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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask my neighbours to sell me their garage?

214 replies

ElleDubloo · 27/03/2021 09:46

I want to buy my neighbours’ garage. It’s next to my house. They don’t use it but they probably store some stuff in it. Would it be rude to just knock on their door and ask?

OP posts:
thecatsthecats · 27/03/2021 11:07

My rule is that you can only ask awkward questions once - and that no answer is an answer. Serves for everything from asking someone to donate to your fundraiser to offering to buy part of their land.

Ask once, be totally clear that it's no pressure, and if they don't come back to you, don't pester them. There's nothing worse than feeling unsettled with your neighbours.

(and fwiw, I would definitely be saying no based on that diagram, I'm afraid)

BronwenFrideswide · 27/03/2021 11:10

I wish to buy the garage and the land it stands on, we will have it valued by three agents, pay legal costs as well as to have both sets of title deeds amended, and compensate you for the devaluation of your property for losing the garage and the land

This.

Under no circumstances should they sell it to you without getting independent legal advice as it will devalue their property to their detriment when they come to sell whilst increasing the value of yours. If you are going to ask you need to make this clear to them otherwise it sounds like you are trying to con them.

MyKingdomforaNameChange · 27/03/2021 11:14

Is there room for a second house at the end of their garden?

It's very similar to a set up I had, and the neighbours wanted to buy the access so they could build a second house.

We said no, although they offered a lot of money, but we then sold them the whole house and access for even more. Made a fortune, but so did they once they had 3 houses to do up and sell!

We moved to a farmhouse with land, I believe they moved to Spain! :)

DontDrinkDontSmokeWhatDoIDo · 27/03/2021 11:17

You need to redraw your diagram, OP.

If you show the neighbour's front driveway & parking, it will be much clearer.

Throwntothewolves · 27/03/2021 11:19

My old house had a garage that was separate from the house but adjoinined next doors garage, so the garages were semi detached in a little building themselves. I would not have sold to my neighbour unless the price was very good because I needed the space for storage and it would have devalued the house too much and potentially made it difficult to sell. Might have rented the space though and got a big shed for storage instead. Is that something you would consider, or is it all or nothing?

kerosene20 · 27/03/2021 11:19

As they’re elderly I would recommend the note other posters have suggested. You don’t want their relatives to think you have put their elderly mum/grandma/aunt etc on the spot and under pressure to sell. Make it very clear what you’re suggesting.

Blimeyoreilly2020 · 27/03/2021 11:23

No harm in asking as long as you’re polite!

LongCOVID · 27/03/2021 11:24

There's a house near here up for sale. The previous owners (I guess) sold the garage in their back garden to the neighbours. Now the house, beautifully extended and decorated, won't sell as the garden is too small, at odd angles, and has someone else's garage cutting into it. So do go ahead and ask, but they might say no!

Thatwentbadly · 27/03/2021 11:25

@HelpMeh

How much are you expecting to pay for it? I'd charge a lot to lose such a volume of space from my house.
Ditto. Losing a garage and drive way will depreciated their house value. If they don’t need the money I would imagine they will say no.
81Byerley · 27/03/2021 11:31

If it was my garage I wouldn't want to sell it, but I'd be happy to rent it out on a month by month basis, so if I ever wanted it back (ie if I was moving) I could give a month's notice. I think you should ask to rent it first. You could always say "I'd buy it, if you ever wanted to sell!", so the idea is in their heads.

Original poster
ElleDubloo · 27/03/2021 11:32

Ah sorry, I see where I went wrong with the diagram. Here’s a better version.

To ask my neighbours to sell me their garage?
OP posts:
Original poster
ElleDubloo · 27/03/2021 11:33

@HelpMeh How much? Lol Blush

OP posts:
tiredmum2468 · 27/03/2021 11:34

I used to rent my garage out at my old house I got £150 a month!!! Now I have 2 kids and far too much junk for that!

Original poster
ElleDubloo · 27/03/2021 11:37

Thanks for everyone who replied saying the neighbours probably won’t be willing to sell unless the price is high. I think we’re prepared to pay quite a lot (as the alternative for us is moving to a larger house and all the costs of that) but we’ll just need to find out if the price in their heads matches up with the price in ours. Of course if they say no or want a price we can’t justify, then we have the alternative of moving :)

OP posts:
Original poster
ElleDubloo · 27/03/2021 11:38

And obviously we wouldn’t put them under any sort of pressure!

OP posts:
raincamepouringdown · 27/03/2021 11:40

Can only ask.

UseYourIllusion · 27/03/2021 11:43

Personally I wouldn't as I'd be concerned that no garage would affect a sale price further down the line.
Cant hurt to ask though.

Alcemeg · 27/03/2021 11:44

Shy bairns get no sweets, as they say in Yorkshire.

olympicsrock · 27/03/2021 11:45

Worth asking but it wouldn’t if I was them . Where would they store the lawnmower, garden furniture etc...

PhilCornwall1 · 27/03/2021 11:49

If I was going to sell it to you, I'd not only want the market value for it, but also an amount on top to compensate for then having a property with no garage/extra parking which would knock a certain amount off the value of the house.

Confusedandshaken · 27/03/2021 11:52

I agree that this is something better put in writing. That will give them time to think it over before responding.

Bluntness100 · 27/03/2021 11:53

You can only ask. What are you willing to pay? Have you valued the land and how much it would detract from the value of their property and also rhe legal costs and amendment of the deeds?

CounsellorTroi · 27/03/2021 11:54

I do think it’s a bit presumptuous to say they don’t use the garage, just because they don’t keep a car in it. Be prepared for them to say no.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 27/03/2021 11:54

It happens all the time, neighbours sell parcels and strips of land to neighbours. You have nothing to lose by asking but I agree, make sure that you are transparent and above board every step of the way if they agree to go ahead and don’t badger them if they say no or don’t respond.

Milkteefs · 27/03/2021 11:55

It begins with you asking the question of the neighbours and if they are receptive then you look to get somebody in to value it. They will determine the value of your's and neighbour's house as currently stands and then the anticipated value/loss of value to both properties. These are used to calculate the marriage value which will allow you to pitch a respectable offer. It is typical for purchaser to assume all costs for this btw, so you would pay for the valuation, for your own legal costs and your neighbours representation also. Something to think about when working out what it is worth to you. But as I said, it begins with asking the question. Sounds like you don't want to really rent it but definitely worth bearing in mind there would be insurance implications if your items were damaged or stolen from property which wasn't your own...