied viewings, they came back when we were away.

Everyone should do this - see your potential purchase on different days and at different times of day.

If a seller seemed anxious about us talking to a neighbour, I'd think there was something to hide so momo needs to be careful that buyers don't pick up on this.

How would you feel about being upfront with buyers and telling them that one of the neighbours is saying these things but that they are welcome to ask around and see for themselves that it's a nice place to live?

Sugared-frog

You could talk to the old lady conversationally and say that you seem to have lost your serious buyers ... that they got cold feet all of a sudden and that if you don't get a serious offer soon that you may have to let it out to ... insert what ever you think might get her really worried - you drunk uncle and his 8 children with all their cars etc, whatever story you think she will believe. And then maybe she will start viewing the potential buyers with a more positive outlook.

earthlysparky

momo_gogo wrote: »

Another elderly neighbour who was friends with my suspect was convinced that different people were moving in each week even though it was actually just a stream of their schemey associates turning up to visit the same couple that lived there (when one of them wasn't in prison).

Is it possible that she was visiting her old friend, and it was this former neighbour that spoke to your prospective buyers?