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

NameUnavailable

GDB2222 said:

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 can think of a few. The potentially lower price can be offset by writing into the conditions of sale that the buyer pays the auction fees.

There's no time for a buyer to dwell on the neighbours property and pull out down the line (remember many buyers at auction don't even bother to view the property before buying).

It will sell to a cash buyer so there's no risk of down valuation and hassles with buyers pulling out for that reason.

It's quick, you will end up completing in a month after sale, not 5 months (average) at present with regular sales process. Important as the property is (presumably) empty.

verytired11

I feel for you - it's horrible to think that the saleability of your father's house is jeopardised by neighbours - and horrible to think of what it must have been like for him to live there.  Sometimes a property only becomes valuable after allowing enough time to pass for the area around it to become gentrified.  When I moved into my current house it was a wreck and the neighbours on one side were awful (parties and shouting til the early hours every friday and saturday) and the house on the other side was rented so there were new neighbours every 6 months and the condition was terrible (eg the garden fence so weighted down with ivy that it was falling into my garden at a 45 degree angle).  After many years the horrible neighbours left and a lovely family moved in, then a few years after that the landlord on the other side sold up and new neighbours moved in who did up the house and garden.  As others have said, all you can do is either sell it now for a lower price, or rent it out and bide your time hoping that the problem neighbours eventually move on.

Slithery

GDB2222 said:

I really don’t know what the advantage of an auction is in this case?

There are a decent amount of people that will buy at auction without a physical viewing

Davesnave

bozzy18 said:

Hello, I inherited my father's house

So did I. It wasn't the house I wanted to inherit and I suffered as a child while my parents lost lots of money, moving from place to place trying to find the 'right' house, but hey-ho. After spending money I didn't have on clearing the debt set against it and a year of my life doing it up, it sold.

Would I do it again? No, I'd have put it on the market at a price that would attract buyers and got rid, but one lives and learns. Good luck with learning faster than I did!

wilfred30

verytired11 said:

I feel for you - it's horrible to think that the saleability of your father's house is jeopardised by neighbours - and horrible to think of what it must have been like for him to live there.  

Just what I was thinking.  Did you not do anything about it while your dad was still living there or only when he died and the house became yours?

AdrianC

Yes, the price of otherwise-similar houses can vary because of what's immediately around them.

Maybe it's a main road.
Maybe it's a pub or petrol station or school.
Maybe it's a messy place...

You have inherited THAT house in THAT condition in THAT location. That is what you are selling. Not something else entirely. You sell it for what you can get for it in THAT condition in THAT location. And the best way to do that will almost certainly be in a proper auction.

No, you might not get as much for it as if you were selling A DIFFERENT house in A DIFFERENT location...

That doesn't mean you get to dictate to your father's ex-neighbours how to live their lives.

GDB2222

wilfred30 said:

verytired11 said:

I feel for you - it's horrible to think that the saleability of your father's house is jeopardised by neighbours - and horrible to think of what it must have been like for him to live there.  

Just what I was thinking.  Did you not do anything about it while your dad was still living there or only when he died and the house became yours?

Make up some facts about the OP, then blame them! You have no idea what the OP did during dad’s lifetime, nor what their relationship was like. It happens all the time on this forum, and it’s a wonder that people post their problems at all.

bozzy18

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).

Thanks.  Sadly RSPCA were not interested. They said the cats/kittens were not suffering!  EV also not interested!  We have videos and photos!!

GDB2222

The whole point about feral cats is that they are wild animals, fending for themselves. There’s no need for the RSPCA unless one is injured.

bozzy18

wilfred30 said:

verytired11 said:

I feel for you - it's horrible to think that the saleability of your father's house is jeopardised by neighbours - and horrible to think of what it must have been like for him to live there.  

Just what I was thinking.  Did you not do anything about it while your dad was still living there or only when he died and the house became yours?

this went on for years and years when my father was alive!  EV at the time were not helpful.  I took up the reins when my father became ill but to no avail.  Now he's passed and I am still struggling with the council!  Looks like there's nothing we can do then!
Auction it is...................................