Neighbours buzzing hot tub keeps putting off buyers

Davesnave

lisyloo wrote: »

I am surprised at the number of posts suggesting this permanent and on-going issue is hidden.
There is a fact finding process that goes on and either the OP tells the truth at that stage and has wasted time and money or they lie and risk getting sued.

I wonder how many people are actually sued each year for being less than forthcoming with details concerning the down-sides of their property? My guess is not very many.

Certainly, two viewings have gone badly because of this noise, but how would any other prospective buyer know that?

The OP has said the buzzing is 'annoying,' but so are many things that neighbours do. If I get out my brushcutter later today and go at the vegetation for a couple of hours, I dare say my neighbours won't like it much, especially if they want to sit out. It happens quite a lot in summer, so should they declare that if they decide to sell? I would say it's something one can expect living beside extensive country property, just as buzzing tubs and portable music can be a pain in town.

lisyloo

davidmcn wrote: »

Like I said, there isn't a question about "issues".

Nope, but there was a question about advice and my advice is

1) get it insulated, if the neighbour isn’t keen to pay then do it yourself (if DIY inclined) or offer to pay the hot tub supplier yourself. The supplier will know their product. If it’s southern spas then the guy is very good.

2) very strongly to not to try to hide an ongoing and permanent issue as this will either waste time and money when it is admitted later, or runs the risk of being sued by people who want compensating as they would not have bought the property if they had known. This could be a large sum.

1) seems far easier to me.

lisyloo

Davesnave wrote: »

I wonder how many people are actually sued each year for being less than forthcoming with details concerning the down-sides of their property? My guess is not very many.
.

It’s not very many, but the costs can be high as the claimants will want to be put back into the position they were in if they had not bought the property.
its obviously much more likely in a case like this if someone deliberately hides and lies about something that they know for a fact puts buyers off buying and it’s blatantly obvious they would have known about it.

Why take this risk if there is a relatively cheap practical solution?

need_an_answer

A neighbouring hot tub is going to put some buyers of whether its switched on or not...I'll admit if I saw one in a neighbouring garden then I would be out the door too....I have a similar view of trampolines as I wouldn't want to sit in the garden and have someone pop their head over the fence with each bounce...but each to their own and a lot depends on the size of the garden and the location of the tub


But some wont be bothered by it,and its just a case of waiting for the right viewer to come along....the difficulty you are in is that you aren't in control of it in the same way that you would be able to change something about your property if the feedback warranted it...

Davesnave

lisyloo wrote: »

Why take this risk if there is a relatively cheap practical solution?

One of which I offered......and you offered another.


However, one has to consider where to go next if cheap practical solutions aren't received well.

davidmcn

lisyloo wrote: »

It’s not very many, but the costs can be high as the claimants will want to be put back into the position they were in if they had not bought the property.
its obviously much more likely in a case like this if someone deliberately hides and lies about something that they know for a fact puts buyers off buying and it’s blatantly obvious they would have known about it.

There's no general obligation to disclose all potential downsides to the property, only not to give misleading answers to the specific enquiries made.

lisyloo

davidmcn wrote: »

There's no general obligation to disclose all potential downsides to the property, only not to give misleading answers to the specific enquiries made.

Like “are you aware of any issues/disputes with your neighbour or neighbours property”

How would you advise the OP to answer that one having made the viewing tranquil?

bouicca21

It could be an extra incentive if the neighbour would be happy to invite people over for a session in the hot tub. Hot tub and champagne (or Prosecco seeing as we are all careful with our money here) is my idea of bliss.

Yalpsmol

Agree with others it may be a bit of an excuse. I wouldn't want a neighbour with a hot tub to be honest.

lisyloo

Davesnave wrote: »

However, one has to consider where to go next if cheap practical solutions aren't received well.

If cheap practical solutions aren’t received well then is it likely that the neighbour will entertain going out of their way to facilitate tranquil viewings when it both messes up their hot tub cycle (which might already be timed not to run during nighttime quiet hours) and means possibly giving access to alarmed areas when they are out (to switch it off)?

Yes having difficult neighbours is an issue which can blight sales.
I did have a friend where there was noisy domestic violence next door.
She had to take a massive hit on her property price.
She knew she couldn’t lie as the issue was severe and also on record (she’d called the police many times).

I’d start with practical soluntions, then try to sell to someone who’s not bothered (maybe hard of hearing) or has their own hot tub or noisy children and if not then I’d consult my conveyancing solicitor. I find it hard to see this would bother anyone with noisy children running around.
Personally I would not just hide and lie about it, but I would take my solicitors advice about what I could say.

Interestingly we were told our hot tub would help sell our property as it was considered aspirational and sells a certain lifestyle, that was about 10 years ago though and we are large detached so not that close to next door.