We want to Sell But Nuisance Neighbour

SPELLKASTER

My partner and I bought our house 3 years ago.

At the time of purchase we were made unaware of the vendor about a mobile mechanic who lives 3 doors away.

We have experienced problems with parking, he did use to dump vehicle on the grass verge outside our house (cars he was working on).

Since October their behaviour has become more sinister.

Both the mechanic and his partner (they are not married), have followed me up the road, watching where I am going.

This has been reported to the police on a number of occasions.

The woman has been making derogatory comments to others in the road, and has caused ill feeling in the street.

People have stopped speaking to us because of her behvaiour.

She walks past our house at night walking the dog, and stands and stares in our windows (this has been caught on cctv).

We have had horrendous foul abuse, and visitors to our address have also been sworn at in the street.

Our cctv only captures images and has no sound on it.

Although I have support of the police who have given us log sheets to fill in, and I have support of the local councillor, we cannot put up with this.

Wewant to sell and move but we are aware that we will have to declare.

Unsure here of what to do; we do have legal expenses on our insurance so will be phoning them on monday.

Any advice please thank you.

AlexMac

Sympathies- sounds horrid. You;ve already gone down the route of advising police and councillors, so, a tactical consideration in terms of selling is how much further to go? Be aware that the 'standard enquiries' papers which you will have to fill in and which your buyer will see is likely to include a question such as 'Any neighbour disputes?'

Your solicitor (or others on this forum?) will guide you on what this means, what and whether you need admit to, if you have concerns but stopped short of formal legal action, or formal complaints to the local Council Planners or Environmental Health officials or third party mediation. But the problem is, if you lie or omit and the buyer then claims the house is worth less due to the nuisance, that they can sue you for damages... Best wishes, but take advice before escalating it

SPELLKASTER

AlexMac wrote: »

Sympathies- sounds horrid. You;ve already gone down the route of advising police and councillors, so, a tactical consideration in terms of selling is how much further to go? Be aware that the 'standard enquiries' papers which you will have to fill in and which your buyer will see is likely to include a question such as 'Any neighbour disputes?'

Your solicitor (or others on this forum?) will guide you on what this means, what and whether you need admit to, if you have concerns but stopped short of formal legal action, or formal complaints to the local Council Planners or Environmental Health officials or third party mediation. But the problem is, if you lie or omit and the buyer then claims the house is worth less due to the nuisance, that they can sue you for damages... Best wishes, but take advice before escalating it

This is why I am foning the legal expenses on the insurance for some advice.

Apparently police did tell me that I can apply for a restraining order to stop any more bahviour, so will ask my legal expenses if they will cover the cost, I am hoping they will because their behaviour has potentially stopped me from selling.

SPELLKASTER

Should the person whom we purchased the house from, delcared about a mobile mechanic running a business 3 doors away??

Guest101

If this has been registered as a dispute / nuisance neighbour, then it can affect your house price. An estate agent may be able to clarify to what degree, depending on the area and the demand for that street.

As for the CCTV, I would get sound recroding cameras. I would also purchase a cheap handheld camera, so that if you are intimidated or abused, you can record this. (it is perfecty legal to record anyone in public - that means you must be in public, they can be wherever they want. It is also perfectly legal to record anyone from your property - i assume you know this with the CCTV) - much better evidence for the police.

DaftyDuck

SPELLKASTER has produced several related threads over the last few onths. They may give some context.

Failing to disclose on buyers and sellers form - help please

Can neighbour do this?

Was My Solicitor Negligent - Can I claim?



There are several other similar ones... very, very similar ones, and on 24 Feb, the wise Earl pointed out...

The_Earl_of_Streatham wrote: »

Also this thread seems eerily familiar...............

DRP

SPELLKASTER wrote: »

Should the person whom we purchased the house from, delcared about a mobile mechanic running a business 3 doors away??

No. They have no responsibility to declare such information.

jackomdj

DaftyDuck wrote: »

SPELLKASTER has produced several related threads over the last few onths. They may give some context.

Failing to disclose on buyers and sellers form - help please

Can neighbour do this?

Was My Solicitor Negligent - Can I claim?



There are several other similar ones...

I remember one of the original posts.

Why do people start new threads, are you hoping for a different response.

As far as I remember others at the time stated that they would not have to declare it (unless your solicitor asked if there were mobile mechanics) and would only have to declare if there was a dispute with the neighbour. But as you have said, everyone bar you gets on with them.

Personally I would not be happy, but being happy and being within the law are two different things.

ILW

OP, Not being nosey, but do you suffer any mental health issues?

SPELLKASTER

Guest101 wrote: »

If this has been registered as a dispute / nuisance neighbour, then it can affect your house price. An estate agent may be able to clarify to what degree, depending on the area and the demand for that street.

As for the CCTV, I would get sound recroding cameras. I would also purchase a cheap handheld camera, so that if you are intimidated or abused, you can record this. (it is perfecty legal to record anyone in public - that means you must be in public, they can be wherever they want. It is also perfectly legal to record anyone from your property - i assume you know this with the CCTV) - much better evidence for the police.

Thanks. Looks like I might have to look online for a camera with sound option. B&Q dont sell them, nor Argos.

I've just found a website which does called Voltek. Its around £170 for a camera with sound and you can also buy a separate gadget with date and time display on the cctv.

DRP

SPELLKASTER wrote: »

Thanks. Looks like I might have to look online for a camera with sound option. B&Q dont sell them, nor Argos.

I've just found a website which does called Voltek. Its around £170 for a camera with sound and you can also buy a separate gadget with date and time display on the cctv.

i wouldn't bother with the cameras. In fact, I would take the existing cameras down - it only makes you look mental. The presence of cameras on your house , plus the possibility of having to declare a dispute if this whole thing escalates further, will make your house much much less sellable.

Is your house actually on the market? if not, why not?

Concentrate your efforts in a positive way instead of worrying about the neighbours - get your house up together and make it attractive to buyers.

This seems the only way forward.