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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to pull out of house sale due to neighbour?

151 replies

Lalarara10 · 31/03/2026 15:39

AIBU to pull out of house purchase due to odd neighbour?

Ran into him once when viewing the property - he seemed a bit odd and made some funny comments but I felt he was harmless. House looks pretty run down (adjoining walls). A few other times when I drove by I saw him just hanging around outside the houses with his 3 dogs.

A second time I went back there was a funny smell coming from the house next door and some odd rubbish outside.

Today my parents went to take some pictures of the house for me and he came out of his house and accosted them. They couldn't get away for 20 minutes. He was saying racist things, he apparently stank, had stains and dribble all down his tshirt and seemed not with it. He was talking about us applying for joint planning permission together (??!!), talked about calling the police on another neighbour and seemed obsessed with the whole sale/time on the market of the house.

It might not sound like much but it has been enough for me to decide to pull out...I don't want to live looking out the window to check he's not out there before getting my kids into the car or rushing to get my keys out to get in the house quickly. He doesn't seem to have boundaries and I can imagine him poking his head over our fence all summer long. The fact we would share walls concerns me and we don't want to complicate our planning and were planning on fast tracking it as soon as possible. However, there is a part of me that is worried we're making a mistake pulling out?! Not sure what to do?!

OP posts:
Amkal · 31/03/2026 16:28

Definitely pull out.

ButterBastardBeans · 31/03/2026 16:30

Nope out. So many things you can change about a new house but not that.

TheBeaTgoeson1 · 31/03/2026 16:31

Yea, pull out.

MrsMop2026 · 31/03/2026 16:32

Pull out now, i bet the owners are trying to get away from him.

Onegiantpupil · 31/03/2026 16:33

OP have you ever heard the emergency warning for pilots with the little alarm saying Pull Up? Replace up with out and don’t give it a second thought and be thankful that you’ve encountered this neighbour now rather than move in day!

clover888 · 31/03/2026 16:38

run! you had a lucky escape unless he’s moving away soon

mindutopia · 31/03/2026 16:47

Bet that’s why they’re selling.

hididdlyho · 31/03/2026 16:52

I would, there's nothing worse than a nosey neighbour, except for one who's also barking mad (which it sounds like he is)!

crossedlines · 31/03/2026 16:53

I’m surprised you need to ask. Run for the hills!

Zoec1975 · 31/03/2026 16:53

Lalarara10 · 31/03/2026 15:39

AIBU to pull out of house purchase due to odd neighbour?

Ran into him once when viewing the property - he seemed a bit odd and made some funny comments but I felt he was harmless. House looks pretty run down (adjoining walls). A few other times when I drove by I saw him just hanging around outside the houses with his 3 dogs.

A second time I went back there was a funny smell coming from the house next door and some odd rubbish outside.

Today my parents went to take some pictures of the house for me and he came out of his house and accosted them. They couldn't get away for 20 minutes. He was saying racist things, he apparently stank, had stains and dribble all down his tshirt and seemed not with it. He was talking about us applying for joint planning permission together (??!!), talked about calling the police on another neighbour and seemed obsessed with the whole sale/time on the market of the house.

It might not sound like much but it has been enough for me to decide to pull out...I don't want to live looking out the window to check he's not out there before getting my kids into the car or rushing to get my keys out to get in the house quickly. He doesn't seem to have boundaries and I can imagine him poking his head over our fence all summer long. The fact we would share walls concerns me and we don't want to complicate our planning and were planning on fast tracking it as soon as possible. However, there is a part of me that is worried we're making a mistake pulling out?! Not sure what to do?!

No pull out you will regret it.

tachetastic · 31/03/2026 16:56

Pull out now, unless you want this man as your neighbour for a long time, because you'll never be able to sell it again while he is living there.

nOlives · 31/03/2026 16:56

He is why they are moving. Run away!

Flowerlovinglady · 31/03/2026 17:01

It is better to pull out and regret it than to buy it and regret it. In the former situation you're free to look around, in the latter you're stuck. You're not even living there and the neighbour is giving you clear signs that he's troubled. Please do yourself a favour and pull out even if you have spent money on survey fees.

Shudacudawuda · 31/03/2026 17:03

Yes I would pull put too, no question

Beachtastic · 31/03/2026 17:04

Thank goodness you found out now!

Idrathertalktomycat · 31/03/2026 17:08

Definitely pull out.
There is nothing worse than difficult neighbours.
You should feel comfortable in your own home without being harassed by people you can't escape from.
I imagine that's why the tenants are moving.

BoogieTownTop · 31/03/2026 17:08

Run like the wind!!

BoogieTownTop · 31/03/2026 17:10

Who are the 1% that have voted YABU? They must’ve selected the wrong option !

PrincessofWells · 31/03/2026 17:10

3 dogs - yes pulling out is sensible.

LizzieSiddal · 31/03/2026 17:10

Not a chance in hell I’d spend hundreds of thousands of pounds to live next door to someone who behaves like that.

SunnyRedSnail · 31/03/2026 17:15

@Lalarara10 is he likely to pop his clogs any time soon?

It wouldn't entirely put me off, but I would certainly ask some questions and negotiate a discount.

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 31/03/2026 17:18

You'd be mad NOT to pull out, unless maybe he is very, very old and you're willing to bide your time and wait it out.

I'm almost wondering if your sellers might have given him time-restricted vouchers for a restaurant or event or something every time they knew they had a viewing! I do feel very sorry for people whose homes become unsellable through no fault of their own because of neighbours like this; but there's no reason to buy their problem off them and make it into yours.

Zanatdy · 31/03/2026 17:20

I think its sensible to pull out, as its a blooming big purchase to find yourself living next door to the neighbour from hell.

SatsumaDog · 31/03/2026 17:21

YANBU. Pull out immediately.

Chetchy · 31/03/2026 17:23

Well done, not worth the aggro, of which it is likely there would be plenty.