The people next door!

GingeG

Hi

Anyone help me out?

I want to know how I can find out more about the people who live next to a property I am seriously considering buying. It is perfect for my wife and I and we have an offer in. Last night however when we drove past there were a few unsavoury characters outside next door (its a semi). I have since found out that it is rented next door. Just wondering how I can check they are decent people and not some drug dealer etc. Local police wont help at all anyone any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

Norma_Desmond

If any alarm bells are ringing regarding the type of people that live there, I'd certainly have a quiet word with other neighbours (in a very general sort of way in case they are bosom buddies with the people next door!), OR ask at the local shop/post office/pub. They are mines of infomation and usually can't resist a gossip about 'undesirables'!

margaret_3

I wouldn't consider buying a semi with renters next door. A colleague did this and he had a terrible time. Because it wasn't their own house, the neighbours were thoughtless with late night parties and over-grown garden. As he said, if they had been responsible people they would normally have been housed by the council or by a housing association especially if there were children involved.
I know that this isn't the case always, but I would be very careful.
Margaret

SnowyOwl_2

You can go back to view the house again and make a point of talking to the vendors about them. Ask detailed questions along the lines of how long the neighbours have been there, who is the landlord (private individual or housing association etc), if the people have given any trouble eg parties, noisy comings and goings, etc - you are perfectly within your rights to ask these questions, and you are entitled to honest answers.

A friend of mine had nightmare neighbours...teenagers hanging around next door, then she kept getting flat tyres, her car was vandalised, the teens' mother brought the dog into her front garden to relieve itself and just laughed when told not to, teens climbing into her back garden, an occasional whiff of a spliff at the front door. A total nightmare in fact, and I hated visiting my friend as it was just so intimidating with a group of people staring or making rude comments. If alarm bells are already going off for you tell yourself that there are other houses on the market.

margaret_3

Snowy, the vendors aren't going to admit to having bad neighbours especially if they ARE bad. They will be wanting away themselves, won't they?

swizzlebabe

if they have had any disputes withthem, they have to disclose it to you by law. If they don`t you can sue them. However if they have never said anything to them ie never got into a fight or slanging match, it`s another matter.
Why are they moving?

I would drive past, several times at differant times esp weekends/eve`s, don`t buy if it looks dodgy. It might ruin your life aswell as the price of the house.

jockettuk

swizzlebabe wrote:

if they have had any disputes withthem, they have to disclose it to you by law. If they don`t you can sue them. However if they have never said anything to them ie never got into a fight or slanging match, it`s another matter.
Why are they moving?

I would drive past, several times at differant times esp weekends/eve`s, don`t buy if it looks dodgy. It might ruin your life aswell as the price of the house.

yes it is the law that if you ask questions abt neighbours etc . any disputes you have with them etc and the people selling dont give honest answers then its not a case of suing its a case of them having to give you a huge and i mean huge amount of the house sale money back.. you sign a contract both sellers and buyers and if you have asked questions and get wrong information back then its a breach of contract.. we have bought a house in the last yr and we had to go through all this when buying,..


Also cant you ask your solicitor abt finding out abt the next door neighbours .. Ours did abt our neighbours as in the fact was it bought rented and if rented from who..

It could be that there are teenagers next door and they have loads of friends coming round .. have you looked at the garden is it tidy does the house look tidy if not there is your answer if so again answers a few questions..

if you want to check on noise best thing to do is drive around at different times day and night and also weekends .. this normally tells you if you got noisy neighbour problems ..

margaret_3

Yes they have to tell you about disputes but that can be interpreted in many ways. For example, perhaps there are late night parties but if they haven't involved the police or the council,they are under no obligation to tell anyone if they have had 'words' with the neighbours. Perhaps they haven't even complained but they have to get away. They're not going to tell prospective buyers THAT!
You are correct Jockette! You can't take Scotland out of the girl.
We will arise and be a nation again!!!!!!!
Margaret

Smiley_Mum

Perhaps you could check on the free house price listings etc under the free info hunt and see if it comes up and if there is any info about how long ago it was sold before. If there are quite a few sales for the same house maybe there are problems. Might be worth a go. If my instinct was telling me that the neighbours etc are a bit suspect, or the ones hanging about I'd be rather reluctant to go through with the sale. Like someone has mentioned, there are always other properties on the market.

jockettuk

margaret wrote:

You are correct Jockette! You can't take Scotland out of the girl.
We will arise and be a nation again!!!!!!!
Margaret

still a nation lol just bloody usless at it hee hee

loopy_lass

maybe a bit of a scarey idea but what about knocking on the door u have suspicions about and make u p something like, is this mr & mrs Xyz place as im trying to find them for my great aunts birthday ....

u will get a definate feel for the people then, if they are helpful, pleasant, or arrogant & rude, and have a quick look behind them so see what the decor is like, how they are dressed etc etc... may give you a good idea...


just a thought...

loops