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Original poster

Would it be petty to refuse new neighbour’s request?

295 replies

isthispetty · 12/05/2018 19:40

I live in a cul de sac - the houses are in a semi circle and my house is on the one of the ends.

A few years ago, our next door neighbours knocked down their detached house and replaced it with two semi-detached houses. They live in one of the houses and sold the other.

Consequently, they live in number 9, the other house is 9A and my house is number 10.

The people in 9A have recently moved, and we have some new next door neighbours.

This morning, the woman from 9A came round and asked if we would be willing to change our house number to 11, so they could be number 10. She says that loads of their post and deliveries keep getting sent to number 9, and she just thinks it would be easier.

Would it be unreasonable to say no? I’m used to living at ‘number 10’ - we’ve lived here for years! And I’d have to go through the effort of changing our address, and contacting everyone we know and getting it changed officially and legally.

Or should I just be neighbourly and agree?

OP posts:
Henrysmycat · 13/05/2018 19:22

Newsofa, no. Definitely, not down Surrey way. Obviously, a detached 6 bed replaced by 2x 3-bed semis wouldn’t have the same value.

Dillydallyer · 13/05/2018 19:43

Way too much hassle! Why doesn't she just give her house a name?

Mycatsarebetterthanyours · 13/05/2018 19:48

There is no way I'd do that, it's way too much hassle as you'd have to change the number on your deeds, inform your mortgage company (if you have a mortgage), home insurance, car insurance, basically anyone who has your details.

They think it's annoying now having post for number 9, well they'll only and up getting your post if there is a change.

Labradoodliedoodoo · 13/05/2018 19:50

They should change their house to number 11. Or better still give their house a name, getting rid of the number 9a completely.

Rach5l · 13/05/2018 19:57

Of course not! That would just be passing the post confusion on if the postie can't get it right

Lovewinemorethanhusband · 13/05/2018 19:59

Tell her no ! It's an absolute nightmare eto Change house numbers,you need to change deeds, council tax, mortage details, even down to your electricity and gas supplies need updating with address amendments all will take ages and is a pain in the arse

Furano · 13/05/2018 20:02

Absolutely no way.

They can change THEIR house to 11.

RomeoBunny · 13/05/2018 20:04

Tell her to change hers to 'the extension' and to piss off.

PeachyPeachTrees · 13/05/2018 20:14

Interesting! I got my house for a very good price in comparison to similar houses on my road. Maybe it's because it's 20a and some people think it sounds like a flat and it put them off.

EdWinchester · 13/05/2018 20:21

Absolute cheek!

Just say no.

The fee would be about £200, too.

mirime · 13/05/2018 20:24

No of course you shouldn't. Her post going to her neighbour is not that big a deal. We have three or four people near us with ridiculously similar addresses and we manage with only occasional annoyance.

RidingMyBike · 13/05/2018 20:29

Don’t do it! We looked into removing the [stupid] name of our house which also had a number when we bought it. We managed to get it changed with the post office and utility companies after a lot of hassle but not the mortgage/deeds as that was just too complicated and expensive.

Andrewofgg · 13/05/2018 20:31

So you are expected to take over the hassle!

Sod that!

lifechangesforever · 13/05/2018 20:34

What a ridiculous thing to request.

My neighbours used to live in my house and then built their own next door, I'm 1a, they're 1b and the other neighbour is 1.

There are minor slips ups with post and/or people coming to the wrong house from time to time but tbh it's not an issue at all. It's also the fact we're in an odd formation - not in a row like you describe.

Tell her to get better sineage put up outside her house.

Andrewofgg · 13/05/2018 20:38

Oh, and tell her the Land Registry, the Council, Royal Mail and the various utilities will all charge fees; then there will be both your banks and credit card companies; doctors; dentists; every organisation either of you is in membership of; etc., etc.

Then tell her to piss off.

DistanceCall · 13/05/2018 20:47

I don't know if you legally can do that, just because.

But in any case, no, I wouldn't do it. Either she hasn't thought it through or she is happy for you to put up with a pain in the arse as long as she doensn't have to.

Apollo440 · 13/05/2018 20:50

Do not do it unless you enjoy an unnecessary world of pain. Aside from the council and mortgage (which will cost you), you'll need the gas and electric meter points reassigning and good luck with them ever getting it right.
Your neighbour's problem is that the various delivery services see a number 9 and think that's good enough and shove it through the letter box. If they change to number 11 it will force them to engage their brains. If they are worried about sequencing it won't be an issue, anyone delivering will naturally look for no 11 either side of no 10 before deciding it didn't exist, so their 'problem' will disappear. I'm sure you can explain it to them nicely and all still be on good terms.

jacknutter · 13/05/2018 20:55

house numbering not down to local agreement, set by Royal Mail. Your title deeds also would have the details of the sale agreement. She needs to employ a solicitor to sort.

Piwi1625 · 13/05/2018 20:56

Nope, not your problem! let her be number 11 and move along!

KitKat1985 · 13/05/2018 21:04

Nope. Not your fucking problem.

WhendoIgetadayoff · 13/05/2018 21:09

Absolutely not. Your title deeds and everything would need changed. Postie will soon get used to a 9a rather than a new 10 AND 11. Tell them to get big numbers on door/ gate.

Vicky1990 · 13/05/2018 21:17

I'm not sure but I think it's possible to start using a name rather than a number, as long as the post delivery office is informed.
If your neighbor did that it may be a solution.

holey · 13/05/2018 21:18

It's just tough on her part and she'll have to put up with it. I live at 24 and next door is 24A. Not sure how it came to be 24A but it may be something similar to the OPs situation as it is a very small semi joined to number 26, which is a much bigger semi. On occasions there is confusion over mail or tradesmen etc knocking on the wrong door, which can be an issue as the people at 24A use it as a second home so we don't see them for weeks on end. However, we have got used to describing our house when we organise builders or anyone to come round to avoid confusion. It is just something you do, it isn't exactly hassle. The OP's neighbour will just have to get used to it in the same way the previous one did.

HazelBite · 13/05/2018 21:25

Our house 40 years ago belonged to a printing company that formed part of the address the trouble and difficulties we have had getting that company name removed from our address you wouldn't believe.
even though it has been a private residence since the early 1980's.
After 26 years with the help from a very nice man at the local council who had to approach the post office on our behalf I have finally got the offending name off our address and my mail no longer ends up at the printers.

MumofBoysx2 · 13/05/2018 21:27

Only if she pays for it! The legal stuff, the change of address cards, to friends, family, the post office, etc etc etc And only if you want to...

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