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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:
TheHateIsNotGood · 15/10/2023 17:13

I wouldn't pull out, but reduce your offer accordingly.

It is very possible to be driven to insanity by overgrown light-blocking hedges and trees, I've been close myself to being a chainsaw-wielding madwoman myself - normal channels don't always work as they should.

You've aleady considered the affected 'area' misplaced and planned to replanting elsewhere, so also consider that the 'madman' has saved you the job.

Remember to thank him when you go round to introduce yourselves after you've moved in.

daytriptovulcan · 15/10/2023 17:15

I d give it a miss. You re kind of lucky this happened before exchange of contracts.

Tessabelle74 · 15/10/2023 17:16

You wouldn't see me for dust! Pull out!

nibblessquibbles · 15/10/2023 17:16

I think a nightmare neighbour on one issue is going to be a nightmare on many issues. Sorry

MsRosley · 15/10/2023 17:16

Whaleandsnail6 · 15/10/2023 16:33

I'd run a mile. Unfortunately no matter how perfect the house is, nightmare neighbours can make it hell and I wouldnt want to take the risk.

As someone who's had more than their fair share of nightmare neighbours, I have to agree. It's just not worth it.

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 15/10/2023 17:18

I can’t believe that you even needed to ask the question OP! Follow your instincts…

LakieLady · 15/10/2023 17:22

I'd pull out.

My SIL and her husband bought a wreck of a bungalow with a view to redeveloping it. The neighbour turned out to be a bit of a mad fucker who thought he was entitled to have a say in every damn thing they did to the property.

He cost them a small fortune in planning fees, objected to everything they did, had construction stopped twice (claimed they were building outside the footprint of what was shown on the plans), blocked contractors vans in for a full weekend, even objected to the colour of the surface when they had the drive resurfaced. Then he asked for permission to erect scaffolding on said drive so he could have work done on the flank wall of his house!

It's not worth the aggravation imo, OP.

category12 · 15/10/2023 17:23

I can't imagine a man who takes a chainsaw and weedkiller to his neighbour's property is going to deal well with building work and the disruption that brings.

He's going to hate you from the start. And he's already demonstrated himself totally capable of vandalism.

You'd be daft to go ahead, I think.

stayathomer · 15/10/2023 17:24

Oh god thank goodness you found out!!

EarthSight · 15/10/2023 17:25

Fuck no.

Lots of silly and incredibly selfish people do have trees that totally overshadow other people's gardens. They're often just too cheap to hire someone to maintain them, especially fact growing leylandii. However, what the neighbour did is not acceptable and I would be really put off by it.

Pallisers · 15/10/2023 17:25

Run! the most important thing in a house is its neighbours - bad ones can make your life hell.

Spinnymop · 15/10/2023 17:26

I'd definitely pop round and knock on his door with a fake 'Hi, we're thinking of buying the house next door, what's the neighbourhood like?' excuse just to feel him out. Don't even mention the damage he did.

If he launches into an angry rant about previous neighbours and overhanging trees then you have your answer!

MuchuseasaChocolateTeapot · 15/10/2023 17:34

I wouldn’t pull out without a conversation with him and fully explain what you plan to build and plant. If he is rude or hostile I would absolutely pull out. If he is reasonable and apologetic then put what you plan to do in writing and ask him to sign to say he has full knowledge and no dispute with your plans. Point out to him that the next purchaser could opt for a bigger footprint or two storey extension. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

UsernameFail · 15/10/2023 17:35

It's a tricky one and depends on what you're willing to put up with.

Behind us are two homes. One owned by a cantankerous couple and the other recently ish purchased by a lovely couple.

The lovely couple tried to do some work on the property but due to legislation it turned out easier for them to demolish and rebuild. The rest of the neighbours were supportive of the work but the cantankerous couple made their life hell for a year.

Ultimately the new lovely couple continued on, because they loved their new property and could see this as their dream, but they have nothing to do with the couple next door, and neither do us neighbours.

neilyoungismyhero · 15/10/2023 17:39

MuchuseasaChocolateTeapot · 15/10/2023 17:34

I wouldn’t pull out without a conversation with him and fully explain what you plan to build and plant. If he is rude or hostile I would absolutely pull out. If he is reasonable and apologetic then put what you plan to do in writing and ask him to sign to say he has full knowledge and no dispute with your plans. Point out to him that the next purchaser could opt for a bigger footprint or two storey extension. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Think this is the best course of action too. Can't hurt to speak to him surely if you love the place so much.

Finishingoff · 15/10/2023 17:40

RUN!

DisquietintheRanks · 15/10/2023 17:40

Actually I think I'd take dh and go and talk to him. Find out what his issues actually are. Then decide.

Longdarkcloud · 15/10/2023 17:41

Neighbour disputes are a major trigger for assaults.
His actions were over the top. Any reasonable person taking the law into their own hands would just have pruned the offending plants not taken a chain saw and poison to them. What other retaliatory acts might he have in store for things he dislikes about your property?

On the other hand the disputes could provide endless threads on here!

topnoddy · 15/10/2023 17:45

First instinct is to walk away but it might be worth a chat with guy to see what his version of events are .

So you have applied for planning permission on a house/plot that you do not own yet , have you informed the current owners ?

StormzyinaTCup · 15/10/2023 17:46

Definitely pull out. I'm very much of the opinion that most things happen for a reason and maybe this isn't the right house after all (at least that is the way I would be viewing the situation). A close call.

anon2022anon · 15/10/2023 17:48

I don't think I would pull out over that. To be honest, if the place has been empty for a while, and has had elderly owners before that who probably weren't willing and able to discuss things like hedge height and trees before that, the temptation just to go in and get it over with would be there for me too. I'm not saying I would do it...but the thought would pass my mind. I say that as someone who's neighbours garden is about a foot higher than ours, there's a couple of feet width of hedges and trees on their side, we have to push to get them to maintain, and it's well over the recommended 2m at our side, with some trees they simply can't get to as it's too dense. The owner inherited it, lives away and rents it out, so the problem doesn't bother them until we kick off with the agents every couple of years.

Unfortun8 · 15/10/2023 17:48

Walk away

viques · 15/10/2023 17:54

If he doesn’t like trees and plants I have the feeling he will be less than enchanted with building works. Presumably the view he wanted was towards the trees he attacked, which as you say is where you are planning to build ….

ActDottie · 15/10/2023 17:55

100% pull out bad neighbours are a nightmare

Dentistlakes · 15/10/2023 17:57

Pull out asap. There are other houses.

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