Neighbourhood Botch

naturegirl_2

I have my house up for sale and the estate agent I'm using mentioned that my neighbour had asked them to contact me regarding water coming into her yard supposedly from my side of the dividing wall. I asked was it usual for etate agents to contact neighbours when selling a house. No she replied but the person works for a solicitor that they use!!!
I have had an offer on the house which I have accepted but the estate agent passed on a message from the neighbour who wants to talk to me about it.
I want to know if they are in breach of my privacy discussing this with this person and using the agent in this manner?
The neighbour did mention to me about the water around 8 years ago, she thinks it's to do with a faulty capped water outlet from old outhouses in the yards which had been knocked down before I moved in.. I've been in the house 12 years and its now I'm selling shes complaining.
Do I have to do anything about it?

DVardysShadow

I would tell the agent to tell the neighbour to get in touch directly. And ignore it until she does. It is a bit nasty going behind your back without having approached you first.

Hump

So the neighbour contacted the estate agent whose board is up outside to ask them to ask you what you are going to do about a leak from your property which is in turn leaking into her yard - apart from the obvious question of 'why the neighbour didn't approach you directly' - I can't see that there's a problem.

Your problem now is that you should probably inform your purchaser that their is now an issue between your property and the neighbouring property.

When she takes the matter up with the new owner then I imagine she will be able to recommend a good solicitor to them to pursue you for not fully disclosing the matter in the pre-sale questionnaire!!!

DVardysShadow

Hump wrote: »

Your problem now is that you should probably inform your purchaser that their is now an issue between your property and the neighbouring property.

When she takes the matter up with the new owner then I imagine she will be able to recommend a good solicitor to them to pursue you for not fully disclosing the matter in the pre-sale questionnaire!!!

Take solicitor's advice, but the usual threshold is a bit higher than some third hand hearsay.

Hump

You can't get away from the fact that your neighbour spoke with you eight years ago about a potential problem and has then raised it again via an intermediary.

Now if there is no leak then there's no problem BUT if there is a leak and the neighbour forces the issue with the new owner then the new owner might (and I stress it's only a might) have a claim against you UNLESS you disclose the potential problem before the contracts are exchanged.

Hence don't panic, just mention it to your conveyancing solicitor and seek their advice

NB - it's really only an issue if the leak is causing damage to the neighbour's property

SavvyStudentSaver

Wait, did the EA pass on a message from your neighbour to the buyer, or have I got confused? Only you say:

I have had an offer on the house which I have accepted but the estate agent passed on a message from the neighbour who wants to talk to me about it.

maninthestreet

It seems the neighbour maybe trying to de-rail any potential sale of the house, for reasons best known to themselves.

princeofpounds

I would tell the agent to tell the neighbour to get in touch directly. And ignore it until she does.

I would do this. But do get advice from your solicitor.

Again, you haven't been clear, is there actually, or has there been, any leak?

Even if there is, some pipes are the responsibility of the water company so it might not be your problem to tackle (aside from allowing access).

naturegirl_2

The neighbour works for a solicitor that the estate agent uses and they must have been talking about my house being up for sale and she has then mentioned that she lives next door then tells the EA about the leak. There is no water on my side which was concreted over and has a shed sited when I bought the house. The water I saw was dampness not a flow or standing water. A friend who is a builder thought it could be from the dividing wall which (again before I bought the house) had been built up several bricks high but not capped properly allowing water to seep through the brick work. I will mention it to my solicitor but it's really annoying that she's left it all these years before mentioning it again. (I dont live there at present)
THANKS ALL

Ulfar

Why not get the leak fixed, problem solved.