Can I sue & if so what should I do next?

m.johnson

Hello,

I am not sure this is the correct forum but its helped me in the past so wanted to give it a shot. I brought my house a few months ago and on the sellers documents the previous owner stated they knew of no disputes with the neighbours.

Since moving in we have found out next door was taking to court by other neighbours for terrorising them (this made the news which I can use as evidence) and that the seller also had to have words with them regarding some issues with the front of their house.

Because of the way the neighbours are we have had nothing but issues and have even had to have CCTV installed outside the house. We would not have brought the house if we had known what we would be living next to. We are now in a position where we would have to declare the issues with the neighbours if we sold the house so would struggle to sell it.

We feel this should have been documented when we brought the house & now would like to take legal action. I have contacted the previous owner who is claiming they were honest on the document.

Do I have any legal rights to sue them and if so what is the best way to go about this?

Thank you

glentoran99

Can you prove they knew that other neighbours had a dispute with each other?

seashore22

It doesn't sound like your sellers had any disputes with the neighbours, so I can't see what they have done wrong. Disputes between other neighbours are irrelevant.

Having a conversation with the neighbours about something or other isn't a dispute either.

I don't think court action is an option here.

Bonfire_Bride

Nothing worse than awful neightbours so I really feel for you. we live next to a pub and it has been absolutely fine...my MIL lived in a little downstairs flat in a very sought after area and she had terrible terrible problems.


If the vendor had never had an issue with the neighbours then they have indeed been truthful on the document.


What issues have been going on??

eddddy

seashore22 wrote: »

It doesn't sound like your sellers had any disputes with the neighbours, so I can't see what they have done wrong. Disputes between other neighbours are irrelevant.

Bonfire_Bride wrote: »

If the vendor had never had an issue with the neighbours then they have indeed been truthful on the document.

That's probably incorrect.

The questions on the Seller's Property Information form are usually something like this:

2.1 Have there been any disputes or complaints regarding this property or a property nearby? If Yes, please give details:

2.2 Is the seller aware of anything which might lead to a dispute about the property or a property nearby? If Yes, please give details:

So, as a starting point, the OP needs to gather evidence that 'on the balance of probabilities' the seller knew about the disputes or complaints. (Perhaps by witness statements from other people living nearby.)

martindow

On the other hand the OP doesn't want to do anything that will put them in an awkward position of having to declare knowledge of a dispute should they decide to sell and move on.

OP, you may feel tricked by the previous owners but don't do anything that could be detrimental to you.

m.johnson

Thanks for your responses.

Unfortunately we are already in a position where we would have to declare the issues when we sell the property as we have had to complain to the council about them. And tbh I could not live with myself putting somebody else what we are going through.

The issues from next door were so bad that it made national news so its hard to believe they did not know about them. Neighbours have also told me about conversations they had with them regarding the issues.

Surely this means I have a case? If so does anybody know what sort of solicitor I should be contacting? I contacted the solicitor I used to buy the property but he was not interested which I am not surprised at as he never was very helpful.

moneyistooshorttomention

glentoran99 wrote: »

Can you prove they knew that other neighbours had a dispute with each other?

I would imagine a phrase like "could reasonably have been expected to know" might apply? In view of the fact that these neighbours were on the news as being nfh.

In all probability - the seller saw this news item. Even if they didn't the balance of probabilities is that some mate of theirs would have seen it and told them about it (you know " 'Ere look at what your neighbours have been up to mate/bruv/etc").

Double_V

Yeah but disputes are with people not with house.
I am sure the neighbors will find new occupants nice.

moneyistooshorttomention

OP has already had to complain to the Council about them

ie I'm presuming there are noise issues and/or garden being treated as a tip then...

m.johnson

moneyistooshorttomention that is correct. They also use the pavement outside our houses as a tip