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Original poster

Would you buy house with overlooked garden?

63 replies

Ozster · 03/04/2021 20:50

I have viewed a lovely house and will live in it for 10 years plus.

It has a nice big garden which is not overlooked at the back BUT...

On the left hand side there are houses on the next road over /around the bend and they directly overlook. Their gardens are small so the distance isn't that much.

The fence is quite high so they can't see into 'our' garden unless they are in their upstairs bedroom.

Would this put you off buying? The house is at the top end of our budget.

Should we offer below asking price stating this as a reason?

The house is great except for this. However I want to be able to sell in the future

Thank you

OP posts:

deathbollywood · 03/04/2021 20:59

Noise in the garden will be an issue in the summer with all those small gardens backing onto yours.. The overlooking doesn't sound so bad.

Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow · 03/04/2021 21:01

You would have to be immensely privileged to be able to buy a house in this country that ISN'T overlooked at all. Asking for a price reduction? I think you were a cheeky fucker and tell you to jog on.

Silkiescat · 03/04/2021 21:03

I think its fairly standard for houses to have gardens where someone from an upstairs room could see in unless you are very rural or in a house that's detached with lots of land around. I wold have thought 90% of houses fell into this category so no I don't think it will stop you selling. We are rural but we have one neighbour where if she was determined to look in our garden she could go to her top floor and stare at our garden and see parts of it but she doesn't. We are the same with her. Same at old house in London. People generally have better things to do and respect others privacy.

By all means put in a lower offer but there's no need to give a reason, I would just say its at the top of your budget then you are less like to get multiple push backs from estate agent on price. If its the only offer you want to make say its a final offer.

Totallyworthit · 03/04/2021 21:03

No it wouldn’t, and didn’t, put me off. There are a couple of houses that could see us in the garden if they chose to stand and look out at us from their back bedroom window. They don’t, in the same way I don’t as I have no interest in looking at my neighbours in their gardens. I’ve been here 5 years and have only spotted someone twice in their window and, yesterday, I felt mortified that I was looking out of DS’s window at our garden, and was aware of the neighbour in her garden and hoped she didn’t think I was looking at her. We’re terribly British and polite we all let each other enjoy our gardens in private.

blowinahoolie · 03/04/2021 21:05

We are overlooked at the back but it wasn't a deal-breaker. I don't spend much time in my garden and don't own a hot tub. Not much to see.

No, I wouldn't be put off buying in your situation. If I wanted no neighbours I would buy a house in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes wish I could!

sarahc336 · 03/04/2021 21:07

My garden is overlooked from upstairs windows probably the whole 3 sides of the garden but tbh I don't even think about it now as isn't it the norm? Plus I can see into theirs from my upstairs window so it's kinda fair Xx

blowinahoolie · 03/04/2021 21:08

@Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow

Agree with you. Think it's a tad cheeky asking to reduce price considering much of the housing stock falls into this category.

Chicchicchicchiclana · 03/04/2021 21:09

My garden is overlooked by a block of flats. Makes us feel very secure.

blowinahoolie · 03/04/2021 21:09

If my NDN is being noisy in their garden I sometimes look out to see what's going on but that's about it. I don't have time to get the binoculars out and stare out for hours as have a busy household 🤷

Lindy2 · 03/04/2021 21:10

I think most back gardens are overlooked in some way unless you are extremely rural.

I'm in the South East London/Surrey borders and it would be hard to find many houses that don't have neighbours that can see your garden to at least some extent.

It wouldn't put me off because I'd regard it as normal. View it as additional security. If someone was trying to get into the back of your house when you are out they will likely be seen.

RedTen · 03/04/2021 21:12

If the houses are on the left where does the sun go during the day? If those houses are South facing gardens they will arrange their dining areas etc close to their back doors of their house to get the afternoon/evening sun and you can plant along their back fence without upsetting them. If they need to be at the back of their gardens by your boundary then it will be louder and they can plant and leave you with less sunlight.

CausingChaos2 · 03/04/2021 21:14

Overlooked gardens are off putting - I guess unavoidable in some parts. I would plant several trees to block the view a little, you don’t need a full blown hedge, just interruptions in the neighbours view.

whenwillthemadnessend · 03/04/2021 21:22

We spent ages looking at houses with a garden that didn't feel overlooked so it was absolutely a deal breaker for me but we are fortunate to have a decent amount to spend

I have had years of living next to young families and I'm pretty fed up with it. I need peace for my last few decades 🤣

Barneybear11 · 03/04/2021 21:24

I’ve got a house with an overlooked garden. I left a house that wasn’t overlooked.
Our current home has many more pluses though and an overlooked garden was a compromise. It Really doesn’t bother me. And it’s not like our neighbours stand in their upstairs windows and stare out all day.

MeadowHay · 03/04/2021 21:27

Most people will never be able to afford a house with a garden that isn't overlooked. In fact not many houses in this (affluent) area have gardens at all! I can't see how you'd possibly get a price reduction for that.

KatherineOfGaunt · 03/04/2021 21:29

Our garden is overlooked and I can see into both immediate neighbours' gardens well. Seems odd to think that a house won't sell with an overlooked garden - I never realised it was a concern for buyers.

Fairystory · 03/04/2021 21:31

Unless you live in the middle of nowhere, being overlooked is normal. I find it strange that someone might complain about it.

Oblomov21 · 03/04/2021 21:31

How come everyone says most gardens are overlooked? No one I know has an overlooked garden. Ours is small but not.

No. I wouldn't.

PicsInRed · 03/04/2021 21:33

@Chicchicchicchiclana

My garden is overlooked by a block of flats. Makes us feel very secure.

Completely agree, I've always felt safer in my overlooked houses than living privately in the country, I sleep sounder too.

As a PP said, all you need is a few private spots in the garden to sit in the sun with a book. Plant one or two mature + fast growing deciduous trees in one corner, job done.

Superstar22 · 03/04/2021 21:34

Oblomov21

Because most people live in cities/ sunburns/ semis or terraces 🙄

RizzleRazzle · 03/04/2021 21:36

I would if it wasn't as bad as where I live now, my current garden (rented) is overlooked by 8 houses which is 18 different flats/windows and I hate the lack of privacy but one or two houses would be no problem

Ideasplease322 · 03/04/2021 21:36

I am moving, partly because of an overlooked garden. Several gardens abut mine, the noise during lockdown was irritating, and one set of neighbours built a really high deck which is a bit like a viewing platform into my garden.

I live in a city so I will always be a bit overlooked, but bedroom windows at a bit of a distance away don’t bother me.

thenightsky · 03/04/2021 21:42

I wouldn't call that over-looked really.

NotMeNoNo · 03/04/2021 21:42

It's hard to avoid in built up areas. Aren't the neighbors equally overlooked by the house you are looking at? I'd live and let live. Block of flats at the end of the garden, now that's really overlooked.

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 03/04/2021 21:52

I live in London, so it’s virtually impossible not to be overlooked.

Houses that fetch over a million have overlooked gardens.

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