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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To refuse to buy her house and tell her why?

183 replies

StinkyTowels · 16/01/2025 13:59

A few years ago my sister bought a beautiful period property with all original features. Victorian fireplaces, hand crafted bannisters, Victorian carved coving, the head things that pop out of the coving - I adored the house and always said if she sells it, I’ll buy it.

That was of course until she “modernised it”. Stripped out all original features, painted everything white, installed a clinically white and shiny kitchen, lobbed the standalone bath out of the window and replaced it with a spa bath … I kept telling her she was ruining the house but she said I was old fashioned and nobody likes that shit anymore.

The house is historically important, a local famous post lived there, from the outside it looks like a grand Victorian villa. On the inside it look like a London penthouse. It’s awful.

last year she decided to sell it but rather than coming straight to me she tried to sell it for much more than I would have ever paid due to the “improvements” she’d made. LOTS of viewings but no offers - all feedback was exactly the same - put off by interior. Lack of original features etc

So she’s come back to me - I’m now saying I don’t want it either for the same reasons. She’s fuming at me and says I “promised” I would buy it. In its original state I did yes but once she started pulling it apart I very clearly told her I would no longer buy it as she’s wrecked it. She won’t accept this however and is already eying up another house she’d like to ruin/renovate.

AIBU to be glad she can’t sell the bloody thing. It should be illegal to do what she’s done to that belle house

OP posts:
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BestDIL · 30/01/2025 17:32

Anyone else find it frustrating when the OP doesn't comment any further on their own post?

BIossomtoes · 21/01/2025 21:52

TaylorSwish · 21/01/2025 20:48

Yeah, my neighbour who was doing up the house next door to me, told me to leave the hideous (in my opinion) 1960s features in my house. He’s a property developer and he said that they will be next in fashion. I am not convinced but I will do what he says just in case 🤷‍♀️

Mid century is very fashionable right now.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 21/01/2025 21:30

@StinkyTowels first (and only) post on Mumsnet is smug, judgmental and gloating. She is BU and unkind

TaylorSwish · 21/01/2025 20:48

Kahless · 21/01/2025 19:57

Even though it's fuck ugly?

Yeah, my neighbour who was doing up the house next door to me, told me to leave the hideous (in my opinion) 1960s features in my house. He’s a property developer and he said that they will be next in fashion. I am not convinced but I will do what he says just in case 🤷‍♀️

BobbyBiscuits · 21/01/2025 20:20

No. What you should do is buy her house off her because she told you to. 🫤🤣

JoannaGroats · 21/01/2025 20:18

Plastictrees · 21/01/2025 16:42

Your post suggested that her house won’t be listed because Victorian houses aren’t rare, which is incorrect. Many houses and conservation areas are Victorian properties, usually because of the unique and ornate architectural designs.

No, my post stated very clearly that the OP had never claimed the house was listed - and therefore the likelihood is that it isn’t. The poster I was replying to seemed to think the house would definitely be listed just because it is Victorian.

Nowhere do I say that no Victorian properties are listed. Of course there are listed Victorian properties - and 1950s and 60s properties too. My point is that a Victorian property is not in itself rare. There’s a massive amount of Victorian housing stock. “Oh, but original features are lovely though” is not reason enough for a house to be listed.

Kahless · 21/01/2025 19:57

TaylorSwish · 21/01/2025 19:05

I would.

Even though it's fuck ugly?

TaylorSwish · 21/01/2025 19:05

Kahless · 21/01/2025 18:21

So do I need to keep the horrible 1960s original fireplace in my lounge? After all it's an original part of the house?

I would.

onwardsupwardsandbeyond · 21/01/2025 18:55

whatkatydid2014 · 21/01/2025 09:32

Different people like different styles.
People are allowed to both like the large rooms and high ceilings of older houses and to prefer monochrome colour schemes, more modern bannisters, UPVC windows etc. They are also allowed to go with compromises to make renovations and changes affordable
We have a 1970’s gas fire in the living room of our Victorian terrance. When we eventually decorate it we will likely get a period one (or a replica) as I think the 70’s one is awful but I assume at the time someone loved it OR it was what was within their budget to get gas heating in place. It hasn’t destroyed the house and it’s perfectly changeable.
When we built an extension to create a kitchen/diner/snug I would ideally have done for something like Victorian style floor tiles, sage green kitchen units and replacing the electric fire with a period one but in the end cost and room layouts were significant consideration. We went with grey units (thousands cheaper as every single retailer sold grey versions of every single cabinet) & we blocked the fireplace as it allowed us to fit in a TV for the kids in the snug. I’d like the style of the original plans best but not enough to make it difficult to use the space the way we wanted or to pay that much more money for it.

