Empty Property over 2 years now

agrinnall

thesaint wrote: »

Why should she?

Because houses kept empty contribute to the shortage of accommodation and the growth of homelessness, especially in places such as London where there is a dire shortage anyway.

AdrianC

thesaint wrote: »

Why should she?

Oooh, because she has an asset which she can't afford to maintain, so is losing value rapidly, whilst simultaneously costing her money that she similarly can ill afford.

Regardless of the ethics of the house being empty, it's a mind-bendingly poor investment currently.

vqmismatch

AdrianC wrote: »

Oooh, because she has an asset which she can't afford to maintain, so is losing value rapidly, whilst simultaneously costing her money that she similarly can ill afford.

Regardless of the ethics of the house being empty, it's a mind-bendingly poor investment currently.

Is it really going to lose value faster than prices are going up in London at present?

Additionally is it going to be cheaper to mothball it in a state of stable disrepair than keep it tip top until the time to sell it?

Finally, why get wound up about other peoples investment decisions? She may have some significant emotional attachment to the place that she values above the relative financial costs. With no obligation to maintain the fence its only you that she is inconveniencing by not repairing it so what gain would she have from replacing it? Even if she were planning to sell it would make more sense to replace the fence immediately before selling so as to avoid further expenditure on it.

If anything she has you over a barrel here, you can start a dispute over it and risk devaluing your own place or lump it.

theartfullodger

Perhaps owner is simply getting pleasure from upset neighbour: Weird I grant but possible....

AdrianC

vqmismatch wrote: »

Additionally is it going to be cheaper to mothball it in a state of stable disrepair than keep it tip top until the time to sell it?

Not even close.

Replace a few roof tiles - ~£500 at most
Replace entire roof, timbers, joists, ceilings... - ~many £k.

sarah_id1

AdrianC wrote: »

She could always sell the flamin' house, then...?

She has changed 2 estate agent to sell the house so far. Second agent got her 5% lesser then asking price (as per her) but she's doesn't seems interested to sell.

I find it weird that she "don't have any money" and leave the property empty for more than 2 years. If she would have rented the house for last 2 years it would have got her more than £30K by now.