To buy a dream house with a crazy neighbour next door?

[Friedeggs9876]

Would you buy the house of your dreams if there was an ongoing issue with the neighbour? The house is in the cotswolds, lovely garden in a beautiful area with great community, schools and shops. The only issue is that the house apparently has a neighbour that has harassed the owners in the past, instances like putting up notices around their property boundary about “around the clock 24hr surveillance” and “trespassers will be prosecuted” I’ve heard the neighbour also seems to think the owners are Russian spies and working with Putin. Would this be enough to put you off buying an otherwise lovely home?

I wouldn’t risk having to live next to that for years and years.

It would be insane to buy this with an ongoing neighbour issue; also would make it impossible to sell as you’ll have to disclose the issue to future buyers and will put most sensible people off….

Absolutely not- I’ve got a nightmare next door neighbour and it’s honestly horrible

Not in a million years,there will be other lovely houses out there.

I think I could cope with that kind of crazy. Id struggle more with loud music/cannabis/sweary type neighbours. But you really have to decide for yourself

Of course I wouldn’t buy it

I have a horrible nightmare next door neighbour and I would not wish it upon anyone. Please reconsider would be my advice no house is worth a horrible neighbour

Depends

I mean the harassment you mention sounds like very small fry compared to the harassment we put up with from our ex neighbours!

Feeling safe is the most important thing about a home. Do not compromise on this.

So true

That sounds like someone with an excessive desire for privacy, rather than active harassment?
If that’s the extent of it, it doesn’t sound the worst kind of crazy.

Our neighbours are a fucking nightmare. I wouldn’t have it again even if I was paid to move to my favourite house.

I am another one with a horrible neighbour... to the point that everyone on the lane avoids him and, locally and through his workplace, his reputation precedes him.

The neighbours feel sorry for me having to live next door to him, and advised me to move to a house further up the lane! It's the kind of situation where I try to avoid being outside at all when he's about and other neighbours blank him, turn their backs on him and he is the only one who doesn't get invited to the annual summer BBQ... so yes, echoing a PP, feeling safe at home should not be compromised (even for the nicest house in the world).

Who told you about the neighbour

From what you described, I think I could deal with that. If she was in your garden and banging on walls, drugs etc then no.

But I would maybe put up a taller fence etc for privacy and ignore. But as a renter I have moved a lot and had all sorts of neighbours!

If they’re just a slightly bonkers hermit who don’t want people on their property I could cope with that. If they are likely to be doing stuff which impacts on me/harasses me then no wouldn’t touch the house.

Though i suppose there’s always the risk that the craziness escalates.

There has also been a few episodes with police involvement where community officers have had to visit the neighbour. Apparently the neighbour can sometimes scream at the owners accusing them of endangering their life and that the owners are trying to cause them harm.

I have just been having a conversation with someone today about how horrible neighbours can ruin your enjoyment of a property no matter how much you love it. Don't do it. He does sadly sound unwell which is a massive risk in itself.

No way would I move there. There are other houses without any crazies nearby! Plus... it could get worse. Years ago we had a really strange neighbour but he got much worse and it was pretty horrible in the end as I was scared about meeting him outside our house.

No way! I'd pick a less nice house with
Lovely neighbours any day.

Categorically not.

Erm no
If this is true no I wouldn't

How do you know about the neighbours?

Clearly the people who know best ( the current occupiers) are voting with their feet.

The price would have to be really low to put up with that crap .

Horrible neighbours are awful BUT I'd make sure that it's that neighbour that's the problem. One of our neighbours harassed us for months and then called the police on us. We'd done nothing (apparently she told the police all the weird stuff she'd done so they actually came round to check we were ok and let us know what she'd done) so just be sure who the problem is first! (Russian spy sounds like something our mad neighbour might come up with 😂I promise we're not) Could you try and engage with the neighbour?