Next door ruining our chance of selling?

[Helloitsme123]

Came on here for a rant really. We have had our house up for sale for nearly 6 week, 7 viewings and everyone has commented how lovely it is only thing putting the off is next door has planning permission to build 9 houses on their field. Also 43 houses have been approved to go up opposite, we know the people who own the land and they had told us these plans could be in 2/5/10 years it’s just the permission is there. I’m at my wits end! Is everyone out there actually interested in buying a house with new builds going up next door? So frustrating as we’ve seen a house we love

[Helloitsme123]

We also had an offer for full price but buyer backed out because of the 9 next door. What am I meant to do?!

[Angryosaurus]

I think it's the planning/not knowing stage that puts people off most. Once the houses are up it won't be an issue ime. Not helpful if you need to sell now though sorry

[FluffyWuffy100]

Fuck that’s a tough situation.

I wouldn’t want to buy a property with plans like hat no time door and opposite, unless for a knock down price :-(

[specialsubject]

Sadly all that means flood risk, overloading of local facilities and of course a building site and loss of view.

Sorry for you

[namechangedtoday15]

That's tough. Could you rent it out and rent somewhere else? I agree that you're really going to struggle to sell. No one wants to live on a building site and if it's at the side of you as well as at the front, I don't think it's worthwhile having it on the market. You'll put yourself through all the stress of viewings etc only for people to pull out once they know about new build plans.

[Helloitsme123]

It’s more annoying we are detached and our drive way is huge (without sounding like a snob) we have fit 8 cars at once on it before and it’s on a hill so we’re nowhere near the road, luckily we don’t flood at all and never could as our house is high up. The houses wouldn’t really impact our house at all which is making it more frustrating

[Helloitsme123]

It’s up for £320k. How much would you knock it down? I’m really stuck here

[AJPTaylor]

Either of them interested in your house/land to extend the building plot?

[Helloitsme123]

I doubt they would AJPTaylor, our house has recently been renovated and extended they wouldn’t really be able to do anything to it

[Equimum]

I won’t say you can’t find a buyer, but we retracted an offer last year after spotting planning permission had been granted very near-by. For us, it was the thought of lots of noise and construction vehicles constantly passing by. We also liked the idea of living so close to the fields that were going to built on.

[namechangedtoday15]

It's going to be quite a big estate facing you (43 houses). Are the 9 in the field close to your house or behind? I'm guessing the views / feeling of open space will be ruined and even though your house is lovely, it always (for 99% of buyers) comes down to the location, particularly in what sounds like a semi rural location.

[Helloitsme123]

The back of our house looks onto a huge field where a few horses live, they’re never going to build on there as the owners horses live there and they love it. It’s to the right hand side and 2 gardens will back onto the side of our house so not immediately smack bang next door

[AJPTaylor]

How much land have you got? Could you get pp to knock your house down and put new builds on it?

[RatRolyPoly]

Have you tried asking one of those "we buy and house" type places what they'd offer? Then reducing to somewhere between that and your current asking price?

Tough situation OP.

[Helloitsme123]

I’ve tried 2 of them ‘webuyanyhouse’ companies and both offering £255-270k we paid £290k in May 2016 so defiantly not going with one of them think we’re gojng to reduce to around £310k. To be fair the house is beautiful and has a brand new garden with artificial grass, lots of parking etc so there’s nothing wrong with the property. Just wish someone would see that you spend time inside your house, not sat outside in your front drive looking at next door

[namechangedtoday15]

OP I think you need to be realistic. If the owners own the land at the back, have compromised their own garden for a profit, I think there's every chance they'll send the field at the back. You don't have anyway of knowing they won't and potential purchasers will see that the L.A. has granted planning permission for 9 + 43, so is likely to grant it for that land should it ever become available.

It's hard because when you're so invested in your own house, It's difficult to see how other viewers would see it. You don't actually live your life indoors though do you, most people would want to use their garden and even if you can't see it, you'd definitely hear it / feel it and have to pass building sites every time you leave or arrive at the house.

[Helloitsme123]

The people building next door don’t own the land at the back. It’s separate and the owners of the field at the back have confirmed they have no plans ever to build on there as that’s where their horses live. It’s the field to the right that’s being built on, we also have a 6ft hedge which is within our boundary that blocks us off from the potential 9 next door, maybe we’ll just have to wait a few years till there up ?

[Helloitsme123]

Don’t see how I’m being unrealistic at all? Namechangedtoday15

[BordersMumNow123]

I would absolutely never buy a house near where a development could take place. It's the thought of the noise and disruption by construction vehicles. But I am a sahm and will work from home soon, maybe people with a 9-5 wouldn't mind it? Unfortunately we once rented a house from a landlord who had tried to sell but couldn't as there was planning permission for several houses on the field next door, she rented it out for years instead.

[blue25]

I can't see anyone wanting to buy a house in that situation. It's too unpredictable in terms of noise, mess, neighbours etc. As others say, maybe hold off until the work is complete. The artificial grass would put me off too, but that might just be me!

[frozenlake]

We sold our last house when the fields three houses along from us had planning permission for a couple of fields of houses, buyers couldn't have cared less. Our second and very good estate agent said to be clear about the situation on the first viewing, show where it would happen and have a photo copy of plans to hand out then and there. That way no one pulls out later, a few people were put off but as I said our buyers liked the house and just didn't care. We put an offer in on a house with planning permission similar to yours but someone else offered above asking price, so these houses do sell.

[Helloitsme123]

Thanks for the reassurance @frozenlake! Glad to hear there’s others like me who wouldn’t mind building nearby. Least there’s some hope!

[metalmum15]

I wouldn't want to buy a house that would possibly be slap bang in the middle of a building site. Out of curiosity, why are you moving after less than 2 years, as there's a good chance you may end up losing money when you factor in all your other costs.

[Dozer]

Given those big disadvantages and uncertainties if you want/need to move you may need to drop the price to much closer to or even less than the price you paid for the property. Or stay put until at leasy some of the building work is done.

[keepingbees]

I was told recently that developers had to build within 4 years of getting the planning permission now?
I guess it's one of those things that some people will mind and some won't. I would be wary of the noise and actual construction process, plus it would be daunting when you can't actually see or imagine what's being built. Maybe if you could get your hands on any public plans you could show people to put their minds at rest.