Episode 3: I've ran out of options with noisy neighbours, what can I do now?!

Thor_blood_axe

Oh no. just read this post I am in a similar situation cannabis noisy children and radio at full volume, since we asked them to keep the noise down. Do you really have to disclose complaints to the council about neighbours when selling your house? I intended to move. I had a word with a local police officer and he said there is not much you can do about cannabis smoking because it is on their property.

Thor_blood_axe

Just had a thought. Would it be possible to sue the council or housing association for the loss if you have to sell cheaper because of the noisy neighbours. The Housing Association have refused to do anything Surely there is a Human Rights Issue here. Protocol 1. Article 1.The right to peaceful enjoyment of property.

Davesnave

Thor_blood_axe wrote: »

Do you really have to disclose complaints to the council about neighbours when selling your house?

Yes.There is a relevant question on the form that every seller completes. It's called Form TA6 and you can Google for it.


Bad neighbours are an emotive subject and feature reguarly on here, but looked at objectively, they are not so very different from other things that randomly affect people's property, such as the building of a new housing estate, a new road scheme, or something slower-acting, like coastal erosion or 'studentification.' These are all things that blight houses, in the sense that the people who bought them no longer want to live in them.

Right now, a house I know is being sold by an owner who, for 25 years, had a magnificent view all the way to Dartmoor. Now, no one living there can see much further than the end of the garden, and what's especially visible are the two cement towers on the housing estate which has just stolen the view! The house is up for sale, complete with cement towers and estate houses overlooking, but the owners wants the 'lovely view' price, and no one's biting.They will have to take a substantial hit on price to get away.

Of course, that estate was built with full permission of the council, which answers your other question. Just because a council/HA does or doesn't do something that negatively affects a property, won't make them liable to be sued successfully.

Lioness_Twinkletoes

CurlySue2017 wrote: »

I think you have answered your own question......you need to move.


Just keep in mind however that this problem could happen anywhere, not just with HA tenants, because your post comes across as very judgemental and stereotypical to be honest.


Neighbours from hell appear in all walks of life and you would do well to remember that.

I'd be as judgemental as hell if I'd been through what the OP has been through. The neighbours sound horrific. Your post is so, so prissy, especially the last sentence. How insulting!

letitbe90

You can invest in some of those noise cancelling headphones .

NaughtiusMaximus

Davesnave wrote: »

Bad neighbours are an emotive subject and feature reguarly on here, but looked at objectively, they are not so very different from other things that randomly affect people's property, such as the building of a new housing estate, a new road scheme, or something slower-acting, like coastal erosion or 'studentification.' These are all things that blight houses, in the sense that the people who bought them no longer want to live in them.

Coastal erosion isn't really comparable as it's a predictable risk (although it's true the speed of the erosion is a variable) and if your property is at risk it would be picked up as part of buyer due diligence.

The others you've mentioned are annoyances which can negatively impact both your quality of life and the value of your property but they pale in comparison to having a neighbour from hell.

steampowered

wesleyad wrote: »

If you get lucky you might find the reduction isn't as much as you fear.

I completely agree with this. Op, you could always list the property for sale and see what happens.

It may well be that you get an acceptable price despite the anti-social behaviour. The issue will have to be disclosed to buyers but perhaps you will find a buyer who is OK with it.

Worst case scenario is that the property doesn't sell and you are back to square one.

lhg91

Thank you for your comments and suggestions everyone, and also thank you for not thinking I am a judgmental snob (well most of you anyway...!!)

Although the renting suggestion is a good idea, I just don't think it is for my partner and I. Although we would end up making at least £200 per month more than what we are paying for our mortgage, I just don't want to have the responsibility, and would prefer to have a clean break from the house if possible. The previous owners of our home actually rented it out to the housing association, and we heard that when the tenants moved out they had to spend a lot on getting new windows and doors put in, and a complete re-decoration because the tenants had ruined the home.

We were considering putting our house on the market, however our next door neighbour on the other side of us (who are lovely and we get along with very well) currently have their house up for sale, as they too are tired of the neighbours and also for health reasons they need to move to a bungalow. Their house has been up for sale for around a month now, with no offers, which is a little worrying. I think we will discuss selling the property though, like you said, you won't know what the impact is until you've tried!

In the meantime, I have e-mailed the local authority to see if they would be interested in purchasing our house. In all honesty, as long as we don't sell it for less than we bought it, i'd be happy, just so we can get out of the place! It's just a shame that we have spent money and effort into getting the house the way we want it. However, you can always make more money, but it takes a lot longer to improve your mental health!

lookstraightahead

NaughtiusMaximus wrote: »

Coastal erosion isn't really comparable as it's a predictable risk (although it's true the speed of the erosion is a variable) and if your property is at risk it would be picked up as part of buyer due diligence.

The others you've mentioned are annoyances which can negatively impact both your quality of life and the value of your property but they pale in comparison to having a neighbour from hell.

Unless your sleepy village becomes a through road for heavy lorries all through the night.

Davesnave

NaughtiusMaximus wrote: »

Coastal erosion isn't really comparable as it's a predictable risk (although it's true the speed of the erosion is a variable) and if your property is at risk it would be picked up as part of buyer due diligence.

The others you've mentioned are annoyances which can negatively impact both your quality of life and the value of your property but they pale in comparison to having a neighbour from hell.

I realise that a true NFH is a worse experience than any of the things I mentioned, barring perhaps the experience of people who bought on the seafont in Dawlish, by the landslip in Beer or many houses in Boscastle etc etc.

My point was that anything which causes people to move away from homes they have loved and impacts on the price they obtain is serious and upsetting, even if we choose to call it an 'annoyance.'