Neighbour noise/ mess and selling flat - cont...

[chompychompychompchomp]

Hello
I started a thread a couple of months ago about my neighbours and their constant noise and mess - a reminder:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2828956-Elderly-neighbours-revolting-noise-and-how-to-deal-with-it

Our flat is now on the market and yesterday, we had an open day. For about an hour, around 20 people visited as we sat in our other neighbour's front room opposite.

After, feedback from our estate agent was positive (it's a popular area and we're pricing realistically) and some have already requested a second viewing.

However, the EA commented that the man next door was coughing, sneezing and shouting the entire time. It was really loud and viewers commented on it. He said the second viewers commented on wanting to see if the noise can be heard next week when they view the property again. I think they all just thought he was unwell but don't realise the noise is heard all day and night, every single day and night.

In a way, I'm happy that others have noticed and think that it's loud. My anxiety levels are through the roof presently what with putting the flat on the market and being made to jump out of my skin throughout the day whenever he makes his noises.

The mess is still a huge issue too. I have spoken with them both to ask f they could hoover sometimes, sharing the work is only fair, etc. When I pointed out bits of rice, cabbage, onion and what looked like public hair in clumps outside their door they said it wasn't theirs and must've blown in through the window...This I can deal with, we'll just clean it up before people view. But the noise - I can't control this...help!

Should we speak to him/ his wife? What would we say? This could jeopardise our sale. I knew this would happen

[Happyandhungry]

Ask them to go out for your viewings. Beg them bribe them whatever you had to do to get your place sold. Good luck.

[chompychompychompchomp]

Bribery - this is DH's idea- a good one but EA will be doing viewings whilst we're at work and we won't know all the time when he's doing it. We've just said he can do viewings whenever. Massive nightmare keeping the place clean all the time just in case!!

[fortheloveofcheese]

I don't want to worry you and I am not 100% about this but I have it in my memory that you are legally supposed to tell a would be buyer of any issues with neighbours. Possibly only if you have only actually sought out professional help?

[fortheloveofcheese]

By the way you have my absolute sympathy as I find it hard to deal with neighbouring noise related issues. We have our own shite to deal with as well at the moment although different to yours

[chompychompychompchomp]

fortheloveofcheese

DH and I are a bit woolly about this - we definitely haven't made an official compliant (not even to their landlord) or sought professional advice - the only thing I've done is post here. Who knows though, if the buyer is a mumsnetter and discovers this thread ...no, they couldn't sue could they??!!

[fortheloveofcheese]

To be honest, if I was moving the first thing I would ask would be about noise and neighbour issues. If they don't ask and you haven't sought help then at a guess you don't have to say anything. I used to live in a top floor maisonette when heavily pg. The owner of the flat below bought to rent. He did everything on the cheap Inc getting his dodgy plumber to fit some what turned out to be an illegal fixture to the plumbing that created a LOUD prolonged noise whenever the dweller turned the hot tap on. It was a nightmare but he sold the flat to a nice couple who got rid of it.

[fortheloveofcheese]

Ps you haven't said where you live so it could be anyone posting as lots of people have issues with noisey neighbours

[chompychompychompchomp]

Thank you fortheloveofcheese. I'm the same. When we do finally get around to buying again, asking about neighbours will be a priority.

To be honest, I'm still reeling from having to sell and move ahead of time just because of neighbour noise. It's really gong to drain our finances as renting round here will be so much more expensive than we were paying on our mortgage.

Just hate it here now. It no longer feels like our lovely home - instead it's a place where we are subjected to booming bodily noises and where we can no longer sleep through the night or eat a meal in its entirety (due to being utterly put off by the noise of vomiting and phlegming). Even when the guy sneezes he shouts at the top of his voice for three seconds before he lets go...just awful.

[Happyandhungry]

That really sounds horrendous poor you. I feel bad for the new owners actually as well no one should have to put up with these disgusting people

[chompychompychompchomp]

Thank you Happyandhungry. Many on the last thread thought we were being unreasonable as the guy is obviously ill, but hey, gotta be proactive and we're moving and likely to sell the flat soon-ish.

Yes, I do feel sorry for the new owners. Who knows though, it might not bother them. It didn't bother us at first but the noises never stop, it's all day, all night, all the time. That's the problem - we never get a break when we're at home.

