Renegotiating Offered price on Home

FataVerde

Hi, I got an offer accepted on a flat in London. I have meanwhile found out through a random google search that the upstairs neighbour is running a massage service from the flat. I am considering opting out, but really not sure what to do. If I decide to continue the purchase, is this a good reason to negotiate a lower price? I suspect they'd sell the house if it goes back on the market even though I offered a generous price. I offered 11,000 over the asking price knowing that the strategy for these particular EAs is to list the house at lower price, then get lots of viewings to organise then highest and final offers in an auction system. 

purplebutterfly

A massage service or a "massage service"?   

eddddy

I imagine the flat upstairs is rented, so probably...

• The AST is being breached
• The terms of the lease are being breached
• Planning regulations are being breached

And depending on what you mean by a "massage service" maybe some criminal laws are being broken as well.


So it's probably more a case.of telling the seller to contact the right people to start the process of getting the business shut down.

Slithery

The security will probably be fantastic. I'd offer more.

pluto261

It's not a reason to negotiate a lower price, since the justification for a lowered price is typically to cover costs of something flagged in the HomeBuyer report that needs urgent/expensive repair.

If it's a massage service then I don't really see how it would affect you. If it's a "massage service" then getting a few thousand off the price of your flat isn't going to address the real issue, which is whether or not you're OK with the possibility of running into your new neighbour's pimp (or living downstairs from a pimp, depending on the set-up).

Either go ahead at the agreed price, or opt out if you're uncomfortable.

FataVerde

Haha, the ad for the service specifically mentions 'this is not a sexual site' so I assume it's not. 

It's not rented. It's the owner who uses his flat for this service. Does this make it legal?

Irishpearce26

Are you looking to negotiate the price of a massage or the flat?

powerful_Rogue

FataVerde said:

Haha, the ad for the service specifically mentions 'this is not a sexual site' so I assume it's not. 

It's not rented. It's the owner who uses his flat for this service. Does this make it legal?

How would it affect me? 1. Foot traffic. It's one thing to have a neighbour in and out of the building. It's quite another to have people popping in hourly or so depending on his service.
2. This is a residential property: moving things around to accommodate a massage table and such will clearly cause some commotion. I know because I stalked the owner on social media and they have public accounts. So the flat is not arranged as a massage parlour on an ongoing basis.

But again, by London standards, this is probably seen as too small an inconvenience. But I am paying premium for an area considered quiet.

How much off the price would make this acceptable to you?

Failing that, buy elsewhere.

FataVerde

pluto261 said:

It's not a reason to negotiate a lower price, since the justification for a lowered price is typically to cover costs of something flagged in the HomeBuyer report that needs urgent/expensive repair.

If it's a massage service then I don't really see how it would affect you. If it's a "massage service" then getting a few thousand off the price of your flat isn't going to address the real issue, which is whether or not you're OK with the possibility of running into your new neighbour's pimp (or living downstairs from a pimp, depending on the set-up).

Either go ahead at the agreed price, or opt out if you're uncomfortable.

How would it affect me? 1. Foot traffic. It's one thing to have a neighbour in and out of the building. It's quite another to have people popping in hourly or so depending on his service.
2. This is a residential property: moving things around to accommodate a massage table and such will clearly cause some commotion. I know because I stalked the owner on social media and they have public accounts. So the flat is not arranged as a massage parlour on an ongoing basis.

But again, by London standards, this is probably seen as too small an inconvenience. And pimps got to live too But I am paying premium for an area considered quiet. 

FataVerde

powerful_Rogue A few thousands off would make it more palatable. I've just seen a few streets away there's a vocal instructor so I guess 'massage' is a lucky business to have upstairs, haha

purplebutterfly

My beauty therapist/massage lady works out of her home (a garage conversion) and I'd LOVE to live next door to her.

If it is a genuine holistic massage service being offered, then I can't see what the issue is.  One person physically cannot repeatedly do a massage an hour for a whole day - so it's unlikely there will be a constant stream of clients.  Even if there were,  I am not sure how this would affect you?  There's no way you can know how people will use their properties - if you buy near a family with kids, they might be in and out constantly during school holidays. 

I understand having specific requirements in regard to noise (I have them myself) but you're NEVER going to know if your neighbours are too noisy until you live there.   High heels on laminate flooring/loudly playing Call of Duty at 3am/a new baby crying its little head off are all things that could be an issue in future.

 I think you may be unnecessarily tying yourself into knots over this........................in which case a massage might be just what you need!