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Original poster

Any tips no avoiding having yobs as neighbours?

37 replies

kerala · 19/10/2007 14:56

We live in London and are moving to a city in the west country in the new year. We have had dreadful neighbours which has really affected our quality of life. As I type gangsta rap is booming through the party wall.

We wont be living in a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere (unfortunately) so will have neighbours. But due to our experience am desperate to have normal, considerate, decent people next door. Appreciate this is impossible to be sure about but does anyone have any ideas to help ensure we dont go through this again?

OP posts:
Original poster
kerala · 19/10/2007 14:57

Sorry that should be "on" not "no"

OP posts:
Fimbo · 19/10/2007 14:59

Find a house you like, and sit outside at various times of the day/night. My dh did this before we bought our old house.

Fimbo · 19/10/2007 15:00

We are moving to a new build and have no clue as to what our neighbours will be like - the house next door to us has still to be built!

Fimbo · 19/10/2007 15:01

Oh and if you can afford it, detached, detached, detached.

Fimbo · 19/10/2007 15:02

Unless its an old stone built place, then semi/terraced would be fine.

Will leave thread now, as I am the only poster on it!

millie99 · 19/10/2007 15:03

Before you buy any house knock on the neighbours doors and say - we're thinking of moving here is it nice? I know it sounds awful but DP insisted on doing it as he is unembarrassable (is that a word). Gives you a good impression of them - especially if they shout off I'm havin me tea or suchlike.

muppetgirl · 19/10/2007 15:12

Check the road out for that new breed of home occupiers the 'renter'

Two houses on our road -opposite each other-have been converted into 6 bedroomed houses with each room rented to a separate tennant. Yes, they are proffessionals, part of their contract means they have a weekly cleaner, gardener ect BUT they do like to drink a bit at the weekend and in summer hold parties. One neighbour had to go round at 10.30pm as they were playing the drums in the kitchen.

I did find myself being woken up for the 3rd time in one night as 2 of them came home and were shouting down their moblie phones and I leant out the window and shouted in true fishwife style 'WILL YOU SHUT UP!!!!!' I am 37 weeks prgt and thought I had every right...

Each house on our road has a parking space and the garage is then used as another space -2 spaces for each house. The 'renters' take up 12 spaces insted of 4 so parking is always an issue and think of when their boyfriends/girlfriends come to stay....

Really quiet during the day though

Original poster
kerala · 19/10/2007 15:39

Thanks for your input.

muppetgirl that has also been our problem. The large old house next door has been split into one bed flats. 2 of the flats owned by nice thoughtful people, sadly the other two are not.

Will be knocking on doors and annoying people and sending DH out to be a private detective before we put in any offers..

OP posts:
TheEvilDediderata · 19/10/2007 15:47

Of course, you never know when you may have to rent one day! It isn't a dirty word.

To the OP, there are no guarantees. Perfectly pleasant neighbours can move out. And new builds these days can often have very thin walls, just to add to the problems of modern life.

Just keep a positive outlook. Tell yourself that you won't be as unlucky again! Fingers crossed for you.

Tigaaaarghna · 19/10/2007 15:56

Ask the people you are buying from if they ahve had any problems with neighbours - they are legally bound to tell the truth ( to a point obviously)

What Fimbo said - case the joint.

Don't move to a student-heavy area of wherever you are.
As far away from any college or uni as you can. Students want to have fun. Fun often isn't quiet.

But, at the end of the day, as Desi is right.

muppetgirl · 19/10/2007 15:58

I rented as a student
I rented as a professional with other professionals
I rented as a couple
I rented as couple with a child

I have GREAT experience of renting

2 houses in a quite family street should not be the place to put young, single renters.

WorkingClassScum · 19/10/2007 16:00

The Neighbours From Hell website www.nfh.org.uk/ had a section on it somewhere... I only remember one thing which was take a look at their garden, if it's nice then they are likely to be decent.

We had a lot of noise issues at our last home so I know where you're coming from. It's taken me a few years to get over it and it's one reason why I'm happy renting, because we can make a quick getaway if necessary.

MaryBleedinShelley · 19/10/2007 16:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

toothicky · 19/10/2007 16:34

I don't think there is much you can do really. We did all the usual things like checking gardens and visiting at various times, but when we moved in half the close moved out. I don't think it was anything we did, just that they realised how much their houses had gone up in value.

majorstress · 19/10/2007 16:43

gosh so you raised the tone, toothicky?

toothicky · 19/10/2007 17:24

Clearly, I think they were frightened of our M reg escort lowering the tone of the neighbourhood.

CountessDracula · 19/10/2007 17:26

buy a house somewhere very posh?

majorstress · 19/10/2007 17:27

Next time we move (ASAP) I am going to camp in the new garden for the duration. Maybe then we won't end up in the same frying pan.

MaryBleedinShelley · 19/10/2007 17:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
kerala · 19/10/2007 17:42

My BIL has posh nightmare neighbours - trustafarians having parties at all hours and braying day and night and lying drunk in shared hallways. Admittedly our problem neighbours are the opposite to this but dodgy neighbours come in all shapes and sizes...

OP posts:
toothicky · 19/10/2007 19:12

Absolutely agree, having money doesn't make you a nice person.

ImBarryScott · 19/10/2007 19:34

agree that posh does not = good neighbour.
my worst ever neighbour was a sloane ranger, when we were renting in a hideously expensive part of west London. She didn't work, so all night parties on work nights were the norm. and if you think gangsta rap's bad, just wait until you hear a room full of braying rugger buggers doing karaoke to their favourite uni disco classics.

ib · 19/10/2007 19:34

There is a company called homecheck www.themovechannel.com/sitefinder/move_services/homecheck-uk/default.asp which will do the investigating for you. I've used them in the past and they were pretty good.

majorstress · 20/10/2007 10:18

this looks great ib.

inthegutter · 20/10/2007 17:59

Definitely check out as much as poss beforehand - visiting at different times of day/night can be useful. A colleague of mine lives in a detached house in what appears to be a lovely quiet residential street, but she's plagued by teenagers who congregate and sit on a low wall outside the front of her property. No particular reason why they choose that spot either! So detached doesn't always = no noise problems. Also we once lived in a detached house but had dreadful neighbours who whenever the sun came out would take their speakers out in the garden and sunbathe with music blasting out! We sunsequently moved to a Victorian terrace where life is wonderfully quiet despite being joined both sides.