Feeling uneasy about potential neighbours - pull out?

mashmash90

Hello! We have been in the process of buying a new house for over 5 months now (dragging due to chain issues on both ends!). Anyway we recently received our legal report from the conveyancers and decided to go and take some measurements and do a final check before agreeing to exchange etc. I was really excited to see it again only to feel a sense of unease when we returned. It's a victorian terrace and both neighbouring properties on either side have neglected looking gardens and 2 properties (one of which is right next door) may or may not even be occupied. We were under the impression when we viewed originally that they were undergoing renovations as there were paint cans and what looked like the remains of dismantled items but its exactly the same 5 months later. One of the properties has a large crack in the front window and the other which is next door has what looks like an old sofa just lying upside down in the overgrown garden. I was a bit shocked and we were left with a sense of dread if we are to continue purchasing. What sort of neighbours will we have and if the property is abandoned, I feel uneasy with potential squatters living next door, rodent infestations etc. We love the house but the neighbouring properties are a major cause for concern. Any advice? 

MFWannabe

If it were me I’d definitely be pulling out based on that description 🙄

HampshireH

Have you asked the current owners about any issues with the neighbours etc. Or knocked on the doors?

An unruly garden doesn't scream nuisance neighbours to me it's more likely to indicate less mobile neighbours. Or as you suggest maybe none at all

Skiddaw1

I think I'd be doing some detective work at least. I can understand why you're uneasy.

mashmash90

Yes it's quite disheartening. I checked street view on google and all the historical captures of the street. The last one was Aug 2022 and it was in exactly the same state as it's in now - a complete state. I wish I looked at this sooner. May 2019 was the capture before that and the street looked so much better. But HMRC sold prices don't indicate any change in ownership of said properties in that time period so I have no idea what happened. 

sourpuss2021

There is no risk of squatters moving in next door because squatting in residential buildings has been a criminal offence for some years now.

mashmash90

sourpuss2021 said:

There is no risk of squatters moving in next door because squatting in residential buildings has been a criminal offence for some years now.

unfortunately it still happens though! Like theft is illegal, but people still knick stuff

MFWannabe

Personally I’d say if you have any doubts pull out rather than purchase and living with regrets

elsien

Yes I would find it offputting. And it would also depend on what the rest of the street was like.

But I'd also ask the seller and maybe see if I could speak to the neighbours on the other side.
I'm in a terrace and next door to me on one side had some old carpet festering outside for over 12 months because she'd moved in to care for dad who died and her mental health dived to the point where sorting anything out was the last thing on her mind. But generally speaking she's a good neighbour - we have each others keys, take in post, let each others dogs out etc. I'd have taken it to the tip for her but it was too heavy for me to lift. 

Whereas the settee and assorted carp on the other side was a nightmare tenant who was eventually evicted and the landlord was reluctant to spend the money to get it shifted. Took them months, but there are now new tenants in who seem perfectly reasonable so far.

But you do need to investigate more before  proceeding. 

badger09

Agree with others who said ask the vendors. And ask the neighbours. There could be perfectly valid reasons for the current state of adjacent properties and issues which are temporary. 

However if you don’t get answers you’re happy with, pull out. Don’t forget though, that even if neighbouring properties were immaculately kept by considerate neighbours, there’s no guarantee that would always be the case. 

Good luck

benson1980

Our last two houses have been next door to very neglected houses. The neighbours on both occasions have actually been pretty decent people.

I wouldn’t pull out for that reason alone, or not least without knocking on the door.