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Housekeeping

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Would this garden next door put you off buying the house?

160 replies

twiddlingthumbs69 · 22/01/2026 14:52

As you can see it’s completely overgrown. The front garden is a little neater, but not by much.

would this be a deal breaker for you?

house that’s for sale needs work to bring up to date, new bathroom etc but is liveable although only night storage heaters and needs new windows. It’ll obvs need a fair amount of work but the house itself is a good size.

so, if you were viewing and wanted the house how much of an impact would the neighbours garden have on your decision

Would this garden next door put you off buying the house?
OP posts:
singthing · 22/01/2026 19:14

AppropriateAdult · 22/01/2026 19:07

Our neighbours’ back garden looks like this. Their front garden is pristine, and they’re a lovely couple. It wouldn’t put me off.

Some nearby neighbours were similar - their front garden was delightful and beautiful, a wildlife paradise! Their back garden was literally the cheap turf that the builders had laid in the early 2000s and an old wooden pub bench style thing plonked down at a weird angle.

They were a very nice couple with a young son who grew up there, and it was a large 4 bed detached home in a good area. Basically they had the resources and the knowledge, but just... didn't.

Noodles1234 · 22/01/2026 19:15

Yes. You will get all manner of brambles, bind weed and all sorts coming through. The bad garden was our garden before we moved in, we cleared it but all manner went next door and tries to come back to ours. However if you keep it grass at the borders you can just mow over it.

Ved · 22/01/2026 19:18

So many variables. Are they older/elderly? Are they disabled? Do they spend much of the week away (at work maybe) and CBA with bothering with the garden? Maybe they are hippies/earth mother types who like the garden to be 'au naturelle.' Maybe they're just not 'garden' people.

If it helps @twiddlingthumbs69 my next door neighbour - woman on her own with 2 young DC, has a garden that is quite overgrown most of the year. In the front garden the lawn gets mowed about 3-4 times a year, it often grows a foot and a half high, and the 'flower beds' are 90% weed. The back garden is 70% patio, and full of weeds in the cracks, and the smallish lawn she has back there is also often a foot and a half high before it's mowed. She also has overgrown bushes, and overgrown trees... Rarely cuts or trims them.

She is a lovely neighbour. Quiet and considerate, and polite. And her 2 DC are polite and pleasant. The only time we hear her and the 2 DC is when they are on the karaoke machine, maybe 3 times a month in the lounge, and it's for about an hour, and not even that loud. (In fact it's quite cute hearing it, because it's quite funny.) When they have visitors, they go to the kitchen/dining area at the side of the house, and we hear nothing then.

So tl;dr I don't think a messy/overgrown garden really means someone is going to be a horrible neighbour. Anymore than a nice, neat garden means someone will be a good/pleasant neighbour.

That garden doesn't even look that bad to me - although it's hard to tell from that one picture...

A bit surprised about a few people saying it could be a magnet for rats though, because as someone said. it's usually food that attracts rats. I did google it, and an overgrown garden can attract rats (moreso than a neatly kept one) but it won't automatically do so.

And, as I said, our next door neighbour has a garden that's overgrown for much of the year, and we have never even seen a rat around here.

BeeHive909 · 22/01/2026 19:22

Wouldn’t put me off if anything I’d be offering to tidy it for them. You don’t know peoples stories or situations.

Emmz1510 · 22/01/2026 19:23

Not sure. I mean if it was overgrown AND there was rubbish out there, broken toys/furniture, an old hot tub with stagnant water in, that sort of thing, then I’d be bothered. This just looks overgrown. The fence issue needs consideration though.

pouletvous · 22/01/2026 19:24

No! I wouldn’t care

lalalalalala2024 · 22/01/2026 19:26

This looks exactly like my nans house, her next door neighbours gardens look like this and she has had mice keep coming in her house, it’s been a nightmare

PloddingAlong21 · 22/01/2026 19:37

Garden would not be an issue. I have a streak and wooded area at the bottom of mine. All sorts of creatures.

However…is the house terraced or detached? If terraced id be concerned about the state of the adjoining property if they can’t even maintain a garden.

