Buying a house - next door's had a fire

Davesnave

Just chat to the neighbours, who will soon tell you about the people who lived there. You'd do that anyway....well, I would! The neighbours in temporary accommodation might well be returning.

Middle class people have fires too, as do 'responsible' people, so treat any info you receive as hearsay in the first instance. You want to build up a picture and get a feel for the neighbourhood, including the people on the other side, if there are any. If you are good at chatting, it's amazing how much it's possible to glean from a few conversations!

One shouldn't assume two houses originally wired around 1980 now have the same systems in place. If 'your' house is still on fuses, as opposed to MCBs, then there's a much greater likelihood they're similar. Even so, a properly installed 1980 system can still be safe.

I wouldn't let the temporary disruption of work next door influence my decision either. No one here can tell you how long it will take, but it'll be in working hours and the council won't mess around, negotiating with insurance loss adjusters etc.

It's difficult to say whether the council, having refurbished the property throughout, would then install their favourite 'family from hell.' I know I wouldn't, but I don't work there!

NaughtiusMaximus

glasgowdan wrote: »

I'd be more worried about the turnover of tenants next door and the risk of them putting the family from hell in there. I simply wouldn't buy this house unless I knew there were decent stable neighbours.

That's a nagging concern I would have with any housing association / council owned property, I don't see how the fact there's been a fire there recently would make any difference.

moneyistooshorttomention

As I can believe Dave - knowing that there are some washing machines/fridges etc that have been badly made (unbeknownst to the person that bought them).

Darn well aware - as I've been (unsuccessfully) trying to persuade my own mother to get shot of her fridge (one of the dicey makes) and buy a new one. Will she listen to me? Will she heck as like:mad:

Davesnave

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I've been (unsuccessfully) trying to persuade my own mother to get shot of her fridge (one of the dicey makes) and buy a new one. Will she listen to me? Will she heck as like:mad:

Buy her a new one for her birthday.

moneyistooshorttomention

Davesnave wrote: »

Buy her a new one for her birthday.

You don't know my mother Dave - if "she" isnt the one making a decision herself then:eek::eek:. It's one of my definitions of "living dangerously" to go against anything she has decided re her life.:rotfl:

I've taken on really "big" "important" well known as heck people - but I don't think I'd like to "take my mother on" in a disagreement LOL.

Probably just as well :cool: - as they're financially straight and can afford it and I'm still very far from.

xylophone

have fires too, as do 'responsible' people,

Very true - a usually sensible friend who left a scented candle burning rather too near a curtain ( which was caught by a draught) didn't end up with quite the ambiance she had in mind..:eek:...mercifully the damage was not too great.

Kevie192

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

You don't know my mother Dave - if "she" isnt the one making a decision herself then:eek::eek:. It's one of my definitions of "living dangerously" to go against anything she has decided re her life.:rotfl:

I've taken on really "big" "important" well known as heck people - but I don't think I'd like to "take my mother on" in a disagreement LOL.

Probably just as well :cool: - as they're financially straight and can afford it and I'm still very far from.

Do you turn every single thread around to be about yourself or is it just the ones I've read?

AdrianC

NaughtiusMaximus wrote: »

That's a nagging concern I would have with any housing association / council owned property, I don't see how the fact there's been a fire there recently would make any difference.

Would private ownership make any difference? The vendors - even if owner-occupiers - could move out the day after you've exchanged contracts and let it, or sell it to a landlord.

Alternatively, the fire could have been the day after exchange of contracts.