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Original poster

Renegotiate after offer accepted because of neighbour?

127 replies

TheLondoner00 · 01/05/2023 15:34

Had an offer accepted recently. As part of the searches and due diligence, my solicitor flagged that the next door house just received planning permission to create a set of flats and do a full roof and back extension that extends past the property we are trying to buy. This will partially block the sunlight and reduce privacy because the neighbour’s top floor balcony will overlook into the property. There is no way the sellers can deny this because this is exactly what they submitted to the council as an official ‘objection’ during the consultation phase (no idea how this still got approved by the council, but here we are).

As this will significantly impact the property and my ability to sell it on in the future, can I renegotiate my offer? If so, what is a reasonable amount to put forward?

For context: the offer that was accepted was almost 10% below asking, but the property had been on for awhile (likely because it was overpriced), there were no other offers, and I think the sellers are desperate to move on

OP posts:

2bazookas · 01/05/2023 16:32

At my current offer (almost 10% below asking),

The owners of such a lovely house jumped at an offer 10% below asking BECAUSE of the planning issue.

No doubt other viewers had discovered the planning blight right away ; the sellers were getting desperate.

If you buy that house, when you come to sell the huge extension next door will be actual visible fact; an even bigger blight, putting off viewers and undermining its value far worse than than some drawings and desk work at the Planning Dept do right now.

cruisecrazy · 01/05/2023 16:32

Pull out. It will just be a pain in the neck with all the work to be carried out. How much will this devalue your house, should you buy it?

BungalowLil · 01/05/2023 16:32

Up to the point where you exchange contracts you can renegotiate the price.

Living next to flats is a different proposition to living next to a single dwelling. There will be more comings and going, more cars and potentially more people making noise and partying on the new balcony overlooking your garden.

If you're happy with the changes planned for next door and are prepared to put up with a lot of hassle during the building project and a booming builders radio and umpteen trade vans and skips all along the road for months then negotiate down like fury.

BungalowLil · 01/05/2023 16:34

If you do try to negotiate down you're in a great position because once that work starts nobody else is going to consider paying anywhere near the asking price.

crumpet · 01/05/2023 16:34

It will depend on whether the asking price for the house already factored in the likely reduction in value. What are similar houses going for?

QuintanaRoo · 01/05/2023 16:35

I’d also pull out. It’s not even the loss of privacy or the disruption. But the fact that once you are living next door to a block of flats you will have multiple neighbours, how many of them might decide to be noisy, play music, etc. a block of flats in someone’s garden no matter the size seems lit here would be too many people on top of each other.

LimeCheesecake · 01/05/2023 16:36

I’d pull out of the sale as well.

have a look what else is on the market.

Jellycats4life · 01/05/2023 16:37

I would pull out as well. There’s a big difference between living next to a house and living next to a block of flats, and there will almost certainly be grief in relation to parking, noise etc.

raincamepouringdown · 01/05/2023 16:41

I'd pull out; you're about to lose sunlight into your garden and privacy. And the Sellers clearly knew it and disn't disclose.

If your still want the house, I'd ask for another 10/15/20% off as they're going to struggle to sell until the construction is completely finished. And they know it. And even then, there may be a decrease in value due to the loss of sunlight/privacy/etc.

ActDottie · 01/05/2023 16:45

I wouldn’t renegotiate I’d pull out

Allthings · 01/05/2023 16:47

Only you know as to what the immediate environment is around the property and if there are other properties that already overlook it. I would be less concerned about this if the property is already overlooked (but would still want to reduce the offer and by more than you are suggesting unless it was already priced to factor this in). If it’s not currently overlooked in any shape or form, at the least I would be looking to make a much reduced offer, or even walk away.

Notaposhette · 01/05/2023 16:53

However much time they say the building work will take add 6 months. That's 2 years of noise and dust. Then you'll have less parking available due to extra people living there. You've got no idea what they'll be like plus you'll have little privacy whilst the work is going from the builders, porta loos going back and forth, skips, lorries etc plus vans parking where you live. Then the lack of privacy from the new residents themselves.
Need I say more? That's hell on earth to me.

