AIBU to think it's not my problem

[Doodlebug5]

My parents bought DP and me a house many moons ago. We decided at the beginning of this year to sell up and look for a new house. We found a buyer they were a respectable couple in their late 20's and we found a new build. The couple wanted to move in when their tenancy ended so DP and me packed up and moved home to my parents as new build won't be ready yet.

I was very friendly with my neighbours have got their numbers and have been out for dinner with them countless times.

So since we have moved out I've been getting daily messages about the new couple. Apparently lots of loud parties drinking in the street, drugs etc. I've told her she needs to call the police and she's saying no I need to sort it. I have countless times said no it wasn't even my house technically and once we completed legally I/my parents have nothing to do with it. She's now threatening legal action against me (have told her to get on with it) but is there/would there be any reason for me to have anything to do with this? I don't think she fully understands the buying process on a house and is asking why I didn't get references.

I suspect she's using me as a scapegoat for other things /stresses in her life that are going on.

Not really sure how to save this friendship and don't think I can

I'm not entirely sure she will meet with me. She seems quite nasty in her messages.

Ok right I have composed the following message.

' hi xxx. I just wanted to clear up in case their has been any misunderstanding we sold the house and completed on the 10th May and just to confirm we legally have no interest in Xxx(address) now. They are not our tenants and they legally own the house. Please direct any issues at either them or the police/ council noise team if need be. '

Sound ok?

nosleepforme no-one rang anyone at 3am there's no harassment in sending a text message in the night if you're awake

We've sold the house..it is not our responsibility

No 'technically' or 'legally'

I still think too confusing for the hard of thinking 9which she appears to be).

'Hi xxx. You appear to have misunderstood. We have sold the house. The house does not belong to us. The people who now own the house have nothing to do with us. Please call the police if you need to. '

we legally have no interest in

Change this to 'we do not own'. Be as explicit as possible. I'd also change 'we completed on' to 'we sold the house on'. Leave absolutely no room for ambiguity.

Sorry, lots of crossposts - agree with artys suggested message!

I would add more strongly that she needs to take up any noise problems with the neighbours, not you, because they're the ones that are making it.

I'd edit as follows, for clarity and emphasis:

' hi xxx. I just wanted to clear up in case their has been any misunderstanding. We sold the house on the 10th May. Just to confirm, we have no interest in Xxx(address) now. The new residents are not our tenants, they own the house. Please direct any concerns to them, or to the police/ council noise team if need be. '

No it's to complicated,

Leave the bit about completion out, and tennant as it confuses people. And just tell her that the house is sold, you don't own it, it and they are nothing to do with you.

Text sounds fine but change their to there in first sentence and full stop after misunderstanding. Add a final sentence "Please don't contact me again about this issue."

Send the artycakemaker message, then block, block, block.

Just block her.

FFS why are you giving an old neighbour so much headspace.

She seems a bit dim. You have sold the house, it is not your responsibility and even if you wanted to help there's really not much you can do.

I agree, make sure she understands that you have no legal attachment to the house, it is sold. She cannot take you to court for anything.

I would be upset that she had threatened that.

Block her number, don't hire a lawyer and let her take you to court. They will laugh her out the door.

I think your text is still too confusing.

"I do not know why you are contacting me about these problems. We have sold the house. Your neighbours are not our tenants. We have no control over what they do, and this is not our responsibility. Please do not contact me about this again."

You're making your text too complicated, no need to bring 'completion' and 'legally' into it.

'Dear X, just to be clear, we sold X house on the 10th of May. It is now owned by Y & Z. You will need to make any complaints about Y & Z to the police/council and they and their property are nothing to do with me'

I agree, your text with words like 'completed' and 'legally' sounds like you're being evasive and have something to be defensive about!

I'd go with what HeyCat said.

Arty I have gone with yours and sent it

I do think this will be the end of our friendship which was a shame as I was invited to her wedding this summer. Quite clearly won't be going now.

3am was fairly unusual for her usually it's 11pm she will text to tell me about the noise. I think it was after a particularly bad night she made the threat of court.

As others have said don't mention any of these words as they are probably muddying the waters;

Technically
Legally
Completion
Tenants

"Dear X. We SOLD the house. The house has new owners. Please do not contact me with any complaints as the absolutely NOTHING I can do about it."

she's saying you need to sort it - how exactly? Would she think it's totally normal if the previous owner of their house showed up and started making demands about their behaviour?

Goodluck Doodle It must feel rather surreal!

good grief. It really isn't that hard to understand is it?