To not buy this house?

[phiaaihp]

My husband wants a new build, I’ve compromised as I don’t.

The one we viewed today the end of the garden is the side of the neighbours house (no fence, the house wall is the boundary) with windows that look directly on to said garden. They are frosted but I find it weird.

Husband said I’m making excuses as it ticks the rest of the boxes and I just don’t want a new build.

I wouldn't like that either, I'd want to keep looking.

Presumably you’re going to be living in the house too, so you should get a say in it.

Of course compromise may be necessary, but if something leaps out at either of you as a big no, then the answer should be no.

what does he specifically like about new builds? Is it the tiny rooms, small plots or the fact they’re overpriced?

That would be a no from me.

Not necessarily the overlooked part, but the fact it's a new build and a boundary line being another property - potentially full of drama/issues.

Don't forget the mandated 'maintenance' fees, what a joy they are.

He likes the community of the estates, that we’d have an en-suite for most of the bedrooms, that the location we’re looking at is great for commuting, that it’s a fresh canvas.

Give me an old house any day 🥺

Should have included in my OP.

Oh god no.

neighbours could stare out at your garden all the time. Just no. And what about flooding/drainage, will you be limited putting plants in or a shed?

With the position of their windows does that mean there are rules about what can or can't be grown in that garden? Like trees or sheds up against that boundary.

Yikes, no. I wonder if you'll have restrictive covenants on the deeds relating to access too.

Keep looking!

No I really wouldn’t like that either!

Oh no that's awful

I wouldn’t rule out a new build, but I would rule out that new build.

Ah yes the en suites which mean no space in the bedrooms for any wardrobes 🤣
And then the maintenance fees as the roads aren’t adopted…
Discovering the gardens floods. Pipes aren't joined up properly. Peoples windows in the garden 😁

Seriously don’t do it. Every tradesmen we’ve had in recent years has so many stories to tell. Plenty who refuse to work on them as don’t want their name being associated.

Omg that’s even worse than I imagined!

Point out if you live there then you will ever be able to have sex in the garden! 😉

Never!

Oh no, fuck that OP, you can quote me on that to your husband 😂. Not just the windows, which are just ridiculous, but you could get neighbours who are very protective of their wall and always on at you to not put anything near it and want to have access to check on their brickwork. That’s the sort of setup you might see on a Victorian property that was originally used differently, new builds shouldn’t have design issues like that.

That boggy clay soil is near enough covering the DPC of the house.

I think having the neighbours' garden right up to your wall sounds horrific. Depending on what they did they could cause you major damp issues.

How would they cause me major damp issues?

That looks like a prison yard! Fuck me

That's absolutely terrible! I can't believe that was even allowed to be built. So on a summer's day, when you're in your garden, they'll have their windows open looking right at you. You might as well live with them. I bet you wouldn't be allowed to put a fence or grow trees along their wall either.

Definitely no.

you could get neighbours who are very protective of their wall and always on at you to not put anything near it and want to have access to check on their brickwork.

Honestly that would be me.
And it's bad enough when the neighbours' kids boot a ball off your shared fence for hours - imagine if the fence wasn't there and it was just right on your actual wall?!

God no. They might be frosted now but what if they got them replaced with clear? Nonono