How to deal with problematic neighbours?

[user1471867483]

Our leasehold neighbours have lived in the property next door for 9 years. They have always been a noise nuisance, ignored us when we're out and about - not even saying hello when we say hello to them and generally not very nice. They have carried out building works without planning permission or our permission as we own the freehold. They caused damage to our kitchen wall with damp. I have waited a year for them to repair this and after chasing them, they still haven't fixed it by blaming baby sitter issues for example. Now they're selling up and now suddenly they want to repair our wall! I waited and waited for them to get back to me in the summer about this, but they never did. They wanted me to give up my Saturday (this weekend just gone) to discuss whatever they want to discuss as their text mentioned something about solicitor questions. Today, they knocked on our door no doubt wanting to know why I didn't answer their text, but I am not allowing them to dictate to me. How is best to handle this? So far I haven't answered their text just like they've blanked my texts in the past.
TIA.

If they're such a nightmare, I would grit your teeth and give them what they need to enable the sale to go through as quickly as possible. Being obstructive and/or uncommunicative is cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Focus on the thought they'll be someone else's problem soon.

Does your house insurance cover neighbour /planning disputes? I'd want to hand the whole mess over to a solicitor to deal with. They have created a neighbour dispute surely? Can they sell with so many unfinished issues?
My previous ndn smashed half a wall that was from a listed building.. Would love to know how my landlord sorted that pre sale... Yanbu to keep ignoring them imo.

If you own the freehold, how do they sell the leasehold? (property newbie here)

Also, can you manage/delay/control the sale to include forcing them to sort out the damage to your kitchen wall?

I completely understand that you were busy this Saturday but when would you like to discuss/tell them about repairing your kitchen wall? I think that is the starting point. They are at your convenience now surely.

If you can put the whole thing over to a solicitor - whom they pay! - then do so.

You want them gone, so assist them in going.

You need to find out what they want and your best to get rid of them!

You're playing a game of tit for tat which won't get you the resolution that you need - which is for them to move. So grit your teeth, sit down them to have the conversation and hopefully at some point next year you will have new and nicer neighbours. Not engaging with them now is cutting off your nose to spite your face.

This is good news and sign asap. The reason they are doing this is so they can sell without a dispute on their property record. It is a win for you if you comply as they will be moving out.

Thank you so much guys! I'm just going to make them sweat a little like they've made me 😠

Jeez meet them and get it done! But I don’t understand if you are the freeholder of their property why so didn’t you get involved earlier and refused permission?
Ignoring them will delay the sale - do you want to keep them as neighbours?

I would assist them, with repairing the damp issues.Ask them do they need help with packing? Bad neighbors are awful! I would count myself lucky in this situation, to see the back of them asap!

Huh?

It seems you had lots of advice on the thread 'What next step should I take with my neighbour'
Much of the same advice you've had on this thread... you may dislike them immensely, and want to make them wait, but surely you want rid of them more than you want to make them wait?

So you're happy to risk losing them their sale? Just step back for a moment and think about this with a logical frame of mind rather than an emotional one.

If I was buying their property, and found out that the sale process was stalling because my solicitor's questions weren't being answered by the freeholder of the building who was ALSO a neighbour, I'd see massive red flags and run a mile from the purchase.

They're massively in breach of their lease. They'll have to put in writing now their requests. I've just contacted Citizens Advice who also said to stop responding to their informal texts and their door knocking.

You’ll be sweating a lot more when their sale inevitably falls through because of delays and you can enjoy them as neighbours for the next nine years as well!

I have to go off what CAB advises.

Tbh this isn’t really the sort of thing citizens advice can add much value to. Breach of their lease is something you would need a solicitor dealing in leasehold propert etc to advise.

Um... no you don't.

You can answer each text in writing by copying into a letter in which you respond to it, and post it through their door. That way it's both formal and quick.

I used to volunteer in CAB. Anyone can. It really doesn't require being a rocket scientist. Edit - therefore, I absolutely would not take their advice as the best. We would Google most things to find answers. So - use your common sense here OP.

Your behaviour feels incredibly immature and self sabotaging. You want them gone? So play whatever game you must to help that happen quickly, surely.

To gain the sense of control you desperately need - you can text and say hi, I am available on Thursday at 5 pm to discuss. Please call then. '

You are in control and you are making sure you support things moving fast so you aren't sticking with these people. Unless you enjoy the conflict on some level?