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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:
ittakes2 · 13/05/2018 05:24

suggest to her she asks 9 to become 9a and she becomes 9b.

noenergy · 13/05/2018 05:38

Can't even begin to think how complicated that would be.
House deeds
Mortgage
Car insurance
House insurance
Employers
Hrmc
Driving license
Passport
Voting
Census
Utility providers

Many others as well that you would need to notify. I'm sure it's most complicated due to deeds of the house.

Can't believe someone would suggest this, tell her to have a word with the postman

CiderwithBuda · 13/05/2018 05:51

I’m sure she just hadn’t thought it through as to how complicated it would be. So I would sympathise but say no.

When we lived in Budapest we lived in 1 X st. Except there were two houses numbered 1 on the same street! Landlord’s family had a large plot of land which they divided into four plots. He built the first house and registered it as number 1. When the other plots were sold and built on and the street was officially named those houses became numbers 7, 8 and 9. He said he assumed the street wouldn’t be a continuation of the other street but would be something like X Lane. Deliveries were fun. “We are number 1 X St but there are two houses which are number 1 - we are the new house in th middle not the old house at the beginning of the street”. Cue bewilderment. Trying to explain it to non native English speakers was fun. We went back last summer to see the house and I noticed it is now number 7A! I can only imagine the hassle that would have been to change in Hungary. I think the house must have been sold and the plot finally properly registered.

PrincessPlod · 13/05/2018 05:59

9A woman sounds like an idiot! If this is the biggest problem she has in life then she is lucky. Definitely say no and tell her to get a bigger sign.

yikesanotherbooboo · 13/05/2018 06:06

I don't think it's cheeky to ask but I do think it is likely to be complicated and to incur expense. The easiest solution would be for her to have a house name as well as a number and to phase that in.i think she would have to telll council.

Booie09 · 13/05/2018 06:21

Are these people first time buyers? Maybe when they asked they didn't really think It was much of a hassle and all you had yo do was start calling yourself no 10 and it was sorted! Some people have no clue

Vitalogy · 13/05/2018 06:21

I'm late to the thread but as other posters have mentioned. Easier all round if she becomes number 11.

Pengggwn · 13/05/2018 07:22

Lots of people on here seem to want to say no to stuff and take a 'why should I...' attitude. I wouldn't do this either, but because of the possible implications for my post (websites where I am registered under my house number, distant relatives etc.), not because I just wouldn't want to help her. I would apologise nicely that I don't feel able to help, and leave it there.

RedHelenB · 13/05/2018 07:26

Why not suggest she gives her house a name instead?

MrsLaurac · 13/05/2018 07:49

So possibly some sort of rule against this as it wouldnt be in order anymore but why cant they become number 11? Or at the minimum do all the research all of the paperwork and do all the financials (plus some!) And then present all the facts to you.

CocoLoco87 · 13/05/2018 07:51

I would suggest they name their house Too!

ChipsAndKetchup · 13/05/2018 07:51

We recently changed the name of our house. Whilst it wasn't the easiest of processes it was achievable. But not something I'd consider doing as a favour to a neighbour.

Cup of sugar, yes.
That bullshit, no.

Rainatnight · 13/05/2018 07:55

I bet it's got nothing to do with the post getting misdirected and everything to do with snobbishness about not wanting to be '9A'. Some people feel it implies they live in a flat, which they see as 'lesser'. Hmm

MrsCrabbyTree · 13/05/2018 08:13

And the name of their house shall be ......................... "Fictus Decem"

or False Ten

bridgetosomewhere · 13/05/2018 10:14

Yes ask her if she has considered changing hers to a house name?
Job done

BlueJava · 13/05/2018 10:23

I don't think your neighbour thought it through - you'd have to change land registery, mortgatge, bank(s) and finance companies (loands/savings), house deeds, your wills, uilities, broadband, TV licensing, details at school(s), car registration docs, driving licenses, friends/family. I imagine it's a conversation you'd be having for years to explain the situation.

themusicisoutsid3 · 13/05/2018 11:37

If you decide to change your house name, get your CF neighbours to pay for it.

Blondeshavemorefun · 13/05/2018 12:01

Is the op coming back

snewname · 13/05/2018 12:09

That'll be a no from me too.

PoisonousSmurf · 13/05/2018 12:13

They are CF!

dwab45 · 13/05/2018 17:27

I’d refuse. The cheeky bugger bought the house. Tell the neighbor to get off her arse and complain to the local Post Office sorting centre.

eggsandwich · 13/05/2018 17:51

Been reading this thread and hubby has just said to me why don’t they give their house a name rather than a number (9a) then know one needs to be involved and as they will be the only house name their post won’t go awol.

ButDoYouAvocado · 13/05/2018 17:57

I lived at a 39b house for 14 years. Apart from my post going to 39a about 3 times we had no issues. Stay as you are.

flyingspaghettimonster · 13/05/2018 17:59

It would be ridiculous - all your mail would be going to her for years. Just point that out - that it would be a lot more faff to tell every single business and friend and family member a new address, and change the number on your house, change mortgage and deeds and even the number on the front door, than it is for her to just occasionally have her stuff left at the wrong house

DailyMailFail101 · 13/05/2018 18:12

Oh definitely say no, it would hav massive complications when coming to sell your house.