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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

193 replies

Friedeggs9876 · 13/05/2025 19:51

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?

OP posts:
Channellingsophistication · 13/05/2025 21:33

No way would I buy a house if I knew the neighbours were a nightmare.

Years ago I had a cottage with a neighbour who reported me to the council because he said smoke was coming into his house from my fire. Only I'd never used the open fire as I had a small baby at the time. When I sold the house, said neighbour spoke to the surveyor told him the chimney was in disrepair (it wasnt). I'm glad I got away from him.

My neighbours now are wonderful.

Wilfrida1 · 13/05/2025 21:35

I take it you have never read Mumsnet before ……

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 13/05/2025 21:39

Would the price reflect the hassle? How old is crazy neighbour? Do they own or rent?

Silvers11 · 13/05/2025 21:41

Friedeggs9876 · 13/05/2025 19:51

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?

So @Friedeggs9876 Who told you this? If I were you I would speak to neighbours round about this neighbour and see what their take is. You could also knock on the 'crazy' neighbour's door and ask what people in the area are like? That ought to tell you whether what you have been told is correct or not.

If it's only the seller's who told you this, maybe one at least of them doesn't want to move and are you telling you this story to put you off?

SockFluffInTheBath · 13/05/2025 21:42

Friedeggs9876 · 13/05/2025 20:09

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.

Do you think the current owners caused or enticed this behaviour? If not, why would you think it will be different for you living there?

ShodAndShadySenators · 13/05/2025 21:42

I wouldn't. You can't help it if awful people move into your neighbour's house after you've moved in. These things happen. But why go looking for trouble and buying a property next door to someone problematic? To quote Airplane 2, "They bought their tickets. They knew what they was getting into..."

Don't go looking for trouble before trouble looks for you. It's never going to be worth it.

johnd2 · 13/05/2025 21:50

Can't believe you are even considering it, is it really cheap or something?

Gwenhwyfar · 13/05/2025 21:52

Annascaul · 13/05/2025 20:03

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.

No, someone who accuses his neighbours of being Russian spies has a mental illness that is not being treated properly. I would be very wary.

Abitofalark · 13/05/2025 21:52

If there is such a nightmare person next door, that is probably the reason the seller is moving. What you've heard is not a good sign.

But for all you know, the seller might be the nightmare neighbour. There may have been some kind of behaviour that led to a falling out and a feud. After all, often a party to a dispute will describe the opposing party as crazy, mental etc and may report them to the police, making up things out of malice or wanting to get their retaliation in first.

You would need to make enquiries as to what official reports have been made to the council and the police to get a fuller picture of what has been going on. So far you have only one side of the story.

fudgesmummy · 13/05/2025 21:53

I would be running for the hills!
We lived for years with completely bat shit crazy neighbours and it was hell

lifeonmars100 · 13/05/2025 21:53

I have horrendous neighbours and can't afford to move, it affects me on a daily basis. I never realised just how badly horrible neighbours can affect your life until I experienced it myself.

XelaM · 13/05/2025 21:55

He sounds mentally ill. This could escalate. Neighbour disputes have led to murder in the past 😱

AthWat · 13/05/2025 21:57

ImaginedCorners · 13/05/2025 20:32

Well, surely if the police have had to come out multiple times to deal with the neighbour believing the people next door have threatened his or her life, it doesn’t much matter whether the motivation is malice or MH problems , does it?

Show quote history

It's a damn sight better than the police having to be called because the neighbour has threatened your life. Especially if the neighbour isn't some old person with mental issues but, you know, a genuine thug in and out of prison with nothing much to lose. I'm not saying either is good, but the latter is much worse.

Loloj · 13/05/2025 22:03

Friedeggs9876 · 13/05/2025 20:09

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.

Absolutely no way would I be buying the property knowing this information.

I feel sorry for the owners as they will really struggle to sell having to divulge this information about their neighbour.

PyongyangKipperbang · 13/05/2025 22:03

ok going to get roasted for this but how old is the neighbour?

80's? I would buy it.

40's? Nope.

maddiemookins16mum · 13/05/2025 22:05

Bet you he’s over 75.

CrookedNeighbours · 13/05/2025 22:06

PyongyangKipperbang · 13/05/2025 22:03

ok going to get roasted for this but how old is the neighbour?

80's? I would buy it.

40's? Nope.

Well Pyong

Ill be the first
Our neighbours who have made our lives hell for the last 5 years are in their 40s

Today he was out their with industrial weed killer strapped in a can on his back killing our plants

IveGotAnUnusuallyLargePelvisISwear · 13/05/2025 22:09

I absolutely wouldn’t move somewhere if I knew the neighbour is a nightmare. My
friend lives next to an absolute monster of a now elderly woman who has harassed her and her family for decades and will probably outlive even Cher. Friend has no chance of moving as her house is basically unsellable until someone breaks whatever witches curse that is keeping the neighbour still going strong and being fucking terrible.

teawamutu · 13/05/2025 22:10

Dear god, no.

ManchesterGirl2 · 13/05/2025 22:13

I wouldn't do it. Home needs to be a sanctuary, not a place of stressful unpredictable people.

Mardychum · 13/05/2025 22:38

Of course, bad neighbours can make even the most beautiful house a hell.

OnlyTheBravest · 13/05/2025 22:40

Nope. Having your sanctuary disrupted by a neighbour is awful. If there is already drama with the neighbour it will only get worse.

TubeScreamer · 13/05/2025 22:41

No

we had a crazy neighbour at one point and it made life utterly miserable. We moved in the end, selling at an huge loss, and the relief was incredible.

purpleme12 · 13/05/2025 22:43

Did you lie and say there were no neighbour problems?

okydokethen · 13/05/2025 22:44

Omg don’t do it, no way!