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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to turn down developer’s offer of £££ and keep our garden?

414 replies

Emelene · 06/10/2021 18:19

Hi MN. I would appreciate some opinions. We have very recently moved to a village, with an outstanding school, village green out the front and a garden in excess of 100 ft out the back. Our kids are almost 3 and 1 and we see ourselves living here for at least a decade.

The thing is the last owner was intending to sell 60% of the garden to developers, along with the next 3 neighbours along (we are the end plot on the plans). She lost patience and sold the lot to us. Planning permission has finally been granted after previous appeals were turned down.

Under the plans, there would be a house and a half built on our land, so we would be overlooked and lose 60 percent of the garden. We don’t have to sell, but the developers have offered a final offer of £100k. That would pay off about a third of our mortgage. They are pressuring us to make a decision ASAP.

Obviously it’s a huge amount of money and a privileged position to be in … it’s very hard to say no. But. Losing the garden is a high price. We’d planned chickens, Wendy house etc. The house currently feels so peaceful, trees out the back (that would be cut down) and birdsong. So I think it would change the whole feel of our home. But there will be a house built in the neighbour’s garden, so there will be a small element of overlooking…

I’m scared we will regret turning down the money. But our kids are so young and we moved here to give them a wonderful childhood (with a garden!)

So AIBU to turn the developers down and keep the garden? WWYD?

OP posts:
StrongSunglasses · 07/10/2021 09:32

Just read first page, but 100k for a plot with planning is very cheap isn’t it? Around here small building plots start around 200-240k upwards (depending on size), so I think if you were to consider this then the price should be far higher.

If they reached a price that was very tempting/no brainer, then I agree with selling the garden and then selling the house and buying somewhere else.

StrongSunglasses · 07/10/2021 09:34

Oh sorry just seen you’ve already turned it down

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 07/10/2021 09:35

No way would I be doing this. I hate when developers try and squeeze as many buildings and houses into as little space as they can. Gardens and outdoor spaces are invaluable. I wouldn't do it.

Beautiful3 · 07/10/2021 09:42

Great decision. I'm so glad you didn't allow yourself to be bought. You'll enjoy your beautiful garden.

Babamamananarama · 07/10/2021 09:48

Good decision.
When we were house hunting we wrote off several houses that looked great until you got there and realised they'd sold half the garden. I really don't like it when the garden is no longer in proportion to the house. I don't think you'll regret your decision.

Yaya26 · 07/10/2021 09:50

I'd negotiate for much more money. If I got it I'd sell, then sell the house and buy somewhere similar more private with a nice garden.

LookItsMeAgain · 07/10/2021 09:51

What I find really sad is when houses were built with decent sized gardens and their previous owners sell the house and garden as one lot and then whoever buys it decides to sell as house and separate lot for building on (i.e. the garden).
This is just one example of what I'm talking about in Dublin:
www.myhome.ie/residential/brochure/house-site-10-ferndale-road-glasnevin-nth-dublin-11/4516436

To me that isn't a 'site', it's a driveway and a back garden. Selling it as a house and a site just shouldn't happen in my opinion.

I might not be the most green fingered gardener but having a place that you can use that is outside but is yours is such a bonus.

Yaya26 · 07/10/2021 09:56

I didn’t think the planning application would go through. I read it carefully and there were so many issues with it including historical importance of the area etc etc. But apparently it went to some independent planning committee who overruled the council who had said no.

Hmmm - sounds like some councillor(s) got a nice brown envelope.

Furries · 07/10/2021 10:06

I wouldn’t do it! If they were offering 5x that, I’d maybe consider it - and then sell the house and use the money to move on to a dream home that fits your bill just as well.

But for the sake of £100k, to lose a large amount of a big factor in choosing that house, no way. The noise alone for the build is a pain in the bum (2 separate projects where very close neighbours have done the same).

WB205020 · 07/10/2021 10:27

£100k is nothing. Well it is but what i mean is if you did sell, you would see no benefit this year, nor next year nor for the next 10 years. You may pay your mortgage off earlier but your kids will be a lot older by then and probably be off to college / university and wont need the garden.

