the neighbour's house conditions stopping us from selling my father's house

Gavin83

You can’t force the neighbours to keep an immaculate property. The council will step in for matters of environmental health but that doesn’t extend to making the house look nice. They’re allowed grotty looking windows, an overgrown garden and a scrap heap car on the driveway assuming the legalities of which are sorted out. The council would step in to sort out a rat problem but that’s about all they’ll clear up.

Yes it’s unfortunate for you and I do sympathise but you are limited in what you can do about it.

theoretica

I suggest you call around to find a more positive estate agent - and see what you can get for it as is (because you can hope for miracles, but...) - hopefully it will be more than you fear.

Grumpy_chap

bozzy18 said:

i agree but for personal reasons i would want to get as much as i can for it and why should i sell for much less.  i know the value as other similar properties have been sold on the street over the past few months.

What are these "personal reasons"?
Other than maximising your own financial gain, which might be described by some as greed?
But, in any case, if you put the house on the market, you will get as much as you can for it and, obviously, would not sell for less than that figure.  The market will set what that value is.
Alternatively, make an irrefusable hostile bid to acquire the property next door, spruce it up, and sell your father's house for top-dollar.  Is that worth all the time and effort?  NO? - then just sell for whatever it is worth in the current state and market.

Keswick1uk

Someone I know sold a house with neighbours and their semi detached property was a mess. The roof leaked. They were sort of hermits and never really went out anywhere nor did any repairs. Almost all the window panes were broken, some even with missing pieces of glass. These neighbours significantly affected their sale price.

The person buying it was pretty loaded and it was in a very good location and they spent a lot on it, despite the neighbours. 

When the neighbours passed, they approached the son and their sister bought it. She then invested with them sorting the party wall and she did it up big time.

So, that's your option. Sell now at its affected value or wait, and see if you can buy next door and then do them both up and hopefully sell both for more like the other prices you are seeing (depending on market movements).

Justonemorecupoftea

bozzy18 said:

Justonemorecupoftea said:

Not exactly ethical but reports of rats often kick environmental health into action...

Justonemorecupoftea said:

Not exactly ethical but reports of rats often kick environmental health into action...

there are rats - witnessed many times.  there are also feral kittens in the garden too!  cats are breeding in the garden!

Make sure you tell environmental health this. And also call the RSPCA or a local cat charity to rescue those cats (RSPCA have some powers to enter property I think).

HampshireH

Justonemorecupoftea said:

bozzy18 said:

Justonemorecupoftea said:

Not exactly ethical but reports of rats often kick environmental health into action...

Justonemorecupoftea said:

Not exactly ethical but reports of rats often kick environmental health into action...

there are rats - witnessed many times.  there are also feral kittens in the garden too!  cats are breeding in the garden!

Make sure you tell environmental health this. And also call the RSPCA or a local cat charity to rescue those cats (RSPCA have some powers to enter property I think).

The RSPCA won't care. I did an eviction in social housing once. Tenants had gone but left 3 feral cats. On possession pets become the responsibility of the landlord. RSPCA told me to open the door and leave them to their own devices outside and lock up behind them.

We rehoused them with staff when they were eventually caught days (and a tetnus shot) later, but I will never forget that advice.  No one wanted to know, not cats protections , RSPCA or local animal charities.

OP I would raise your concerns with social services about the children and go via the councillor route

MalMonroe

I think you need to get on to the council again, and also the Environmental department. Council should at least deal with the vermin and try to offer some help with the cats. (Not murder though.)

However, given that you're not living in the house, I do agree with the people who are saying put it into an auction. If you've ever seen 'Homes Under the Hammer' on telly you will know that some people will buy absolutely anything, in any state, with any neighbours. And will pay ridiculous prices for the privilege. You can certainly have a reserve - someone will buy it. If it were me I'd want to get rid of it as soon as possible because it sounds like it's just a load of hassle and worry. It's not worth it. 

You say "i agree but for personal reasons i would want to get as much as i can for it and why should i sell for much less.  i know the value as other similar properties have been sold on the street over the past few months."

You should sell for much less because sadly that is the value of your father's property. You may know what other properties on the same street have sold for but they obviously don't have errant neighbours. 

You could hang on and antagonise the neighbours and hold on to the property but it's going to cause you upset, pain and a lot of bother, not to mention wasted time. Auction is not a bad way to go, if you think about it.

Put it up for sale, take whatever proceeds you can and get on with the rest of your life. 

GDB2222

I really don’t know what the advantage of an auction is in this case? Auction prices are usually 10% or so lower than a normal sale. I can’t see why you would take that hit on top of the reduction because of the neighbours?

I'd try and get the council to help, and assuming that is unsuccessful I’d market it through an estate agent for a bit less than you had hoped for. Someone will buy it and reckon that they are getting a bargain. 

moneysavinghero

Why are the feral cats not keeping on top of the rats?

[Deleted User]

Any chance of renting out the property for the next decade or so?