Feeling uneasy about potential neighbours - pull out?

steve866

I would defo be concerned and would be knocking on doors of a few neighbours to try and understand more. I wouldn’t mind having run down houses (perhaps elderly people) but I wouldn’t want problem neighbours 

comeandgo

I think if you are living in a terrace you are always at risk of bad neighbours so I’d be delighted if one was empty.  Could you return in an evening or at the weekend to see if any activity or people about.  I’d not totally reject a property without a bit more information on who the actual neighbours are.

mashmash90

Thanks to everyone who has commented so far, for those suggesting knocking on doors, what would you actually say when they answered? I am not sure I'm confident enough to do it but if I did build up the courage, like what do you even say? 

meeemee

Do you live a long way from the potential house? Would it be easy to view again and try to speak to the neighbours directly to ask what their plans are? 

HampshireH

mashmash90 said:

Thanks to everyone who has commented so far, for those suggesting knocking on doors, what would you actually say when they answered? I am not sure I'm confident enough to do it but if I did build up the courage, like what do you even say? 

Explain prospective buyer and just want a feel for the local area. What's the area like? Any issues? What do you love /dislike about living here? Have they been in the street long .... If so wow that's great must be a lovely set of neighbours....Ever any asb issues in the area etc

Dustyevsky

At our last house, the semi-detached neighbour was a skinflint accountant who lost his GF to his miserly ways about 5 years into our occupancy. He was the only person in the road who'd not replaced the original windows and his painting, curtain-making and window cleaning skills left much to be desired! He was, however, very quiet.

On the other side lived a nurse and a teacher. They were both busy, so their front garden project didn't get finished, and the renovation of the rusting, orange VW caravanette stalled as well. They were no bother, but their front area was a close runner-up to Tracey Emin's bed!

When we came to sell, our agent told us some no shows were people who'd decided the neighbours weren't ones they wanted and driven away. It was a relatively small price to pay for 20 years of peace. 

greenwood132

I looked at a couple of houses recently and found exactly the same - terraced house lovely condition and the house next door looked terrible. Was enough to put me off.

user1977

mashmash90 said:

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. 

Are the houses actually occupied? I doubt I'd be bothered if they have just been empty for a while - eventually they'll get cleared up / occupied.

KSS1991

Oh dear I would definitely pull out based on your description. In fatc we did pull out of a house sale last year just because of neigbouring neglected houses too. No regrets. I think you are better off loosing the sale now rather than live with regret and no one would want to buy it off you few years down the line. Always think the step ahead. Good luck! House market is slowing/ going down so you won't be worse of if you look for another house. Location location location. 

MultiFuelBurner

I would suggest it's right to consider pulling out but after 5 months you will be popular lol.

Within the first two weeks of having an offer accepted we are around at different times of day checking the house out so to leave it this long🤔

However do what is right for you.