I know someone who did something similar to this and regretted it deeply.

WildfirePonie · 07/10/2021 10:43

Well done OP.

I'd have asked for 1 million, and if they accepted buy a huge detached house with more land.

Furries · 07/10/2021 10:48

Should have read the updates! Enjoy planning your lovely garden, having good outdoor space is priceless.

LowbrowVictoriana · 07/10/2021 10:50

Just read first page, but 100k for a plot with planning is very cheap isn’t it? Around here small building plots start around 200-240k upwards (depending on size), so I think if you were to consider this then the price should be far higher

Exactly! Same here... a good £250K + for a good plot, especially with PP. Someone bought the house a few along from me recently for £420k and demolished it to rebuild.

£100k is taking the piss.

flotsomandjetsome · 07/10/2021 10:52

Well done op, you'll be glad you stuck to your guns.

When we bought our house the bottom half of very long garden had been fenced off and was for sale separately to the house. We didn't hesitate to buy both.

We don't 'over garden' the extra bit. We keep the brambles down and leave it as a slightly tame woodland area and it's great. We have a buffer of trees between us and any neighbours, and it's full of wildlife. We get a lot of interesting birds, and a family of now very friendly squirrels the kids love.

It completely changes the feel of the garden, it's green, private and you just forget there are any other houses around 😊

CubicsRube · 07/10/2021 11:08

What will they be building there if you don't sell the garden?
I would offer to sell them the house and garden at a vastly inflated price, then move elsewhere in the village.

Collaborate · 07/10/2021 11:18

@Emelene

Thank you all. Decision made. We are not selling.

Now I’m off to look up fabulous garden ideas. Grin

I'd look again at what your garden is worth. As others have pointed out, it's worth a third of the value of the eventual build. For 1.5 plots worth £450k (so total final value of £675k) you should be seeking over £200k for it. Would that change your perception?

I agree don't sell if they've undervalued it, but for over £200k I'd consider selling if I were you.

dogsrock15 · 07/10/2021 11:20

keep the garden!

Yaya26 · 07/10/2021 11:30

Been thinking about it after commenting Earlier. Id negotiate hard to sell the, house and garden for much much more money as others have advised. If you don't sell your house and garden is going to be changed anyway by your new near neighbours. It could be a great opportunity for your family to move up in property or reduce your mortgage.

ApolloandDaphne · 07/10/2021 11:33

Well done OP. Good decision. A big garden which is not overlooked is such a wonderful thing. We have one and it is bliss!

purplesequins · 07/10/2021 12:00

be prepared for the developer to keep trying.

any tree with a tpo in the area?

LIZS · 07/10/2021 12:27

@purplesequins

be prepared for the developer to keep trying.

any tree with a tpo in the area?

It depends really . The scheme may not allow for additional building once the others are done, so the offer may lapse eventually.
Duchess379 · 07/10/2021 12:35

No, no and no! I live in a new build, it was built 2012 & we're the first occupants. Due to ill health, we're moving but the hassle I had selling this house was unbelievable because our garden is quite small & the side of my neighbours house is at the end of the garden, so in effect, your looking at a brick wall. Other similar houses to mine have also had issues selling because they are overlooked. You may make £100k now from the developers but you will lose it down the line when you try to sell. Absolutely do not do it!!

billy1966 · 07/10/2021 12:54

@ApolloandDaphne

Well done OP. Good decision. A big garden which is not overlooked is such a wonderful thing. We have one and it is bliss!
Could not agree with you more.

We renovated an old house 25 years ago because of the large urban garden.

Our home is really lovely but the garden is the star.

We have thrown so much love into it, and it has returned it tenfold.

There has not been a day in the past 25 years that I have not felt gratitude for the pleasure it has given us as a family.

SinoohXaenaHide · 07/10/2021 14:34

Glad to hear you decided not to OP. Very sensible.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 07/10/2021 15:26

The development can’t go ahead as planned without our land

In that case they'll almost certainly offer more
Personally I wouldn't sell anyway, but you might as well find out how far they'll go - and in the meantime, get some advice on just what the loss of land would mean for your home's value so you've got all the facts to make a final decision with

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