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AIBU?

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Original poster

To withdraw offer on house because of crazy neighbour?

193 replies

inapropertyquandry · 15/10/2023 16:31

Perfect position - amazing views.
Knock down and rebuild project.
All Proceeding beautifully until last week when we learn one of the neighbours had had a visit from the police because he was caught armed with chainsaw and weed killer on the property cutting down a tree and killing a hedge. Our solicitors informed us because the buyers' solicitor had contacted him.
Seems the neighbour (whose property overlooks the one we want to buy) felt the trees and hedge were obscuring his view. So he took the path of trespass and criminal damage by chopping down a tree and pouring weed killer over extensive areas of the garden.
Now clearly a visit from the police may put him back in his box. Bit would you buy this property now? We are seriously out off given we'd have to Apply for planning permission and he overlooks us. I don't mind being overlooked by a decent person. But that's crazy behavior isn't it?
Just want a sense check on all this!

OP posts:
porridgecake · 15/10/2023 16:45

Run.

honestlyseriously · 15/10/2023 16:46

He might just be misguided. If the property is empty due to probate it may have overgrown over a long period. I would bever do something like that but itd not necessarily done with malice. Go and see him and get a sense first hand.

ToadOnTheHill · 15/10/2023 16:48

Depends. I'd probably pull out but if you are planning on building there and adding value I'd consider proceeding and taking the view that if he causes a problem I wouldnt report and I'd just sell on (if you solicitor confirms you only have to declare him being a nutter to you, not the owners before you.)

Catopia · 15/10/2023 16:49

I would run I'm afraid. I suspect he was the reason they wanted to move in the first place, but they weren't in active dispute with him until this incident happened.

BristolBlueGlasses · 15/10/2023 16:49

I came on here to day exactly what @honestlyseriously has said.

He might have been being driven crazy by weeds and overhanging stuff if the house has been empty and owned by people who've not tended it for a long while. I'd knock on his door just to introduce yourself as the potential new owner, mention your plans and then gauge his reaction and make your own judgements based on his behaviour.

Bearcub101 · 15/10/2023 16:50

Run a mile!

Badbadbunny · 15/10/2023 16:51

Pull out, he's going to be a nightmare, especially if you're planning to build an extension which he'll decide is going to ruin his view.

Intelligenthair · 15/10/2023 16:51

Nope, run a mile.

Dedsec2023 · 15/10/2023 16:51

run for the hills @inapropertyquandry im guessing that would be only the start

Dedsec2023 · 15/10/2023 16:52

BristolBlueGlasses · 15/10/2023 16:49

I came on here to day exactly what @honestlyseriously has said.

He might have been being driven crazy by weeds and overhanging stuff if the house has been empty and owned by people who've not tended it for a long while. I'd knock on his door just to introduce yourself as the potential new owner, mention your plans and then gauge his reaction and make your own judgements based on his behaviour.

personally hes already proven his behaviour,

Original poster
inapropertyquandry · 15/10/2023 16:52

@honestlyseriously @BristolBlueGlasses
In fact the garden isn't overgrown. I think the owners have someone coming in to stay on top of it. it's really not an eyesore

OP posts:
Flossflower · 15/10/2023 16:53

But you do realise that most neighbours would oppose any building that would spoil their view.

Dedsec2023 · 15/10/2023 16:56

Flossflower · 15/10/2023 16:53

But you do realise that most neighbours would oppose any building that would spoil their view.

at the same time most would accept it if it was not in their favour, as for this individual it could be a whole new kettle of fish, so to speak

Original poster
inapropertyquandry · 15/10/2023 16:59

For context we'd be planning to use the footprint of the lapidary bungalow and put an extension (single storey) on the side below the level of the trees (which we'd planned to fell), and replant a stand of trees elsewhere on the plot. Onv he didn't know that. But we'd thought about how to make the project work well for everyone. And frankly if he'd wanted to contact the owners he could have done so via the agent

OP posts:
Lambruschinetto · 15/10/2023 17:01

Depends. Is this a semi, will you need party wall etc? Will you need any access from his side for any work? Did you chat to council, is your project objectionable? Also depends how much you like the house, are you up for confrontation? If the project is reasonable and all he can do is grump to council, I wouldn't let it ruin my plans. But again I'd be perfectly ok with making it into a sport, if he does do too. Provided he's not dangerous of course. Camp out the house a bit, are they a weird family, does he look dangerous and a bully type guy? I also would ring the bell for a chat and also ring the neighbour who reported him to chat. In short, you need more information.

ttcat37 · 15/10/2023 17:01

Pull out. Our neighbours on one side are awful and the main reason we want to move. I won’t move to a house with close neighbours or be overlooked again. Can’t wipe our arses without them thinking they’re entitled to a say.

category12 · 15/10/2023 17:03

Totally pull out.

PhoneChargerCable · 15/10/2023 17:04

Definitely don’t buy it. Nothing worse than crazy neighbours and if they continue being crazy you may have difficulty selling in the future.

IMustDoMoreExercise · 15/10/2023 17:06

inapropertyquandry · 15/10/2023 16:41

I don't know his age but think he works so it's t about to die!
I nearly went and knocked on his door to gently ask what's going on. Just to assess how crazy he is. But I chickened out!

I would go and speak to him. It could be that he was just trying his luck when the property was empty.

You have nothing to lose and a perfect plot to gain.

tara66 · 15/10/2023 17:06

No I would not buy it now. It is a terrible strain to live next to someone like that. I hope he has to pay compensation to seller.

FawnDrench · 15/10/2023 17:08

Definitely pull out.
Put your energy into finding somewhere even better and leave behind all the "we were going to's"

DisforDarkChocolate · 15/10/2023 17:09

Hell no. My neighbour is so annoying I wouldn't have bought the house if I'd known and they are nowhere near as bad as that.

Run.

jays · 15/10/2023 17:09

I’d pull out. My life was hell for years in a property because of a crazy neighbour. Never again.

category12 · 15/10/2023 17:10

IMustDoMoreExercise · 15/10/2023 17:06

I would go and speak to him. It could be that he was just trying his luck when the property was empty.

You have nothing to lose and a perfect plot to gain.

Show quote history

A perfect plot that some bloke feels entitled to pour weedkiller over if the mood takes him.

Your neighbours can ruin your peace of mind, don't do it OP.

Crumpleton · 15/10/2023 17:12

Whether empty or not you don't just go onto someone's property and destroy it.
If as you say there's a regular gardener going in I'd have thought that the neighbour would/could have had a word to enquire about the trees had they been over hanging.

You're not entitled to nor own a view so based on his actions I'd maybe think he's that neighbour that does as he pleases whether it's rightly or wrongly.