AIBU for not wanting this house?

[Linok]

We are looking at houses to buy. We are very specific on the area due to the school for our children ( they are already at school, we just don't want to be too far from it ). As we are so specific we have a very limited choice.

The house came up for sale which is almost perfect, well within our price range and have a potential.

I have done some research and found out that the immediate neighbour was found guilty of having indicident images and now is on the sex offender list. I am now adamant to this house and don't want to even think of it, my OH thinks I am unreasonable and we should really consider it.

AIBU to stick to my guns and reject this house?

How do you know it’s the immediate neighbour? Press reports usually only give the street name number not house number.

Or have your married it up with voters roll?

Ah missed a cross post wher you have explained he moved.

knowledge is power

Yes, and use that knowledge to keep your child away from danger.

Also I could never relax knowing my neighbour is such a threat.

Are you sure it’s the same person? Ie the same joe blogs.

Hate to burst people's bubbles but unless you live in a hamlet of 10 people, chances are you live near a sex offender. About 1-5% of men are pedophiles, more are rapists.

Keeping children safer involves a lot more than warning them about the convicted offender you know about. That person has been find out, had consequences, knows they are watched. It's the ones you never find out about that are really dangerous.

No way would I love my children next door to a known paedophile. You'd have to be mad or at least negligent to do so.

*move

I am now adamant to this house

pedant alert

This is not English. You may be trying to say " I am adamant that this house is not suitable"

MrsTerryPratcett, you speak a lot of sense.

Agree with the poster above that this is much less of a risk than the sex offenders you DON'T know about. For a start, if this guy does anything remotely creepy and you alert police, they will be down on him like a ton of bricks. He'd be mad to do anything with a neighbour who knows his name, etc.
If it's a bargain, buy it. What on earth can he do with your clothed children in the garden??

Presumably if you moved anywhere in the 5 possible streets you'd still be pretty close to this person. I'm not saying it doesn't matter, I wouldn't want to live there either. But logically next door or a couple of streets makes little difference.

I don’t think that’s true Ghoul. Someone that can watch your children from their bedroom is different from someone younpass on the street. Not to mention that usually neighbours are friendly on a ‘hello’ basis at least c

I'd probably feel the way you do. But then maybe it's a case of 'better the devil you know than the devil you don't'. My DSs went to an elementary school (US) where a convicted paedophile lived across the street. A technicality in the law + the date of his conviction allowed him to live there. We hated it but you can damned bet that every parent knew the house location, who he was, and what he looked like, as did school staff.

MrsTP
I agree. However not all pedophiles will act on their desires and impulses. Many abstain and feel terribly guilty. I know this person being watched. I’m not sure if I would like to live next to someone, who is prepared to act out their desires despite knowing the damage and distress they cause to innocent children.

Do you know the circumstances op? Is it young children? I’m assuming it wasn’t an inappropriate but similar age thing.

One thing that would put me off is that as this is clearly a deal breaker for some people, if he stays there in the long run and you want to sell again, if you worked it out from info in the public domain then other people could. It might be more difficult to sell.

Are you absolutely sure about this? Exactly where did you get the information from that this is the same person?

I wouldn't. On top of the fact that you have children, how would you feel about having to communicate with this person - saying hello in passing or discussing any neighbourly matters that arise, such as mending the shared fence or whatever? Would you ever feel truly comfortable in your own home or garden?

I'd say there's quite a difference between knowing paedophiles may be living in your area and that there actually is one right next door

My ex neighbour's son served two years for this and I was terrified he'd take the house over when his dad died - luckily he'd skipped to Thailand by then, but I have a vulnerable DS and could never let him use the garden when this POS visited

There's also the point that you might never be able to re-sell the house you're looking at - especially if the neighbour re-offends and his location becomes more widely known

Personally I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole - and I'd let the estate agent know why

@MrsTerryPratcett, this is exactly mu OH's point, it does make sense that the person will be on the best behaviour now but I don't feel it

@lilybetsy, thank you for pointing it out) English is not my first language

Bigus why take the risk and give yourself all that to do? High fencing would feel like you're living in a prison. Not being able to look out of your own windows. It would be a constant reminder that there 's a risk next door. Nope, I wouldn't go near it. I'd much rather compromise on something else than have that hanging over me

Nope, wouldn't go near it!

lilybetsy

@lilybetsy

*I am now adamant to this house

pedant alert

This is not English. You may be trying to say " I am adamant that this house is not suitable"*

Well aren’t you ducking delightful? I’m guessing English isn’t the OPs first language, and so what if it was? Alotnof times my quick replying comes out as rubbish

Sorry, see, I meant to say “fucking delightful” and hadn’t noticed the autocorrect to “ducking”. And I see I cross posted with the OP too.

@Mummyoflittledragon, I only know what was in the press, the charge involves images and children, this is enough for me to be concerned

@sweeneytoddsrazor, I am 100% sure. I work in a forensic role ( not with people tho ) and can make connections where some details exist, I have enough information to put 2 and 2 together