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AIBU?

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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:
scaryteacher · 12/05/2018 19:58

'Are you on glue?' with a head tilt would be my response, especially in light of the problems highlighted by other posters.

Having had a quick google, the advice seems to be that you cannot change a number, or move from a number to a name. You can add a letter to a number (9A) or add a name.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 12/05/2018 19:58

We live in a basement flat. The house is converted into flats 340, 340A and 340B. We're in 340. The number of letters we get for 340A is ridiculous, or with their name and our number on. I don't think they know their own door number. Hmm

BellaMaroni · 12/05/2018 19:58

They need to contact the post office and complain about the issue to them, not be asking you to go through so much hassle!

fullponty · 12/05/2018 19:58

I wouldn't. You'd probably end up with your phone and Internet getting disconnected or something as they'd have to place an order to "move" your service from one address to another.

ZenNudist · 12/05/2018 20:00

Another no from me.

eurochick · 12/05/2018 20:00

The admin would be a real headache. You'd need to sort the land registry, mortgage, V5, driving licence, HMRC, work, banks, council, electoral roll, utilities, personal contacts- it would be hours of work and would cost you money.

lou1221 · 12/05/2018 20:01

I don't think I would want to change. Main reason would be the hassle/cost etc. I once lived at ??a, there was a ??b one side and ?? the other side. In the 10 year's I was there, I don't recall many mix up with post etc.

seven201 · 12/05/2018 20:01

Tell her to change hers to 11. No way would I change my house number!

Findingdotty · 12/05/2018 20:02

Nope. I wouldn't agree to that. She is just passing on the hassle to you rather than her. Although she would have a lot of hassle changing all her bills, etc too. What an odd request! Basically causes hassle for two of you rather than just her. Hmm

MrsDilber · 12/05/2018 20:02

Yanbu. I wouldn't, she's moving her problem on to you! CFers imo.

12PurpleSnails · 12/05/2018 20:03

I wouldn't be happy doing that. And I imagine it could get quite complicated.

Aprilmightbemynewname · 12/05/2018 20:03

Can they not give their house a name instead?

Rudgie47 · 12/05/2018 20:03

No it would cost a fortune and you would have to change the deeds on the house and contact the land registry.Just say its not possible as it would cost thousands.
They knew the number of the house when they bought it.

Juells · 12/05/2018 20:03

Absolutely not. Your letters and bills would be going to them for years, and they'd start getting cranky about bringing them round.

expatinscotland · 12/05/2018 20:03

Hell to the NO! 'No, can't do that. Speak to the post office about getting a name for your home and that should help.'

ScattyCharly · 12/05/2018 20:04

No way.
She hasn’t thought through the practicalities here.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 12/05/2018 20:05

Right. Deeper delving on a few council sites shows that the blanket rule seems to be it is not possible to change the number designated to a house in the UK or even remove it but you are allowed to create a house name to add to your address alongside your house number

It may be possible to change the number if you have good reason, but it is a lot of hassle for a lot of people: If your property has a number and a street name, you cannot remove the house number, without informing us and getting agreement from the whole street

So your ONLY answer is no!

BlondeB83 · 12/05/2018 20:09

No way!!

Iloveacurry · 12/05/2018 20:09

The only answer would be no! It would be a massive pain in the a*.

purplecorkheart · 12/05/2018 20:10

No, you get all the hassle and they get none. Tell her to get a house number plaque made with the number on it and to inform the post office.

LittleMissCantbebothered · 12/05/2018 20:10

God no!!

Admin charges all over the place......
Change of property details at land registry
Admin charges for changing mortgage details
All the other 'moving house' admin, without actually going anywhere!

Tell them to do one (and get a bigger door number)

IceSwan · 12/05/2018 20:11

Tell her to be number 11 or just scrap 9A so she's no number and give her house a name like Corner Cottage or whatever

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 12/05/2018 20:11

Absolutely not.

Blondeshavemorefun · 12/05/2018 20:11

no too complicated

thomore annoying would be if they were 10a

this happened to people i know

next door (57) built new house in garden yet have their (59) doors number and A

so new house is 59a and not 57a and apparently nothing they can do

CottonSock · 12/05/2018 20:12

No bloody way I would do it