Advised that new neighbour is difficult

sofarbehind

Hi everyone

Just interested in getting the views of people who are detached from the situation. Background: I'm a first time buyer and I've had a nervous wobble about the house I'm buying but it was just a wobble and now I'm looking forward to it. I have yet to exchange.

I went to measure up and met some of my new neighbours. Two different people said that the street is lovely except for one of my next door neighbours. Sigh. Apparently this woman is very nosey, complains aggressively about noise / parking / everything. I knocked on her door to see for myself and she is indeed rough as FCUK and a few sandwiches short of a full picnic. She has lived there for 20 years and is unlikely to move. My family think I should pull out now as she could make life miserable. What would you do? I don't want to lose the house but I don't want to be afraid to make a sound in my own home either. I really wanted my own home before Christmas. I've been so anxious about this I can't think objectively!

jimmy_cricket

Personally I would walk. What makes a good place to live are the neighbours. The others seem friendly enough so that's nice, but if your immediate neighbour is a pain, then it might be difficult

PasturesNew

At first I thought you might be lucky as somebody's verbal enough to stop others spoiling things by being anti-social and parking illegally/badly etc.

But if she's rough as ... and needs more sandwiches .... then I would, personally, also query my decision.

There's a world of difference between somebody wishing to keep their neighbourhood well ordered and "nice" - and somebody rough as .... as it sounds like you've got the wrong sort of complainer.

jimmy_cricket

PasturesNew wrote: »

At first I thought you might be lucky as somebody's verbal enough to stop others spoiling things by being anti-social and parking illegally/badly etc.

But if she's rough as ... and needs more sandwiches .... then I would, personally, also query my decision.

There's a world of difference between somebody wishing to keep their neighbourhood well ordered and "nice" - and somebody rough as .... as it sounds like you've got the wrong sort of complainer.

Good points and reflecting on what I said, I have a neighbour, rough diamond type and would not like to cross. However, the neighbour is very friendly, well behaved kids etc. But he also polices the road incredibly tightly, to the point that he chases strange cars away. I like it as I can always park and no one encroaches on anyone else. But again none of my other neighbours would say he was a pain or nuisance. Guess it is a judgement call. What is your gut saying?

Smodlet

This is a tough one. On the one hand, anywhere, but anywhere you buy might have iffy neighbours and there is no guarantee you will get either a heads-up before it's too late, or that they will not be ten times worse than the present incumbent.

On the other hand, nightmare neighbours are just that. The only cure is for one of you to move, usually but you can walk away right now. What do your vendors say? I think they have to declare disputes but not general nosiness. If this woman has made an official complaint to the council, for instance, then they should declare it, AFAIK.

Only you can decide whether you want this house enough to put up with what may or may not turn out to be the neighbour from hell. She may be really nice and just not in tune with a few people in the street, then again... No help at all, sorry.

Chanes

You know that voice that is sounding a warning? Listen to it while it can and it can make the difference. If you move in and find a NFH selling that house will be difficult, your sanity could be tested by someone you have already found to be 'rough as' (and that's on the first meeting)

I would walk. Unless you are going in with a view to winning a conflict if it started?

Good luck, maybe you should listen to your instinct.

Bogof_Babe

sofarbehind wrote: »

Hi everyone

Just interested in getting the views of people who are detached from the situation. Background: I'm a first time buyer and I've had a nervous wobble about the house I'm buying but it was just a wobble and now I'm looking forward to it. I have yet to exchange.

I went to measure up and met some of my new neighbours. Two different people said that the street is lovely except for one of my next door neighbours. Sigh. Apparently this woman is very nosey, complains aggressively about noise / parking / everything. I knocked on her door to see for myself and she is indeed rough as FCUK and a few sandwiches short of a full picnic. She has lived there for 20 years and is unlikely to move. My family think I should pull out now as she could make life miserable. What would you do? I don't want to lose the house but I don't want to be afraid to make a sound in my own home either. I really wanted my own home before Christmas. I've been so anxious about this I can't think objectively!

Just curious, but on what pretext did you knock on her door? You could hardly say that it's to find out whether she is as bad as you've been told! If you caught her on the hop she might have come across as worse than she is, especially if she is aware that other neighbours dislike her.

sofarbehind

Thanks very much everyone.
I have been so anxious about the whole house buying thing that I no longer trust my gut! I am terrified about the commitment and don't know if my neighbour worries are rational or an extension of that. If I had met her without hearing the others' comments first I would have assessed her as someone to avoid like the plague after moving in but not a reason to pull out.

Chanes

Everyone gets anxious about buying a house and the first is the worst! Does she own the house?

sofarbehind

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

Just curious, but on what pretext did you knock on her door? You could hardly say that it's to find out whether she is as bad as you've been told! If you caught her on the hop she might have come across as worse than she is, especially if she is aware that other neighbours dislike her.

I was tempted to say that but instead I said: 'Hello. Sorry to disturb you. I've just bought the house next door and wanted to say a quick hello.' She invited me in...which wasn't as nice as it sounds. I felt uncomfortable.

sofarbehind

Chanes wrote: »

Everyone gets anxious about buying a house and the first is the worst! Does she own the house?

She does indeed own it. It appears reasonably well cared for with flowers in the front garden.