Disclose that (attached) house next door is privately rented when selling?

söpöpöllö

We were never asked in any shape or form and we were selling a flat. If someone asked about the neighbours we just described them as in young couple, family, etc. I don't even have a clue who's renting and who's not.

[Deleted User]

@Morbier What I mean is that *some* people may be unnerved to find out that the adjoining house next door is rented.  They *may* be unnerved that there could be frequent renters and *may* be put off by that lack of certainty.  I was simply asking if we legally needed to add such details to a form, in case someone further down the line says: "I'm not happy with the frequent turnover of tenants next door; I don't know who's coming next and it's unnerving.  Had I known this when I bought your house, then I possibly wouldn't have bought it." and then my husband and I get penalised in the future for not disclosing it.  This was all I was asking.  I was just trying to cover all scenarios.  It's just that living next door to a rental generally generates a higher frequency of occupier turnover, as opposed to rental.  (We've had five sets of neighbours in six years).  This is *all* I meant by that.  Yes, homeowners can be and are as noisy as tenants; nobody knows this more than me over the years!  You've read more into my post than is necessary and I'm disappointed that you think I'm disparaging of tenants over homeowners.  This was NOT the point of my post at all.  I have privately rented myself in the past and I would still be if I hadn't met my husband and I certainly am not simplistic enough to think that renters are bad and homeowners aren't.  Please can you just see the point of my post and not accuse me of something I'm not, when you don't know me at all.  Thank you.  

pinkteapot

OP - it’s really odd that your solicitor asked about neighbours. What exactly was the question? I’ve never been asked for neighbour names! 

The only relevant question is on the Property Information Form which asks if you’ve ever had any disputes with any neighbours (not just immediately next door).

If your solicitor asks more than that, ask them why they’re asking! 

[Deleted User]

@pinkteapot Hi.  We filled in the Property Information Form from the solicitor and that's where the question was asked; about the neighbours, who lives there and how long they'd lived there.  We have never had any disputes with either side!  I had never sold a property before (we didn't sell in the end and are now off the market) so this was (and still is!) new to me.  I probably ask stupid questions but I'm not as knowledgeable as others on here.  I'm just very frightened of doing the wrong thing in the future; the whole (trying to sell!) experience has been pretty wretched and I'm still mentally reeling from it all, so the last thing we need is to get something legally wrong when the time comes for us to eventually sell.  Thanks for your reply. 

[Deleted User]

@Sopopollo Thanks for your comment.  I just want to get things right in the future (if...when?!) we come to sell in the future and know that we're not doing anything wrong!  Thanks again.  

söpöpöllö

@MrsP1974 Undestandable! It's not the easiest process in the world, but you'll be fine in this regard. Strange about the solicitor's form, though. We certainly didn't have any questions about our neighbours on any forms, except for the dispute bit. I wouldn't have clue how long everyone's lived there. The family to our left moved in while we lived there but even still I couldn't pin point when that was, and I don't think it's my responsibility to know either.

SallyDucati

I wouldn't be happy completing a form asking for neighbours names - seems very OTT of the solicitor, and I doubt is the usual template used by most solicitors.  
FWIW I don't think there would be many people put off buying a house just because next door is privately rented.  I certainly wouldn't be.

Bonniepurple

MrsP1974 said:

@pinkteapot Hi.  We filled in the Property Information Form from the solicitor and that's where the question was asked; about the neighbours, who lives there and how long they'd lived there.  We have never had any disputes with either side!  I had never sold a property before (we didn't sell in the end and are now off the market) so this was (and still is!) new to me.  I probably ask stupid questions but I'm not as knowledgeable as others on here.  I'm just very frightened of doing the wrong thing in the future; the whole (trying to sell!) experience has been pretty wretched and I'm still mentally reeling from it all, so the last thing we need is to get something legally wrong when the time comes for us to eventually sell.  Thanks for your reply. 

I would be shocked if I got a form like that, not least due to GDPR and data protection.  I would not be happy if my neighbours gave my name in a legal document which I have no view of.  You have to disclose if there have been any disputes, but that’s it.  

I love the idea of being creative though “very popular lady”; “the place is full of weeds”; “herbalist” etc etc!

macman

I'm not aware of any direct correlation between a property being tenanted and 'noisy running upstairs after 10.30pm'?
Neighbours from hell can come in the form of both tenants and owner-occupiers.

hannah021

Your concern is totally reasonable.

One OP on here posted the other day that they own a property in the first floor and the property above them is rented, and there is a problem with the property upstairs (leakage?) which the landlord isn't fixing because the tenants aren't paying the rent! And they are obviously affected by this, but the landlord doesn't care because he's not living there!

Of course, there is never a guarantee that you'd live next to property owners who live in the property and care to maintain it, you can move in today, and the next-door owner moves out tomorrow, or is simply a hoarder, or a drug dealer! But again, yes people do care even if their reasoning/justification is unreasonable! Each person has his own experiences.