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

[Emelene]

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?

It'll knock money off the value of your house so it isn't 100k really. I wouldn't unless you were going to sell soon. I'd value a peaceful not overlooked garden with space over money personally.

I wouldn't, I understand people getting on in years doing this when garden gets too much but you're basically selling out for all the reasons you bought.

Also has the person who sold to you not put a clause in making you pay a percentage of anything should you sell within so many years to them? That would be quite usual.

Put a trampoline in the middle of your garden and garden dining set. Then see how big your garden is to walk around and play ball in.

IMO 100k seems low based on cost of house. How much are similar properties worth with the proposed size garden?

We had a similar situation when we moved in. We didn't take the offer similar thoughts to you re privacy and the garden for toddler DS. The developers have gone ahead but a few other neighbours agreed with us so the development is not as big as they hoped. They have scoped the back of the build so that if we and the other neighbours change our minds they can add our plots to the development. DH says it's our retirement pot . Personally I'd reject the offer if planning has been granted it's likely it will be in the future so if you change your minds you can look at selling a plot in the future or marketing your property "with potential". Look at the reasons why you purchased the property someone else is likely to think along similar lines. Would you have purchased the house with the build in the back garden? If not then I'd say it's a no.

Keep the garden, plant trees along the border to ensure privacy so you won't be overlooked.

i wouldnt have bought the place with planning trying to get through

maybe cutr your losses although it will already be devalued if the permission is granted who is going to buy your house now with all that going on

Thank you for more views. We are strongly leaning towards not selling but I wanted to consider other views.

My mum is of the opinion that we should take it and be mortgage free sooner. She doesn’t think we will be able to maintain a big garden. But she’s planning her retirement and I think wishing she was mortgage free…

We don’t need the money. We’ve budgeted for this house when we bought it. We are likely to get promotions in the next few years and my older child is due free hours at nursery soon so that will help too.

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.

I think we still would have bought the house as the location is perfect for us.

30ft is a really small garden and the reduction in your house value would not only be the tiny garden but also the overlooking. People move to the country for space. I wouldn't do it - either for yourselves or for the resale value/ease of resale of your house. I wouldn't buy a family home with a garden that small in the city, let alone in the country.

Tell them you want 200k or no deal.

If they yes, either pay it off your mortgage or move.

If they say no, decision made!

@BewareTheBeardedDragon

30ft is a really small garden and the reduction in your house value would not only be the tiny garden but also the overlooking. People move to the country for space. I wouldn't do it - either for yourselves or for the resale value/ease of resale of your house. I wouldn't buy a family home with a garden that small in the city, let alone in the country.

I agree. I have a 30ft garden in the city and it’s too small and I wish it were bigger but that’s not possible in my budget.

I know I said it before, op, but don’t underestimate how disruptive building works next to you will be.

@Emelene

We bought our house for £335k. It’s a terrace. The houses they are building are detached (although very tiny gardens) so aiming to market around £450k each.

The remaining garden would be about 30 foot. Currently that area is mostly patio. So we would be left with patio, a small strip of grass and a shed.
Their plans are then a fence and “landscaping” (although I think a hedge will take years to get thick?), a driveway and the house. So there would be windows facing our back garden, including where we eat in the conservatory.

It will still be disruptive having building work but the closest would be 30ft down our neighbours garden. We would still have our garden and its view - a bit different to it being in our garden.

A 30ft garden is only around 9 metres. I had a garden (really no more than a back yard) that was around 9 metres and it was not big enough for children to really play and was actually the reason that previous owners sold.

Have you had independent valuations done with and without the garden? It strikes me that they are actually paying very little for the land given that you will be devaluing your own property and possibly making it harder to sell in the future by limiting your future buyers

The developers will be getting a good deal for £100K. Tell them £300K and see what they say! As for them pressuring you, don’t be rushed.

From your last update I think it would make you popular with the rest of the village if you refused to sell! Money isn’t everything. Quality of life is more important. Say no!

I wouldn’t sell. You might want to extend your property in the future and that garden gives you the option. If you halve the garden then you loose that ability.

It would be interesting to know if they're offering your NDNs the same amount...

The alternative would be they can have your house and garden and swap if for one of the new houses...

There’s no way in earth I’d do this. A hundred foot is not a big area and you’d be nose to nose with another house, and you’d loose at least thay off the value of your house, you’d loose your garden devalue your house and loose your privacy, it’s a ridiculous idea.

Garden is easy to maintain. Don’t listen to your mum.

I’d ask for the price of your house. Don’t accept any lower. They are joking with 100k. So cheap. They think you are totally green.

Also, get a different agent to the one who sold you the house to come around and value it as it is now and how it will be, so smaller garden and loss of privacy.

Keep the garden. You Will decrease the value of your home if you sell it. The trees, birds and insects need somewhere to live too. Too much is being turned to concrete by greedy developers.

I also think the rest of the village will grateful if you don't sell. You'll have their respect, which is something else to consider if you plan to stay.

I wouldn't. A 30m garden is quite generous but isn't huge enough to be losing all but 12m to a plot/home thy will change privacy and light.

I'd mark out the area you'd lose and see just how big it really is.

you'll have all he disadvantages without reaping the rewards for an extra 50ft of garden - its not going to be the home you purchased anyway so id take the money and pay straight of the mortgage.

by having a smaller mortgage you'll be able to continue paying the same rate and reduce quicker. alternatively you can reduce your payments and enjoy the monthly surplus - give more value to your lives in other ways

It might knock a lot of value off your house, so you might only really gain about 50k or less, and you lose your garden.
It would be a no from me.

You need to think of a figure where it would be financially worth while. You mention £200 k for a step up. Go back to then with that price. They’ll accept, or not.