Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would this put you off buying a house? (And what can I do about it)

328 replies

Cucucachu · 07/01/2024 19:09

We are trying to sell our house. I think it has a lot going for it, we’ve worked really hard on it and it’s marketed as “immaculately presented”. There’s new extension, new boiler, new bathroom, new kitchen, in a desirable location. End of terrace.

Our neighbour is nice enough but smokes weed pretty constantly. Its stinks. He smokes mostly on his terrace behind so if any of the back windows are open, or being in the garden/on the street you can smell it a lot of the time.

if you came to a viewing and the neighbour was obviously smoking weed would it put you off in this case?

and WIBU for us to give him a heads up about when viewings are , maybe ask if he would mind not smoking it outside during that time?

he is generally very nice and we have no issues apart from this - I don’t want to piss him off by insinuating he stinks and might hold us back selling our house

OP posts:
Tolkienista · 07/01/2024 20:38

Buying a house is the biggest purchase you'll ever make, so for me it would definitely be a no.
I'm sure he's a regular bloke, but the smell is so distinctive and pungent it would honestly ruin my life.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 07/01/2024 20:39

On second thoughts I don't think he sounds as nice as you make out. Why on earth is he smoking it on the terrace and polluting his neighbours' air with it? Why isn't he smoking inside his own house and not bothering others? Up to him if he wants to do it, but it's absolutely not right that he impacts the quality of others' air.

whycaninotsayno · 07/01/2024 20:39

It would 100% put me off

zeroherozero · 07/01/2024 20:40

I don't know. I mean, if the neighbour only started 3 years ago then it goes to show that you could move in anywhere, and habits can start.

It wouldn't put me off per se, I don't mind weed, but I wouldn't want it as a constant.

Honestly, if I was you, I would have a direct conversation with your neighbour. Explain that you are concerned his weed habit will be offputting to new neighbours. I think it's quite possible to have these conversations and remind me that you are in an urban space and actions affect others without it becoming nasty or confrontational. If he's nice, he might get it

Pollyannamex · 07/01/2024 20:41

it would 100% put me off

CurlyhairedAssassin · 07/01/2024 20:41

And also, if he was that nice, what makes you think asking him to smoke inside would piss him off, and what exactly would that mean for you?

Friendofdennis · 07/01/2024 20:42

I wouldn’t want to live there sorry

ImCamembertTheBigCheese · 07/01/2024 20:43

and WIBU for us to give him a heads up about when viewings are , maybe ask if he would mind not smoking it outside during that time?

Yes you would. Awful behaviour.

ballsdeep · 07/01/2024 20:43

It would me off. My neighbour used to smoke it and I had to close all the windows and get my washing in!

Original poster
Cucucachu · 07/01/2024 20:45

GreenClock · 07/01/2024 20:31

He’s an author/lecturer. He’s not dealing. But I suppose passers-by wouldn’t know that without sight of his bank statement and work contract, and they may be unwilling to take the risk that he’s some scumbag rather than a middle class professional who thinks it is right-on to smoke weed but causes no bother otherwise.

Is it an area with an artsy/academic/young professionals vibe, where old Coronation Street houses now cost 10x average annual salary? If so, the potential buyers may not mind a bit of weed smell but would be put off by something they deem “chavvy”

We are looking at £600-£650k for an end of terrace in this area on average. Not sure it’s particularly “artsy”

my worry was more will they think “we’re not going to spend that on a house with that smell next door, we can take our money elsewhere”

I used to see weed as chavvy tbh but I also though the same for adidas and now I see that on all sorts 😂 so who knows these days

OP posts:
Original poster
Cucucachu · 07/01/2024 20:48

I have now asked my much cooler, much younger sister about this. Her answer? “Buy him some edibles”

and people have no faith in Gen Z

OP posts:
RawBloomers · 07/01/2024 20:49

I would be put off now and would not buy. But in my twenties, with no kids, it wouldn’t have been a deal breaker at all. Might even have been a positive in the environment you describe.

Do you think it will be families looking or young professionals?

If you want to try asking him to refrain during viewings consider whether he’s the type to be a bit ornery if he’s offended by being asked. If there’s a risk he would be ostentatious about it instead, that would likely to also put off those who would otherwise have been fine with it.

QueenOfMOHO · 07/01/2024 20:49

Tell him you've sold to a Police Officer.

ElevenSeven · 07/01/2024 20:50

if you came to a viewing and the neighbour was obviously smoking weed would it put you off in this case?

Erm, hard yes. I’d make excuses to end the viewing asap, tbh,

Windwaysway · 07/01/2024 20:50

LutonBeds · 07/01/2024 19:11

Yes I’m afraid it would put me off. Can’t stand the smell and it would get in my house and on clothes etc. For me it would make no difference if you asked him not to smoke it when you had viewings; I’d walk past at other times to see what the street was like at different times.

This - most people will walk past at night, different times if the day before completion!

Ladolcevita233 · 07/01/2024 20:54

Tempted to burn their house down but suppose I mustn't

Lol

Cosyblankets · 07/01/2024 20:55

Deal breaker for me.
I couldn't care less what he does for a job.
I don't care if he's not a dealer.
It stinks

Upwiththelark76 · 07/01/2024 20:56

I’d be more put off by a hot tub in the NDN garden to be honest .

Ladolcevita233 · 07/01/2024 20:57

Cucucachu · 07/01/2024 20:48

I have now asked my much cooler, much younger sister about this. Her answer? “Buy him some edibles”

and people have no faith in Gen Z

Lol.

But don't smokers get something out of dragging on a cigarette/joint - as much as just the nicotine and weed hit.

Related to that .. he's presumably mixing it with tobacco so he'd need a nicotine replacement too.

Ladolcevita233 · 07/01/2024 20:58

QueenOfMOHO · 07/01/2024 20:49

Tell him you've sold to a Police Officer.

Smart

zeddip · 07/01/2024 21:03

100% would put me off, I can't stand the smell it makes me nauseous 🤢

Parentofeanda · 07/01/2024 21:03

I would never purchase. Hate the smell of weed

FurballFrenzy · 07/01/2024 21:03

Neighbours in our semi used to smoke the occasional joint. We had an open house day, I asked them if they would mind not smoking that day and they kindly obliged. We sold with no issue. They were lovely neighbours, nice people and never any bother.

TedMullins · 07/01/2024 21:04

Wouldn’t bother me! I prefer a weed smell to fag smoke and occasionally partake myself (although I prefer edibles). I’d likely want to make friends with the neighbour he sounds exactly my type of person 😂

ALonelyRoad · 07/01/2024 21:08

Yes, I'd 100% discount a house where weed could be smelt throughout the day.

I also think it's quite dishonest of you to ask him to stop for the viewings simply so you can pretend it's not a problem and close on a sale. i would be really cross to find out after buying a house that it's a problem. Plus, most people ask if there are any issues with neighbours and this is absolutely something you'd need to mention if they did.