PonkyPonky · 22/01/2026 19:37

My neighbours garden looks like this. It’s not really the end of the world to be honest. It’s a bit of a pain having to keep on top of any encroaching jungle but it truthfully doesn’t take up much of our time. It’s quite the haven for hedgehogs in our neighbours jungle so that’s nice. But yeah it’s horrible to look at.

Climbingrosexx · 22/01/2026 19:39

I would be concerned, looks like it is starting to damage the fence and as others have said it's a great place for vermin to hide out.

Happyjoe · 22/01/2026 19:41

Unless the neighbour was elderly, or poorly, it would put me right off. I live next door to a hell neighbour, late 20's/early 30's and she's utterly selfish, inconsiderate and a nightmare. Her garden is like this but with rubbish in it too.

I would knock on the neighbours around, say hello before buying.

canklesmctacotits · 22/01/2026 19:42

Egglio · 22/01/2026 14:59

It would put me off because it looks like it could be a good place for rats to live.

Exactly this. It would put be off completely.

ACynicalDad · 22/01/2026 19:46

I'd want to know who lives there and if it's an old couple fine. You may even get it cheaper if it puts others off. I'd probably try to buy the back half TBH, or might do it for them as I really like projects like that.

WhatAreYouDoingSundayBaby · 22/01/2026 19:50

sunsetss · 22/01/2026 15:00

I'd be worried about rats and about the house next door starting to deteriorate and become an eye sore as well as the garden. It's happened next door to us, boarded up and rotting windows, guttering falling down. I wouldn't buy it.

Same here. My thoughts would be the house is also neglected and will there end up being squatters etc etc

Plus if the overgrown plants start damaging the fence you will be the only one having to deal with it.

Tcateh · 22/01/2026 19:51

Egglio · 22/01/2026 14:59

It would put me off because it looks like it could be a good place for rats to live.

Yes my first thought

Clearinguptheclutter · 22/01/2026 19:55

It wouldn’t be a show stopper but I’d want to know more about who lived there

we back onto wild land which isn’t kept under control and trying to stop it encroaching on our fences and garden is hard work

Carrotsandgrapes · 22/01/2026 19:55

It would be an absolute no for me. Especially if it's a terrace or semi. I wouldn't want my house to be physically connected to someone who doesn't look after their property to this extent.

Having decent neighbours is such an important part of the enjoyment of your home.

ACommonTreasuryForAll · 22/01/2026 19:56

My DNeighbour's garden looks like this. He's a very sweet, gentle recluse and I always tell him he's the best neighbour we could wish for. He's quiet, doesn't hang out noisily in his garden but loves the wildlife it brings, and let's us into his garden once a year to just clear a maintenance path on his side of the fence, so it doesn't get overrun (he gets really overwhelmed by things like that). If there's visible rubbish in your prospective neighbour's garden, then perhaps think twice, but just a wild space? It wouldn't put me off.

B0D · 22/01/2026 19:59

It’s a wildlife haven, if you don’t mind foxes you’ll be fine

It depends who lives there, but I’d worry about getting used to the peace and quiet then the current situation changing and you get neighbours who actually want to use their garden

FatFoxie · 22/01/2026 20:01

I think the big question is whether the houses are attached. Because if they don't maintain their garden they probably don't maintain their roof or their guttering either - and that may cause you a problem.

FatFoxie · 22/01/2026 20:03

Also, if its in poor condition it's more likely to be sold to a developer or converted to flats in the future

Charlize43 · 22/01/2026 20:03

It looks very Grey Gardens!

It could be fun to throw open a window and shout out, in a high shrill voice, 'Edie, oh Edie!'

It might be worth finding out who lives there first.

Hepzibar · 22/01/2026 20:06

Looks like my NDN and it doesn’t concern me at all. He’s absolutely lovely, no interest in gardening whatsoever. He’s the perfect neighbour. His garden annoys H thought 😂

MrsLizzieDarcy · 22/01/2026 20:07

I'd be very wary. That's just complete neglect - what does the front of their house look like?

rockingroller · 22/01/2026 20:08

Love the garden next door. Wonderful for wildlife too.