Selling house problem with neighbour

Gilly47

Good Morning,

Council Tenant next door

I am looking for some advice with regard to a problem we have had with a housing association and its tenant and the implications involved now we want to sell our house. We encountered anti-social behaviour and noise issues over 3 years ago, the housing association acted and contacted the neighbour and monitored the noise end of the problem. Round about 15 months ago a new tenant liaison officer started and contacted us to make sure all was ok, to which we replied everything was. Unbeknown to us he has gone back to the office and mistakenly sent the tenant a letter stating they are investigating her for noise and anti-social behaviour again. The first we were aware of it was when my partner opened the front door with our 6 month child in her arms to be punched in the face, scratched and spat at and the letter thrown in our house.

To cut a long story short, she was arrested and cautioned and the housing association took her to court to serve an injunction from her contacting us which ending in March. It has caused a great deal of relationship strain as my partner permanently lives in fear so we have decided to sell up. However how do a stand when it comes to the part were it asks wether we have a dispute with our neighbour. I believe if you are not truthful you have to pay the buyer compensation. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Sent from my iPad

aneary

Make sure the buyer knows before they spend any money.

My flat fell through due to a dispute with a sort of neighbour (long story) and I'm really annoyed with the seller as I have wasted around £600 (waiting on the solicitors bill) for nothing.

I feel sorry for you but it's not the buyer's fault that you have a bad neighbour.

csgohan4

be honest and fill the forms truthfully as you will be liable if not

hammy1988

The moment your next door neighbour introduces themselves to the new owners of the house and happens to mention the dispute, and/or they find out the official dealings then it's game over I'm afraid.

Just be honest and say there was a dispute, but all sorted now.

Gilly47

No I agree that I must tell the neighbour, how do I stand though if somebody pulls out as a result surely through the housing associations incompetence is the reason I'm in this predicament ?

aneary

You shouldn't accept an offer until you tell them about the neighbour.

Rosemary7391

The housing association's mistake might have been the catalyst for this particular episode, but you have a neighbour who reacts to a letter by punching you whilst holding a baby... that's the problem I'm afraid

3mph

I am not clear on the exact rules - do you have to declare a dispute:
a. only if it is about the property / boundaries etc
b. or if about anything as in a dispute
c. only if next door neighbour
d. or any neighbour and which case how far away?

It sort of feels as if you should only declare a dispute which is related to the property which would effect any owner.
Conversely a personal dispute which may well not apply to another owner may not need declaring.

I cannot remember the exact wording on the form you have to fill out.

Ozzuk

3mph wrote: »

I am not clear on the exact rules - do you have to declare a dispute:
a. only if it is about the property / boundaries etc
b. or if about anything as in a dispute
c. only if next door neighbour
d. or any neighbour and which case how far away?

It sort of feels as if you should only declare a dispute which is related to the property which would effect any owner.
Conversely a personal dispute which may well not apply to another owner may not need declaring.

I cannot remember the exact wording on the form you have to fill out.

It stemmed from an original noise issue - which they could say had been dealt with. However, its highly likely the neighbour will play up again when she finds out the house is for sale.

This is going to impact the sale-ability of the house, you may have to reduce price and target developers.

It may be worth inviting your neighbour over, explain the mistake and that you were happy all the noise issues were put behind you years ago. I think its a long shot, but if the neighbour stopped the issues the first time its likely they want to stay in house and they aren't that unreasonable.

Did you take photos of the injury? You could also consider reporting her for assault but you can bet that will end up causing you more issues.

Good luck!

moneyistooshorttomention

I guess the question is whether it's possible to put the onus back on the cause of the problem - ie the Housing Association being inefficient and, as a consequence, causing that incident to happen.

So I would be wanting to know if I could "lay this back on their shoulders" in your position - as they are at root of this.

DoaM

Ozzuk wrote: »

Did you take photos of the injury? You could also consider reporting her for assault

I'd suggest reading again the last para of the OP.