Regret buying a stupid house

[Starman2409]

Hi,

About 7 years ago, which now I massively regret, we bought a house. Essentially it's a big 4 bedroom house which is an end terrace.

Running literally about 12 / 15 feet down the side of my garden are 3 terraces which overlook directly in my garden as they are built round the corner / bend of the road.

They can see everything as well as parts of my living room and my bedroom. As well as this they all have a right of way to access to take their bins out directly across my garden. Its ridiculous. I can't go in my garden at all without bedroom windows staring directly at me. Everyone that has lived in the houses has been lovely but I feel so lived on top of! I bought some tall bamboo for a little bit of screening but one of them complained it was shading her garden for a few hours in the morning!

We paid 200,000 for the house and it's probably worthless now.

Any advice on what to do? I considered a quick buy property firm but can imagine that even they wouldn't touch it with a bargepole!

If your account is new, you won't be able to post any pictures. I'd be tempted to put some flower pots with quick growing plants to create a corridor for them to go through to access the bins. Maybe bamboo

What age are your kids? Also, is your garden mostly grass? If you separated the two areas using high fence panels, for instance, with a lower (locked) gate at the end, you could use patio slabs to make a bowling alley or car track in the grass. You could also put up an outdoor chalkboard or mini basketball hoop so it is clear the space is used. Also, wall mounted mud kitchen or something like that. Then you could let the kids play there when you're out in the garden to supervise.

Can you change your glass so you can see out but they can't see in? My MIL has it, it's great

If you decide on the "bin corridor" approach in the meantime (as opposed to just moving), would something like this work in your garden?

You could grow some climbers up it but, while they grow, staple weed matting on the "bin corridor" side for privacy.

My Mrs went round and booted right off when she chopped bamboo down. She was quiet as mouse after that. I actually.told her , you're shouting at a 12 month old baby. Other two are 5 and 7. They now ask "is it ok to play in the garden or will we get shouted at?" I called police but they weren't interested. Can I get her access revoked?

You'd have to ask a lawyer. I don't think a right of access can be revoked, but I think you can report her to the police for harassing your family. You definitely need to section off a passageway if you stay put...this woman should not have access to your young children in their own garden!

Any plants.need to be huge - 15.foot.as her house overlooks ours so much..she's actually selling after the Mrs give her what for

I love the advice on here

You might do better with a privacy screen/shade sail rather than waiting for them to grow.

Thats a nice idea. Spent 450 quid on 13 foot bamboo and she hacked it down to

So the neighbour is selling? Well that helps doesn’t it.

You seem rather dramatic - if you want to move put your house on the market.

Cheers for the advice folks

Doing a quick response to Starman2409, as the opening post really resonates with me. I'm willing to accept that further posts will make me think again.

We have a fairly large house, but it's largely on one level (only one room upstairs). It's semi-detached (probably old coaching inn, divided into two). We're overlooked all around, but it's never been a problem. Because of where our windows are, and our large garden, we felt pretty private. We're in a very built-up area, but it was such a lovely peaceful place. However, several years ago, the school that bordered our largest boundary was closed, and the land sold to developers, and nearly 200 properties are now being built on that playing field. Then, a couple of years ago, our semi-detached neighbour, who also had a large garden, joined up with a developer to buy up a bungalow next to them (now knocked down) and sell off most off their garden. Now our peaceful haven has construction sites on both sides. The majority of our rooms have workmen standing yards away from the windows when I open the curtains (I have started to get dressed before I open the curtains ). This is whilst the construction is going on. God knows how many people will be able to look into our rooms once all the properties are built. Also, the properties on the largest boundary will block out light in our living room, dining room, and some bedrooms, as that boundary is only around nine feet away from that side.

So yes, people can live happily somewhere, and then things change and it's no longer the home they loved living in. Also, I hate the fact that the foxes, squirrels, various birds, and hedgehogs who dwell in our garden are now being affected by all the construction. I accept that people will say we need to build more homes. But this is already a very built-up area and the original planning application which showed a care home, a doctor's surgery and a police station, and affordable homes, now only shows housing.

What is the exact route they need access to? I would be tempted to build a huge concrete wall either side of the route and not an inch longer than you have to to maintain your privacy.

Goodness, you’d hate the house I just easily sold. It’s a ‘new build’ (15 years old). I have houses to both sides, the terrace I’m in & directly behind me. Literally houses staring at my garden from all 4 sides! And reasonably easily into my bedroom, living room & kitchen. Although they aren’t ‘that’ close that you can see everything but I often people watch my neighbours when lounging on the sofa!

My house certainly wasn’t worthless, I made £25,000 since I bought it. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but we had 10 viewings in 3 days & sold within 4 days. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Do a PX on a new build while the stamp duty holiday is still on.

Could you keep the gate locked until bin day?

I promise you it isnt worthless. I felt like that about one of ours and it sold.

I think there are a lot of people who wouldn't think twice about buying it if there are other parts of the property that tick a box for them. The house we are renting is on a street of semi-detached houses facing each other. I can see what my neighbours opposite are watching on tv, even though their living room is 22m away, separated by both our large driveways and a road down the middle. All the houses in this area are the same, 4 houses have sold recently, very, very quickly.

Thanks for all your messages / advice. It really is a ridiculous house. I actually hate going home as its so bad. The houses are so close. I walk in my garden and there's 3 terraces literally 15 / 20 feet away from my house. They can all see directly in my bedroom and down into my living room. One bedroom window is about 15 feet away from mine and their kitchen looks directly up until my bedroom.

I don't know why we bought it

I've convinced myself its unsellable, nevermind getting anywhere near the asking price and that we're stuck here forever dealing with it 😣

We had a house that I thought would sit on the market for ages as no curb appeal, poor layout and really ugly brick work. We originally only bought it as it was cheap and we were in a bit of a hole. It was the quickest sale I have had and sold for a lot more than I expected it was worth. We sold on the open house day to cash buyers who moved in within 3 months and would have moved earlier if our seller could have moved quicker. You never know and so have nothing to lose by putting it on the market and seeing what happens if you want to sell.

I'd actually be embarrassed showing people round. They walk in the garden and I can imagine the look on their faces when they see how overlooked it is and how close the houses are. We have zero privacy.

We have to have curtains closed everywhere so they can't see in.

I feel it is a disaster purchase

Net curtains are used for privacy

You never know and so have nothing to lose by putting it on the market and seeing what happens if you want to sell.

This. I feel like you're going round in circles, OP. Loads of posters gave told you that they have bought and sold similar houses. Different estate agents have given you estimates of well over what you paid. Just put the bloody thing on the market and stop moaning. If it's still unsold in six months, then you can come back for a whinge! (But I bet it won't be!)

I'd probably start by putting wooden venetian fitted blinds on all your overlooked windows. Large slatted white ones go with most decor.

Look to fence off the 'bin corridor' access, which is presumably right at the bottom of your garden? Fence it off so it's more just a generic horizontal footpath that you happen to own, rather than a part of your garden.

Get some leylandii planted across the border with the other houses - this is more a long game but i've seen ones available to buy/plant that are already approx 8/10ft tall. They should grow ~3ft/year.