Do I pull out of house purchase.?

[Highfivemum]

Purchasing a new property for our ever increasing family brood. Love the property, location and we have had an offer accepted on it. All going well until this morning when I was chatting ( within distance ) to a friend, Just general lockdown chitchat. She knew our house was on the market and asked how it was all going. I said we had accepted and offer and had placed one on another house. I then told her where it was. She didn’t say much but made her excuse and left rather quickly. She has just called me to say that she has to tell me as she thinks I should know but she knows the people selling the house we are after through a work collegue and they are moving as hey have the neighbours from hell !!!! The house is detached and is near the end of a cul de sac. The so called neighbours from hell are next door and she says that it has involved Police in the past. Apparently it has been going on for years. Loud parties. Damaging their property. Etc. It is the first we have heard. Nothing has been disclosed by the sellers. Not even in the form where it asks is there any issues. I would have thought police being involved would be an issue !!! What would you do ? I have called solicitor who isn’t in work but at home and not available. We are due to exchange by the end of the week and I don’t know the best way forward. I know there are two sides to every story etc. The sellers came across lovely though. Very quiet and in their 60’s. They said they were downsizing. Can we check somewhere of any incidents at the property ?

[Blueuggboots]

I agree with other PP's. Investigate thoroughly and don't exchange until you're sure.
Having lived for 14 months with shit neighbours after the people we bought from didn't disclose issues (but we did when we sold it!) I wouldn't recommend it or wish it on anyone.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

You need to pursue this through the solicitors rather than the estate agent - the first get paid anyway but the second only when the house sells, with inevitable consequences

Certainly try the Council, but be prepared for the usual "we can't say anything due to GDPR" or whatever other reason suits their wish for inertia

Personally I'd go with asking several neighbours, but mostly I'd ask how certain your friend is about this ... and if she's sure I'd definitely pull out and make the vendors aware that you know they lied

[OhLookHeKickedTheBall]

Definitely get this looked into and don't exchange until you're satisfied. Our sellers didn't disclose anything about the neighbours, and we've had similar issues for years now. It's only calmed down as the owner died a few years back but the house is still with the family who occasionally rock up, cause havoc and only leave when they've got in enough trouble with the law - and I don't mean trouble from us complaining either.

[summerfruitssquash]

What an awful situation to be in, OP. Nothing to add to previous answers in relation of how to handle it, but what I would say is that living next to potentially the neighbours from hell really is worth the research Because we’ve moved before having been in this situation, and it really ground us down

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Worryingly, Google doesn't suggest any official way of accessing this info yourself, so I'm starting to wonder if that's why vendors (supposedly) have to tell you about disputes ... in other words, it's been put onto them because they know you can't find out any other way

If that's really the case I'm not sure I'd even approach the neighbours; it may be better to go with your friend's advice and pull out completely. After all solicitors can question this, but if the vendors still lie it won't be the solicitor who has to live there

[Highfivemum]

Some great ideas on her. I will call the estate agents and see what hey say. Solicitor still not got back to me. I have to be careful as I don’t want my friend involved in this so will make out I heard from another source.

[Highfivemum]

We are in a chain too so likely that it will all collapse if we pull out. 😩

[VictoriaBun]

I'm sorry ( and probably too upfront ) but as it's so close, I'd be knocking on the door and asking directly ! That way you will know from the look on their face or the bluster as they try to get out of it !

[Funnyface1]

Definitely pull out. We had awful neighbors in our previous property and if I could go back and listen to my instincts, I would.

Moved out after 2 years but I was lucky, you could end up stuck there if it's a nightmare and you can't sell.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

I will call the estate agents and see what they say

It's your decision of course, but I really wouldn't; the EA works for the vendor and have no obligation to you at all. They also have an obvious interest in the house being sold and it follows that there's no benefit to them in disclosing anything like this even if they know

If you've already been lied to, there's no point at all in putting your faith in the wrong people

[Highfivemum]

Just called agents who said I need to speak to Solictor. They are selling our house as well as being the agents for our new house. To be honest they were a bit short with me. Told me that my buyers were moving out of rental shortly. !!!
I will wait to see what solictor says.

[OhLookHeKickedTheBall]

I wouldn't trust the EA to be up front either. My parents nearly bought a house, heard rumours about some issues via friends and asked. EA couldn't have assured them there was nothing afoot. A search in the local papers archive showed there was (though in their case it wasn't a neighbour from hell which would be unlikely to hit papers). This is definitely one for your solicitor who should act for you.

[Zombiemum1946]

This could have been a minor issue that's gotten out of proportion. As others have said do a little digging. Check the surveyors report for recent repairs, do a drive by on a Friday/Saturday night.

[Highfivemum]

Also said that our buyers have said if they don’t exchange by Friday they may pull out. !! Just a guilt trip I know.

[OhLookHeKickedTheBall]

Count have assured them more I meant!

[CottonSock]

This happened to me. I knocked on a few doors and was reassured the police had dealt with the parties. Been pretty much ok. However I pitty the people who live opposite me. Just bought next to hellish neighbours who have been arrested and asbo for various things.

[OhLookHeKickedTheBall]

Couldn't. Autocorrect and poor grammar killing me!

The buyers pulling out could be a guilt trip. But let's face it, they're going to have to either continue their rental or find somewhere else to live if they do. It's a gamble for them as well.

[billy1966]

Terrifying.

That person has done you a massive favour.
I would be going over there and knocking on the door of the neighbours from hell to see what they are like.

I wouldn't take a chance on it for a minute.

Bad neighbours are a hellish situation to get caught up in.

I wouldn't dream of buying a house without stalking the area at all time of the day or night AND speaking to neighbours around, for the low down.

Huge purchase to fxxk up through lack of due diligence.

Best of luck.

[Twooter]

A bit short notice but you could always sell yours and rent for a bit.

[MzHz]

Could you move to rented? Could you find another property similar?

Definitely take this information and investigate

Could you get the number of the work colleague? Get it straight from the horses mouth as it were?

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Just called agents who said I need to speak to Solictor

The "shortness" will be down to the chance of their commission disappearing, but at least they got the above bit right - though now the vendors will almost certainly learn about your enquiry and have the chance to get a story together

Is it possible to contact your friend again and enquire a bit further?

[MzHz]

Where are your buyers living and is their property already let? Just a thought...

Speak to your buyers and explain the situation so that obviously you have to investigate very quickly but you are aware of their pressures and will do everything you can not to jeopardise their situation

Oh and btw... your buyers won’t pull out. They’re in a less flexible situation than you are.... breathe. This is important. You need to make sure you’re not being lied to, and aren’t about to ruin your lives with godawful neighbours

[Highfivemum]

My friend just called again. Thought it was the solicitor and nearly dropped the phone trying to answer it quick. She said that as far as she knows the situation was on going for a few years. The police were called over large out of control parties though no action was taken. It was a broken fence and some plants in the garden and nothing was done at the time about it. She also said she recalls them trying to sell a few years ago but pulled out due to ill health. I need to speak to solictor really as I need definite answers.

[MaccaPacca81]

Keep us updated - very keen to see how this plays out!

[Patch23042]

Assuming it’s bad news and the neighbours are scumbags....would you now rent, rather than losing your buyers?