To withdraw offer on house because of crazy neighbour?

[inapropertyquandry]

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!

I’d run a mile, no question

Op is indeed lucky

You were right to run a mile from this.

Those people are unhinged, criminal and liars to boot. Scum. Only misery can come from being near them. I hope they get prosecuted and that the vendor sues them.

I would withdraw. You will be stuck with the neighbour and might have your new home back on the market before you have even built it.

If I were you I'd post a note saying that you know it was them, police will be in touch and you've pulled out of the sale as you in no way wish to live next to such unhinged neighbours. Also that they're the talk of the town, caught on video and everything. They need to know they've been caught and are being discussed, to hopefully save whoever does buy it from their mental behaviour.

He waited for the last owners to move out before cutting down imposing trees. Hardly unreasonable I bet there were no disputes with the old owners so he knows how to play nice. Also good on him for owning a chainsaw hardly needs a visit from police over trees on an empty property

Do you mean he waited until the owner died before trespassing and causing criminal damage to their property?

Wise to withdraw, OP. He sounds like the sort who'd go on to poison your pets for being in their own garden.

You don't ask (although obviously you could ask the vendor when you do viewings) , it's part of the 10 zillion standard queries solicitors work through as part of the house sale- so after an offer has been accepted.

@spookehtooth don't worry - your solicitor will ask the sellers' solicitor about disputes, which they should honestly answer. At that stage I had no concerns. Then bam! Our sellers (who lived up north because they'd merely inherited the property) heard through a neighbour what had happened. They honestly reported the incident to their solicitor, which is how it got to us, along with the police because the action was so severe. I thank good ness they did. Had they not, and had I bought and had problems myself with the vandalising neighbours, I could have sued the sellers.
@Hmm1234 I'm astonished that you think that sort of behavior is ok. You're the sort of neighbour I'd try to avoid too!

I think you should re consider. If the hedge and tree were going anyway then why worry?

Yes you will always give these neighbours a wide berth but if they don't seem anti social in other ways you could be denying yourself a dream plot based on their moment of madness.

At least the other neighbours seem good?

Yes I'd pull out.

I can understand them wanting a tree down and thinking its semi reasonable to sort this before the new neighbours arrive. I wouldn't have pulled out of the sale because of it.

Yep the perpensity for criminal damage and the use of chemical poisons are great traits in a NDN. If he owned a bulldozer he would have been totally within his rights to have gotten a great view over a flattened site.🤪

I speak from experience having gone ahead with the purchase : pull out!

I would definitely withdraw from the sale too. I would always be worried about pets if they strayed into chainsaw neighbours' garden. They've used poison on the garden, caused criminal damage and lied about it, would they stop at harming animals? ☹️

It sounds risky to me. Problems with neighbours can make a person's life a misery. I think I would pull out.