Neighbour says he’ll block our sale...can he?

kasqueak

We put our property up for sale in Feb. Then of course we had the lockdown in March so nothing happened for a while. During the lockdown the local authority contacted our estate agent to say they were interested in buying our property. The made us a decent offer so we decided to accept as the market is a bit of an unknown and also with them being a cash buyer it could help us negotiate on our next property. 

This week I saw my neighbour when I was putting the rubbish out, he asked if we had sold yet and I told him we had to the local authority but we hadn’t found anywhere new yet (so no move date agreed etc). He started ranting and raving saying we can’t sell to the local authority as it will devalue his property. 

He then a few days later put a note through our door saying he’s written to the local MP to say he wants the sale blocked and he doesn’t want to live next door to council tenants. He’s treating to stop our sale and take legal action. 

Is this just ridiculous? Or should I be worried - can he block our sale to the local authority and take legal action?
 

Thanks!

davidmcn

kasqueak said:

Is this just ridiculous?

Yes. Of course neighbours can't veto you selling your property.

nyermen

Actually even more than that, he probably has to declare a dispute if he ever chooses to sell (I guess writing to an MP is pretty formal?  If not, then legal action will be).
Hope your sale goes through for your sake.

princeofpounds

He can't stop your sale. 

What he can do, and may do, is manufacture a dispute that you would then have to declare. That may or may not put the LA off the purchase, but it would also impair any future marketing you had to do in case this sale fell through. It would be a pretty evil thing to do, but he may be desperate.

Personally, I would tell him that the deal with the LA isn't moving ahead and you are on the private market, to calm it all down. Whatever form of words gives the right impression but is not an outright fabrication.  Then I would just go ahead and sell it to them anyway. You don't owe him anything, and you need to protect your position.

davidmcn

princeofpounds said:

What he can do, and may do, is manufacture a dispute that you would then have to declare. That may or may not put the LA off the purchase, but it would also impair any future marketing you had to do in case this sale fell through. It would be a pretty evil thing to do, but he may be desperate.

I expect the council will be fairly thick-skinned to the concept of neighbours who don't like having council housing next to them.

steampowered

I would just proceed with the sale and not engage in further discussion with him about the matter.

AdrianC

Thank him kindly for being so fond of you as neighbours that he wants you to stay there forever, but suggest that it may not be mutual.

princeofpounds

davidmcn said:

princeofpounds said:

What he can do, and may do, is manufacture a dispute that you would then have to declare. That may or may not put the LA off the purchase, but it would also impair any future marketing you had to do in case this sale fell through. It would be a pretty evil thing to do, but he may be desperate.

I expect the council will be fairly thick-skinned to the concept of neighbours who don't like having council housing next to them.

No doubt. And I am sure they will be more thick-skinned than your average punter over a dispute. But if he, for example, dumps a mixer-load of concrete over the shared boundary, that could be a practical issue that may factor into e.g. price negotiation etc. I know that seems a bit far-fetched, but he sounds panicked.

FBaby

Just one point to note. The LA might not be buying for council tenants but for residents with learning difficulties or mental health issues. 

My understanding is that if they intend to use this for that purpose, they have to consult with neighbours. So whereas they can't stop you from selling to the Council of course, they could make the Council think twice about buying it depending on their intention for buying it in the first place. 

vitaweat

I'd outright lie to your neighbour.  Tell him that on further consideration that he's right and you shouldn't sell to the council and so won't be.

Then go ahead with the sale anyway.  There's nothing the entitled bloke can do about it anyway and he can't know who bought until after the sale is put through the Land Registry.

kasqueak

Thanks for all the replies everyone. Reassured to hear that he can’t really do much to block the sale. 

I think the neighbour is all mouth, but I did get a bit concerned that there may have been a loophole I didn’t know about and he might have been able to do something to block the sale which in this current unknown climate wouldn’t have been ideal! 

I know our local council (like many others) are under pressure to provide more social housing so they’re purchasing private properties to convert into social housing. I’m not sure how the MP would block that as surely it’s just something that’s needed in the town!
I’m just going to keep my head down and hopefully move soon!