Semi-hypothical: Would it be more unfair to sell or to not sell to this person?

Bossypants

I have a former rental property which I intend to sell in in mid-2021. A former tenant was very keen on the house and, when she moved out, asked me to let her know if I ever wanted to sell. This was about three years ago, and though there is a very good chance that she wouldn't be willing or able to buy it now, let's assume for the sake of this post that she would.

Now the only drawback to this house is that one neighbour (on the detached side), has a highly anxious disposition and feels entitled to have the world bend around her anxiety. This is mostly just an occassional irritation to the people living in my house (myself included), as she is quite polite about it, but she really took against the potential buyer at the time when she was my tenant, and complained repeatedly to myself and the managing agent. Even to hear her (the neighbour) tell it, though, the tenant didn't seem to be doing anything wrong. 'Nuisances' included starting the car to go to work too early in the morning, or playing music in the garden for a couple of hours on a sunny weekend afternoon. In my opinion, all normal if occassionally irritating facts of suburban life. The neighbour, though, was really worked up about it, and kept going round to the tenant to complain. The tenant eventually got fed up and told her firmly to stop coming round, at which point the neighbour decided that she felt 'threatened'.

Long story short, the managing agent and I eventually stopped trying to placate and told her to go to the council if she was so sure there was a nuisance to report, and I haven't heard anything since. The tenant obviously wasn't too bothered, since she expressed interest in buying. My question for the forum is, if I did happen to end up selling to this former tenant, would it be really unfair to the neighbour (who was genuinely distressed, even if the cause was unreasonable)? Or would it be more unfair for the former tenant to potentially miss out on a house that she really liked just to placate someone else's anxiety?

laptop80

I'd have no problem at all selling to the former tenant - it sounds like your neighbour will find fault with any neighbour. If those are the only issues she had with your former tenant you might even be doing her a favour, because she could easily get a neighbour that would annoy her far more.


It would be more unfair to your former tenant to exclude them from the sale even though they've done nothing wrong and already expressed interest.

seven-day-weekend

If the tenant wants to buy it, sell it to her.

Marvel1

I wouldn't care what the neighbour thinks.

ReadingTim

Suspect the anxious neighbour may have an issue with whoever buys the place, regardless of whether they've lived there before or not. However, you might want to remind the former tenant of the neighbour, in case they've forgotten about her...

hazyjo

You'd prob be better selling to the ex tenant rather than end up trying to deny a neighbour dispute with new buyers who may have an issue after moving in. At least the previous one knows the score. If you tick the no dispute box, it may come back to bite you. Not sure how 'official' it got. If in writing, then it may be problematic later down the line.

Bossypants

hazyjo wrote: »

You'd prob be better selling to the ex tenant rather than end up trying to deny a neighbour dispute with new buyers who may have an issue after moving in. At least the previous one knows the score. If you tick the no dispute box, it may come back to bite you. Not sure how 'official' it got. If in writing, then it may be problematic later down the line.

Thanks for this. I don't think there would be any need to declare a dispute, since nothing ever went to to the council, and it was very much fixed on this tenant. Three other sets of people (myself included) have lived there since I have owned it and never had anything which could be remotely considered a dispute.

hazyjo

Have you ever contacted the neighbour in writing?

Bossypants

hazyjo wrote: »

Have you ever contacted the neighbour in writing?

No, never. It was just her occassionally ringing me or marching down to the agent to have a strop. Once she was firmly told that she wouldn't be humoured any more, she went quiet, and as I said, never heard from her about anything else, except one or two remarks about my cat when I lived there, which I easily ignored. I think she just took against this particular tenant for whatever reason, and after that normal things she did became A Problem in her head. But again, she backed right down once she was told off. It's her mental health I'm concerned about, not her potential future neighbours.

Edit: I say the above as someone who deals with anxiety myself and has struggled with problem neighbours in the past. For me, this neighbour honestly never fell into that category. Her anxiety is a problem for herself much more than it is for the people around her IMO.

Missus_Hyde

If your tenant would like to buy the house, then I would be inclined to sell it to her and if the anxious neighbour doesn't like it.....too bad!

She would probably be a pain with anyone who bought it and I'm afraid I wouldn't be indulging her insecurities at the risk of your tenant missing out on a house she really likes (despite the neighbour.)

Davesnave

The chances of selling to someone who is even more 'disrespectful ' from the neighbour's POV are quite high, so I'd think it better to go with the 'devil you know.' If she was a good tenant, then it would fairer to her.


I don't think the precarious nature of a neighbour's mental health should come into it, especially if that only seemed to peak when she was indulged. If the former tenant becomes an owner, it might change the chemistry of the situation, as she would be seen as permanent, not someone who might be given notice if enough fuss is made.