Neighbours house is a mess..what can we do?

gerturdeanna

We're going to put our house on the market shortly..valuations are quite good...only downfall is nextdoor!! He's been there for 10 years and the house is a complete shed. All the windows are boarded up, the garden is overgrown and the front room has no floor!! He basically lives in the rear of the house. He works on the Motorways and is hardly ever there. His excuse is that he bought it with a friend to do up but the friend has run off with all his money.
Me and OH are thinking of tidying up the garden but what else can we do or make him do?

Thanks

Debt_Free_Chick

You can't make him do anything. The best you can do is to ask him to "help you out" whilst you sell your house. But if he won't do it for himself to live in, I can't see him doing it for anyone else.

Sorry ... but - up to a point - he's allowed to live in his own house, as he wishes.

PasturesNew

You can't make him do anything.
And as he's said, he can't afford to do the work.

People don't choose to live like this always. It can be a combination of no money, no idea how to do it, no skils/enthusiasm to do it.

Easier just to shut the door and forget that bit.

If you can see anything you want to do that won't involve him paying for it, then ask him if it's OK and he'll probably be happy as Larry.

123oleary

have a word with the council , i know in york the council have forced a couple of people to tidy their houses up . it doesnt apply for say a scruffy garden but if the building is an eyesore or rodent problems they can act.

chappers

Where my Dad lives in Oregon they make you keep your front gardens tidy and mowed if you don't they take you to court and slap you in jail.Maybe offer to tidy his front garden for him and tell prospective buyers he has just moved in and is working on the house.

duchy

chappers wrote: »

Where my Dad lives in Oregon they make you keep your front gardens tidy and mowed if you don't they take you to court and slap you in jail.Maybe offer to tidy his front garden for him and tell prospective buyers he has just moved in and is working on the house.

I knew there was a good reason I didn't live in Oregon !
My house desperately needs double glazing and new doors at the moment-if any of my neighbours were rude enough to try and find a way to "make me" get it done I'd not get it done on principle even when I have saved the money !
By the way it may be acceptable to lie to prospective buyers in Oregen but over here you can get sued for it under misrepresentation so clappers advice may not be the wisest.

chappers

I hardly think telling prospective buyers that your neigbour is working on his house is misrepresentation.
The Oregon thing was no more than an anecdote.

duchy

It is if he isn't

Rabiddog_2

SO.. your neighbour has a very unruly front Bush, which you want to trim for him? and your saying he gets most enjoyment in the rear? but at the moment he's trying to pick up a bit of work on the Motorway?
Carry on SIr, you're doing splendidly.

electricemma

I know my mum's next door neighbours don't put much effort into kleeping the house presentable, not that my mum's place is a palace by any means. Her main worry is that their house being so decrepit and not looking lived in means it provides good cover for burglars. Although when rubbish and a flood burst onto her property from their side she made them address the issue or threatened them with the environmental health which made them sort some of it out. If you think it is starting to encroach, phone your council and see if they can help, they can do it anonymously.

mlz1413

I doubt you can force the neighbour to do anything, although he would probably let you tidy his garden I doubt you can do much about the windows.

I don't know your postition but if your looking to move up the house ladder could you buy next door for a very low price, do it up and sell it? or do it up and extend your house into it? If the neighbour is never there, then selling it without agent fees and without time pressure might be something he would welcome.