Advice when Selling my Home

larussoson

Good afternoon MSE, 

I am seeking advice from someone in the know or at least experienced similar before - so I can have confidence in my position when proceeding with a house sale. 

We live in a new build semi-detached property - since the first day we moved in we quickly realised we could hear our neighbour going up and down the stairs (very heavy-footed). There are other noises, like hoovering, doors closing etc, but these are far less frequent and somewhat expected with a semi/terrace property. 

This particular "issue" has not been addressed with the neighbour nor has it been raised with any local authority- whilst annoying it doesn't seem to be grounds for a "dispute". 

However it has been reported twice to the new home warranty provider - this was raised with them as I pondered whether the issue had arisen from a defect or inadequate sound proofing. Ive heard enough horror stories about new builds and didnt have 100% trust that something hadn't been bodged or done so poorly. The warranty provider have maintained that there is no issue, produced a document to confirm the soundproofing is adequate and as far as they are concerned no issue to investigate.

We are coming to the end of our first mortgage term and are looking to move on. This was always the plan if we could afford it and isn't due to the above - I certainly won't miss it, but it's not the determining factor here. 

So my question is this - what do I need to disclose to any potential buyer? There is no neighbour dispute and it has been confirmed there is no defect. Do I need to disclose anything? 

We feel slightly trapped with little to no protection here. If we unnecessarily disclose it, that likely makes selling the home 10x more difficult and/or we take a big loss (and probably scuppers us moving anyway). Or we don't mention it and unwittingly open ourselves up to future recourse. 

Can anybody offer advice as we feel a little bit helpless. 

Many thanks in advance, its appreciated more than you could know. 

teaselMay

Have you lived in a semi or terrace before? I'm deaf now and so don't know about in this house but certainly my previous terraces (built in 1930s and 1885) next door on the stairs was audible.

larussoson

teaselMay said:

Have you lived in a semi or terrace before? I'm deaf now and so don't know about in this house but certainly my previous terraces (built in 1930s and 1885) next door on the stairs was audible.

I grew up in a semi detached but the stairs were on the other side of the house. We couldnt hear much in all honesty, but then I was a child so probably paid little notice - This house the neighbour's stairs are directly attached to our party wall. 

born_again

Having lived in Semi-Detached houses all my life of varying ages & builds. Yet to find one where at some point you can't hear the neighbours. 
Fact of life noise travels through walls...

teaselMay

Agreed, I can't hear next door either side (my ears don't work) but even I always know when they're in and up (3 adults working shifts). There's an alley between next door the other side down stairs but likewise they can hear my shower running etc. I think it's just normal. This house was built in the 50s

Albermarle

born_again said:

Having lived in Semi-Detached houses all my life of varying ages & builds. Yet to find one where at some point you can't hear the neighbours. 
Fact of life noise travels through walls...

Especially when the neighbours are having a domestic....

grumpy_codger

Modern new-builds are often timber-frame with  brick outer skin. The party walls are timber-frame with absolutely inadequate noise insulation. It's hard to believe that building control allow to build such horrible houses.

horsewithnoname

You don’t need to disclose it, only a dispute where you have involved the council or police or something. All you have done is checked that your house was properly built. 

Must admit I moved to a detached when the neighbour in the semi next door died and a family moved in and I realised that I could hear them; not especially noisy, but if someone really antisocial had moved in it would have driven me crazy. Some people- me included- are not very tolerant of other folks noise.