Don't mind juxtaposing different styles necessarily but I do think it's shame to buy a period property then rip out original features and then putting down some hideous white tiles or grey carpet with cold/bluey white lights and spotlights (warm lights always please). Absolutely different styles but some people just have a sense for homely and stylish. I love a mix of periods and styles, no problem with that.

Kahless · 21/01/2025 18:21

So do I need to keep the horrible 1960s original fireplace in my lounge? After all it's an original part of the house?

TaylorSwish · 21/01/2025 17:45

I would have bought all the fireplaces and everything else she ripped out and kept them in a garage or storage.

Londonrach1 · 21/01/2025 17:40

Yanbu. Don't buy something you don't want. Your sister has ruined a house

PromoJoJo · 21/01/2025 17:39

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at the poster's request.

Dreamingofgoldfinchlane · 21/01/2025 17:31

Manthide · 21/01/2025 17:25

@Dreamingofgoldfinchlane they are on the roof but a lot of solar energy companies wouldn't touch the project due to the pitch of the roof. I think they have some on a couple of faces - it was dark when I last went but going next week to see it in the daylight. It is a large 7 bedroom house.

Thank you. I know many people renovating period properties prefer to place the panels elsewhere but that obviously poses a host of other challenges.

Manthide · 21/01/2025 17:25

@Dreamingofgoldfinchlane they are on the roof but a lot of solar energy companies wouldn't touch the project due to the pitch of the roof. I think they have some on a couple of faces - it was dark when I last went but going next week to see it in the daylight. It is a large 7 bedroom house.

rwalker · 21/01/2025 17:20

I know where your coming from there’s a (was ) Gorgeous red brick Victorian house near us that has been renovated/ vandalised
the whole thing now is an enormous grey monstrosity

Dreamingofgoldfinchlane · 21/01/2025 16:43

Manthide · 21/01/2025 11:04

Dd2 and her dh bought an Edwardian property a couple of years ago. Initially they wanted something newer but they were unable to find anything with the spec they wanted and the location.
They decided to renovate it and only finally moved in a couple of months ago. Even though they are a modern couple and their previous flat was ultra modern they felt it would be 'criminal' to rip out all the original features. It is beautiful and they've properly insulated it and added a heat pump and solar panels. Still has the curved walls, intricate coving, stained glass panels, fireplaces etc.

Edited

Out of interest, where have they located their solar PV panels? It’s always a point of debate when they can’t go on the roof isn't it.

Plastictrees · 21/01/2025 16:42

JoannaGroats · 21/01/2025 16:35

But many, many more aren’t. And if this house was listed, don’t you think the OP would have mentioned that little detail?

Your post suggested that her house won’t be listed because Victorian houses aren’t rare, which is incorrect. Many houses and conservation areas are Victorian properties, usually because of the unique and ornate architectural designs.

JoannaGroats · 21/01/2025 16:35

Plastictrees · 21/01/2025 16:27

Plenty of Victorian houses are listed.

But many, many more aren’t. And if this house was listed, don’t you think the OP would have mentioned that little detail?

Plastictrees · 21/01/2025 16:27

JoannaGroats · 21/01/2025 16:24

The OP hasn’t said it is - and in all likelihood it isn’t. Victorian houses aren’t rare.

Plenty of Victorian houses are listed.

JoannaGroats · 21/01/2025 16:24

Swiftie1878 · 21/01/2025 12:11

Definitely don’t buy it. Why would you!?

If the house is historically important (Listed?), how on earth did she get planning permission to destroy it? Beggars belief!

The OP hasn’t said it is - and in all likelihood it isn’t. Victorian houses aren’t rare.

PickledElectricity · 21/01/2025 13:33

Sdpbody · 21/01/2025 12:34

You are VVVVU to have not posted a Rightmove link... Just saying...

Agreeee

We need to see @StinkyTowels pretty please

Sdpbody · 21/01/2025 12:34

You are VVVVU to have not posted a Rightmove link... Just saying...

Swiftie1878 · 21/01/2025 12:11

Definitely don’t buy it. Why would you!?

If the house is historically important (Listed?), how on earth did she get planning permission to destroy it? Beggars belief!

Manthide · 21/01/2025 11:35

diddl · 16/01/2025 16:59

Is what she has done particularly outlandish?

It seems quite popular to extend a kitchen at the back & put bi folds on whatever the property!

Dd2 has knocked down the wall between the kitchen and dining room of her Edwardian house but has done so very sympathetically. She has also extended it and has a beautiful oriel window and French doors in the dining area. They have changed the downstairs layout somewhat but nothing is grey or white and looks amazing.