Would this put you off buying a house? Please be honest

[ButIGetUpAgain]

Hello

I say "please be honest", because this could potentially be seen as a bit snobby or even elitist, but I'd still really appreciate honesty under the circumstances.

So we've (hopefully 🤞) sold our house after a long time on the market. It's been tough, as we've been desperate to move for 18 months!

Anyway, location was top of our list and we've found somewhere almost perfect, in a nice local village, 4 bed, end of terrace,
large living room and large kitchen/diner. However, at the back of this road, there are several large blocks of flats and I can't lie, it's giving me second thoughts on putting in an offer, which we were almost certainly going to do. At best, it's an eye sore, at worst, it's SH for ex offenders etc. I don't know how/if I can find this out.

I desperately don't want to offend anyone and I know how this could sound. Overall, I don't think I have a problem with it. I have driven round that road several times and I haven't seen anything worrying. I think I'm concerned more about selling it on, as this is a 3-5 year house, ideally, which is why I'm asking the question, would this put you off?...Honestly.

TIA

I am astounded at some of the comments on this thread!

FWIW, I used to live next to a bail hostel and felt very safe. The men there were under curfew so it was actually very very quiet, we heard almost nothing from them and if they ever stood outside we’d get a polite nod and a smile.

Saying that, when I moved from there and bought a house i didn’t want to live anywhere which was very overlooked. Even the big Victorian terraced houses were too crammed in, I hated the idea of being overlooked so much. We also saw a house which had council houses (I assume) at the bottom of the garden and I didn’t want to live there for being overlooked and thinking of what arseholes we’d seem in a big house enjoying jolies of a garden while these people had very small spaces to live in

Sounds like you made the right decision for you OP

It would put me off, for sure.

Just an update, I've managed to get more specific crime stats and apparently on a monthly basis there are several, as in 4-8,
violent and sexual crimes, drug use/dealing and use of weapons, right near those flats, not just within half a mile. It actually makes it easier when it's like this. I won't be wondering if we've made the right decision.

@beminetonight, thank you. Glad it worked out for you. The nearest shop is a 5 minute drive. There's a really gorgeous pub/restaurant that people come from miles away to go to. There's a village hall and church and that's it.

@ButIGetUpAgain 5 min drive isn't too far. Is it possible to negotiate on price? Do your research on the new house. The other house sounds like you had a lucky escape.

100pc yes it would put me off

I know 99pc of people living in SH will be lovely, but the 1pc would put me right off.

There could be an ex offender next door! In my opinion you’re being bloody ridiculosu

@fairynick, you think I'm being ridiculous? Why? Which part is ridiculous? Wanting to protect my DD or not wanting to make a bad financial decision? Yes, there could be an ex offender anywhere, but why would I look for those stats and then choose to ignore them?

Renters vary, as do home owners.

Blocks of flats vary in character. There are lots round here and you can tell the difference.

This SO brings what i have written on another thread into sharp focus.

And the cognitive dissonance really is something else The same posters go on threads advising other posters not to buy a place near social housing as its got a "reputation" When they are the ones who want it this way and are crying out for it to stay this way. They wanted and continue to want the residulisation but at the same time advise people they consider to be more worthy not to buy a house near the estate that is now what they wanted it to be!!

I think youve answered your own question.
Any doubt as big as this has to be a no

I have spoken to people on the road with the house we're
considering today and straight out asked if it was an issue and everyone said no. They only had positive things to say about the community, including how quiet it was. The road only has 10-15 houses and apparently everyone on the road is very close and friendly

So you passed on a house that felt like home as soon as you walked into it, on a street where you were told no-one had any issues, everyone is friendly and there's a real community.

Are you mad? If those crime stats meant anything at all, the people who actually live there would have said so. But instead you listened to a bunch of snobby mumsnetters who don't think like anyone else I know.

Probably wouldn't move there myself but I'd be more concerned about who's living next door. Have you had time to worry about that yet?

As I said previously, I have an old Victorian house behind me, we are actually built in its gardens and I don’t hear a peep from them. It’s housing association and I don’t know who they let to.
In myrather nice area, not that naice but still nice, I had the neighbour from hell next door to me.

She really made her presence felt. Every little thing..she was yada yada at our door. If the window cleaner, or postman walked past her window even she had a go at us.
I’m just a live and let live sort of person. They’d start banging about really early in the morning. He’d have his video game on loud...the screen was behind our bed. He’d come in off nights and I’d hear..the sound of formula one revving up at about 6 or 7 am
I never said a word.

Anyway they upped and left after 5 years thank god. Weve now got a lovely lady a few years older than us. We are much more suited.

I never realised how bad it was till they left..was like a dark cloud had lifted.

So, really there’s no guarantees. If someone moves in acting like they own the place they can make your life hell.

Anyway op the village sounds very nice