Warn Buyer of Noisy Neighbour?

ThisIsWeird

Sounds like an investment purchase, so the moral argument of preventing desperate current owners from moving on doesn't really apply.

Nkarma, kudos to you for considering this, as it doesn't appear to affect you directly any more, but you are concerned about other folk. So if you feel inclined to, by all means email the EA (ie, use a recordable method), providing your full address if you wish, or just refer to that block if not, and let them know they have a duty - moral, probably legal - to inform potential buyers of anything that could 'adversely affect the value of the property', and then detail what the issue is, and the fact it's been reported to the council, etc.

You've done your job.

After the flat sells, get to know the new neighbour, and see if there's an actual issue, and whether they were informed of this. If it's yes and no, then you can evidence the fact that the EA knew, and they can then take action if they wish.

FlyMeSomewhere79

nkarma said:

Just to add a little context.  The flat was purchased less than 2 years ago at auction for £283k.  I'm sure it was sold at auction cause of noisy neighbour.  They 'flipped it' and did some cosmetic renovations, decorating etc but nothing big. I think the current owner doesn't live there and this is purely a business proposition.

It's listed for £485k now.  I guess I'm putting myself in the buyers shoes as at that price, they will live there and tend to be first time buyers for other similar flats on the road. 

FlyMeSomewhere's post is 1000% right thing to do then.  Just feel bad passing on the noisy neighbour to the next sucker.

Yeh I totally get it. My neighbours aren't partiers thank god but they are a retired couple that door slam and just don't give a toss about being noisy from very early in a morning. She's become a bit insomniac since retiring and regularly wakes us banging doors at like 3am! 

The annoying issue is the lack of laws to protect people from noisy neighbours. We're hoping she stop being an !!!!!! when our new people move in as we think it's mainly done out of malice now because we confronted her about it back in 2021 and she was very ignorant about it 

[Deleted User]

Perhaps I'm reading it wrong but you're coming over as a little resentful towards the current owner.

Why does the cost they paid and later works carried out have anything to do with you?
The current owner appears to have made good decisions. Well done them.

The next buyer is surely capable of doing their own diligence, for all you know they might want noisy neighbours, or even know them personally. It's even possible that they'd attended said parties.

You've also assumed that the buyer will be putting their life savings into it. How do you know?
It could be a speculator, it could be a well funded individual, it could be an existing freeholder looking to buy more of the property. It might well not be a nightmare for them.

Lots of judgement here, with very few facts. I don't think it's any of your business and certainly wrong of you to call the next buyer a sucker...

nkarma

I guess it's cause I felt a bit like a sucker, but also that plus at least 4 of my neighbours have also expressed how impacted they have been (depression, helplessness, etc).  And it's a helpless situation really.

It's a small 2 bed flat (55 sqm) with no outdoor space for £485k, and my other neighbours all tend to be first time buyers who spent their life savings. I'd be surprised if it was someone who could afford this and also attend these parties, but maybe?

I think the current owner knew the noise issues and yes is using it as investment (good for them!).  But unfortunately the person who is buying from them will likely be a sucker.

Schwarzwald

nkarma said:

I'm owner of flat on victorian terraced road in an area that has quickly become gentrified. The houses have mostly been split up into flats with share of freehold.

The flat directly above a neighbour who has lived on the road for 15+ years has been sold pending contract.  That neighbour has extremely loud (club like) parties which generally start about midnight and end 6-9am.  He also tends to hang with a specific subset of society that yell & fight on the road at all hours and I'm sure drugs are being used prolifically.

The council & police have been informed on multiple occasions, some neighbours have collected a lot of evidence, and he has been been sent several warning letters by the Landlord (The Peabody Trust).  Following this, the volume has gone down a few notches and the frequency of these parties have been reduced.

I'm generally ok with how it is now, but feel sorry for whoever is buying the expensive flat above him.  Just thinking they put their life savings into it and then realise it's a nightmare.  Should I send a note to the Estate Agent? Do they have to pass it on?

The current owner of the flat bought it at auction a couple of years ago, did some minor improvements, and is listing it for double the price.

I think the right thing to do would have been to file complaints against this particular neighbor. why tolerate it?
Especiallyt if the flat is provided by a HA?

personally, i might look out for the purchaser and if you see them around, can approach, say hello, have a chat, mention the situation. but ultimately, the property will be sold, if not to the current buyer, then to another one, through an EA or via auction again.

The problem is not the Vendor of the flat, the problem is the neighbour. Solve the neighbour's noise pollution downstairs, solve the entire situation ...

annetheman

nkarma said:

I guess it's cause I felt a bit like a sucker, but also that plus at least 4 of my neighbours have also expressed how impacted they have been (depression, helplessness, etc).  And it's a helpless situation really.

It's a small 2 bed flat (55 sqm) with no outdoor space for £485k, and my other neighbours all tend to be first time buyers who spent their life savings. I'd be surprised if it was someone who could afford this and also attend these parties, but maybe?

I think the current owner knew the noise issues and yes is using it as investment (good for them!).  But unfortunately the person who is buying from them will likely be a sucker.

I think it's a conscientious thing to do. Anecdotally, I viewed a 1 bedroom flat for £475k (West Kensington, London) in a converted Victorian villa. As I was standing there, the loudest, noisiest footsteps and blasting television came up from the flat beneath. It was a godsend - I wasn't going to buy it anyway but that cinched it; as a buyer, I would want to know.

Conversely, in my current flat, I had a period of time when I kept complaining about noisy next-door neighbour playing wailing music ALL day and most of the night - they stopped eventually, and I've lived in 1 year of silent bliss, but I didn't realise it could have been recorded on file has I escalated it... It would make my current sale harder! So as a seller, I'd also want to not be trapped (agree with arguments why it doesn't necessarily apply here exactly).

Tough one. On balance, might be best to FYI the EA and leave it at that. Things you can't control etc.

NameUnavailable

The EA will tell the vendor that you have contacted them - if you scupper the sale you might have an angry neighbour on your doorstep!! Do you want to get caught up in what could become a very difficult situation? 

ThisIsWeird

NameUnavailable said:

The EA will tell the vendor that you have contacted them - if you scupper the sale you might have an angry neighbour on your doorstep!! Do you want to get caught up in what could become a very difficult situation? 

Just say you are a resident in that block.

Martico

ThisIsWeird said:

NameUnavailable said:

The EA will tell the vendor that you have contacted them - if you scupper the sale you might have an angry neighbour on your doorstep!! Do you want to get caught up in what could become a very difficult situation? 

Just say you are a resident in that block.

As far as I can make out, there are only three flats - OP, noisy dude, place for sale. 

NameUnavailable

ThisIsWeird said:

NameUnavailable said:

The EA will tell the vendor that you have contacted them - if you scupper the sale you might have an angry neighbour on your doorstep!! Do you want to get caught up in what could become a very difficult situation? 

Just say you are a resident in that block.

They're not in the same block though, and an anonymous letter like that would go in the bin if it were me, thinking it's a cranky neighbour trying to cause trouble!