RM2013 · 01/05/2023 16:53

As much as the house is perfect that’s a bit compromise. The loss of sunlight, privacy and as others have said flats will have multiple
occupants so potentially more noise not to mention the disruption whilst building work being done. Sorry OP I would pull out

WarmSausageTea · 01/05/2023 16:56

OP, you seem quite chilled about this, but it would a colossal pain in the arse, not just during the works, but how it would affect you after - never made what it might do to the resale value.

I feel for the vendors, this sounds like nothing but trouble. However, in your shoes, I’d back out.

EggbertHeartsTina · 01/05/2023 16:57

If you think you can accept the disruption etc. then your vendor is lucky to have you as a buyer and should absolutely consider a reduction in price for you.

LibertyLily · 01/05/2023 17:00

I'd want more than a further 3-5% off personally in that situation. Only you know how perfect the house otherwise is for you and how much the changes are likely to impact on your quality of life there/the value were you to sell at some point going forward.

We once pulled out of the purchase of a large, characterful village house when we discovered that planning was in place to build five 'executive homes' in the country pub car park that ran behind the house's huge garden. Not so much because they would be overbearing but more because of the loss of open countryside views.

The vendor - an elderly lady who was desperate to sell as her DH had run off with his PA and was in the middle of getting divorced - omitted to mention this at the two viewings we had prior to having our offer accepted. We discovered it by chance online.

When we questioned her EA about it, they tried to say it was bungalows that were being built...which was clearly bullshit!

The house had already been for sale for ages (guessing others were put off by the divorcing couple aspect too) and our lowish offer had been accepted quickly...no wonder. After we withdrew, the house went to auction and sold for 20% less than our accepted offer!

Lcb123 · 01/05/2023 17:01

I’d pull out or negotiate much more off (like 20%)

LibertyLily · 01/05/2023 17:01

We did feel terribly sorry for the lady selling, but in transactions like this you have to be hard hearted and think of yourselves...not worry about letting the vendors down.

Nereides · 01/05/2023 17:04

I would pull out completely. You’re under estimating what a huge problem this is. The discount you’re suggesting wouldn’t cover it.

Mumoftwoinprimary · 01/05/2023 17:11

Our next door neighbour (we are detached) are having building work done at the moment. It is on the far side of their house and yet it is a total pain.

It is causing nightmares with parking in a road that has always had huge amounts of ample parking until now. It is noisy. It is dusty.

And it is going on forever!

I like our next door neighbours - we get on well and they are good people who are doing their best to minimise disruption to us - but I am so so sick of it.

Ariela · 01/05/2023 17:14

Having lived a few doors down from a huge extension that went on for 4 years I would say DO NOT BUY THAT HOUSE> And if you're detached with big grounds, the flats will overlook, kids will knock balls over. Keep looking

Pinkplasticbathcup · 01/05/2023 17:14

Christ, I’d want more than 3-5%!
Dont underestimate the disruption of the building work

DrySherry · 01/05/2023 17:34

Sounds like a really bad idea to buy it if I'm honest. But if you really love it and can put up with the building hassle -and then the extra issues caused by living next to flats. Then go for it - but negotiate a price that you are sure you can re sell it for and cover all your costs - if it turns out to be a wrong move. Prices are likley to fall another 10% over the next year so I would add another 10% off to the 10% you already negotiated. They know its going to be a struggle to sell and will be expecting you to reconsider now that searches have been done.

Wonnle · 01/05/2023 17:48

Personally i'd walk away from the property with that going to be happening

Silvers11 · 01/05/2023 17:51

I would pull out too, to be honest. No matter how much the house appeals to you right now it will be a nightmare when the building work starts - not to mention all the extra cars, people, and noise once the flats are occupied

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