[sizeofalentil]

If you get them to go out you'll actively be tricking potential buyers in yo buying a problem property. I really don't think it's fair to try and mask this issue to palm your awful neighbours off on someone else.

[sizeofalentil]

And I say this as someone who has elderly South Eastern neighbours who make the same vile noises day send night.

[chompychompychompchomp]

If you get them to go out you'll actively be tricking potential buyers in yo buying a problem property. I really don't think it's fair to try and mask this issue to palm your awful neighbours off on someone else.

So what do we do? Tell the estate agent to tell people at the time of viewing? If so, what exactly do we ask him to say? I'm being serious - we really need advice on this.

[ems137]

I think you'd sound a bit weird if you (as the owner) turned to me (buyer) and said oh by the way, him next door sneezes a bit loudly!

I certainly wouldn't mention it to any prospective buyers and you are under no obligation to do so.

[chompychompychompchomp]

I know! People I've told have thought I've been massively overreacting until they come round and hear the commotion for themselves.

The thing is, if the viewers who heard the noise yesterday have requested a second viewing and they hear it again, they won't be interested any longer....

[Supermagicsmile]

Let them ale their own minds up, say nothing!

[BeIIatrix]

I do completely sympathise and can imagine the impact this is having on you - anxiety wise

The noises he makes, they may not be as big a deal to someone else - what I mean is we all have different thresholds. So don't feel you are just 'passing the buck'...you are doing what you need to do..for you

When I was a bit younger, I remember my friend coming to visit me, and complaining bitterly about visitor noise from the flat next door, proclaiming she could possibly not live in such a place. and I was like ''what noise?'' (the walls were paper thin) I had become so accustomed to these random noises, they were almost comforting to know there were other people around as I lived alone - it suited me

[ijustwannadance]

I feel sorry for their landlord too. Lovely newly renovated flat is probably filthy now if they won't hoover.
The whole dust allergy stuff is a load of tosh too. Modern vacuums are fabulous. Sweeping up the dust manually is far worse!

Hopefully you can sell your flat soon.

[sizeofalentil]

Don't get me wrong - I do feel awful for you, but I think the kindest thing to do would just let potential buyers see it as it is, and not worry too much.

We bought our house despite the noise (I figured we'd make worse noises with all our DIY, pets, arguments and potential kids / I can sleep through the worst 6am phlegm sounds) - we even ended up paying over asking price because we got in a bidding war with another buyer.

What I'm trying to say is don't minimise it / try and bundle the old folk out - just hope it doesn't put the more serious buyers off. It really won't be a deal breaker to a lot of people.

[sizeofalentil]

And honestly - our neighbours are loud! They must be in their 70s and have raucous drinks parties and what sounds like coughing / spitting contests. But we figured it would mean they'd be more tolerant of us.

[chompychompychompchomp]

Thanks Supermagicsmile and Bellatrix

I think we'll just let it all happen naturally. A potential buyer probably visits a property three times before making an offer (that's what we did anyway), the likelihood of them hearing his noises during all or one of those times is very high.

I don't feel bad about 'passing on the problem' as what's the alternative? Stay here and put up with it just to save anyone else from having to?! That WOULD be weird!

And I've sort of done my bit for society by posting on here anyway, anyone reading this thread who views a flat in the next month or so and hears such noises, is informed - you have been warned...!

[chompychompychompchomp]

sizeofalentil - spitting contests

Thank you. I think the flat will sell regardless. A buy to letter won't be as bothered by things like that.

[geekyboo]

Sorry if this has already been suggested before but have you asked your neighbours to curtail the volume of their bodily noises if it isn't down to medical problems? Maybe explain how unpleasant you find it/how its causing anti social behaviour/not socially acceptable?

[chompychompychompchomp]

geekyboo
Yes, we have asked them if he was unwell as we could hear him coughing/ clearing this lungs and vomiting loudly throughout the day and night, and it was keeping us from sleeping and waking us up at 4.30 each morning. His wife said he was allergic to dust. And that their flat was dusty. And then she walked away.
They are not reasonable people. They also sweep leftover food outside their door into the communal area, toe nails and balls of hair. This I pointed out to them as well as she acted if there was nothing there. Looked at the piles of dirt and food and then looked back at me as if I was crazy!
They do not seem to care if their actions are socially acceptable or not.

[chompychompychompchomp]

Having just read about the hot tub shaggers, I think my problems pale in comparison ...