Declaring Neighbour Disputes When Selling

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 01/05/2024 22:28

I think reporting your neighbours to the police definitely falls under the neighbour dispute category. You will have to report that.

DodgyCanOpener · 01/05/2024 23:20

We had repeated contact with council and police about our ex-neighbours.

Solicitors advised us to write it all down so we included a letter with the draft contract explaining the whole story.

We'd factored in the possibility of having some money knocked off. And there was a possibility our buyers would pull out but our house was very sought after so weren't too worried about this (few years ago now).

We got lucky, they weren't bothered at all. We completed soon after.

K0OLA1D · 01/05/2024 23:21

Who knows you reported them if it was anonymous? What was it for?

Irishmama100 · 01/05/2024 23:25

If you reported anonymously to the police you don’t have to declare as no one knows it was you!
anything reported to the council will be traceable e.g. noise or nuisance complaint as they don’t take anonymous complaints, therefore you would have to declare that

Twiglets1 · 02/05/2024 06:13

It’s a moral issue as much as a legal one. You don’t have to declare anything that isn’t official and I would say an anonymous phone call wasn’t official as it can’t be traced back to you.

I wouldn’t declare it as I would be focused on selling the property but other Mumsnetters will have a different opinion so it really is up to you.

Thunderpants88 · 02/05/2024 06:15

What was the dispute? Context matters

fromtheshires · 02/05/2024 08:50

Thunderpants88 · 02/05/2024 06:15

What was the dispute? Context matters

This. 100% this.

Did you call the Police on your neighbour because one of them was bettering the other one, did you call because of a concern for someone's safety, was it drug dealing? Theres a number of reasons to call the Police that may not result in it being a neighbour dispute.

If it's something along the lines of harassment then that could be reportable. We need details.

Startingagainandagain · 02/05/2024 08:56

What was the call about?

Is it illegal activity in someone's flat (selling drugs)? domestic violence? noise nuisance? is the issue still ongoing?

Without the full context it is hard to say.

You did not disclose your name so technically there is no record of you complaining but if this is an ongoing, known issue in the building/area (such as your neighbours having loud parties that upset everyone in the neighbourhood) and you don't declare it the buyer could sue you and prove that everyone in the building/the area must have been aware of the problem...

OneForTheToad · 02/05/2024 09:43

If you have not complained to the council, definitely do not declare.
The neighbours could move in the meantime, change their ways etc. They are obviously not the Nightmare Neighbours from Hell if you haven’t been to the council.

sbplanet · 02/05/2024 09:46

One person's neighbour from hell is another person's best mate?
I wouldn't declare it for that reason, why prejudge for someone else?

upinclouds · 02/05/2024 09:47

If it was anonymous, no you don't because nobody knows it was you.

destinationzoo · 02/05/2024 17:57

Bunnyxo · 01/05/2024 22:16

Hello everyone

I plan on putting my flat on the market in the next few months, I know that when you sell you have to declare disputes but does anyone know if this is only things that have been reported to the council like noise complaints etc?

I had to phone the police on my neighbour recently (although done this anonymously) and I’m worried I’ll maybe need to declare this?

Thanks!

Did you ring them for an actual dispute though?

Eg if you heard domestic violence etc I wouldn't consider that a 'dispute' (not sure what the legal definition of that word is though).

If it was anonymous no way would I ever disclose.

My 'lovely' neighbours sold their house and didn't disclose previous flooding of their property (issue was public drain related and was rectified before the sale). That was out of order, but I don't think yours is.

But you need to clarify what your issue with your neighbours is and how long it's been going on to get an honest answer from this thread.

Kadkas · 04/04/2026 15:29

We have neighbours who wake us up most mornings by going out between 7.45 and 8.45am for a newspaper (we're retired so like to get up about 9am). We have spoken to them which has made matters worse. We have spoken to the managing agent (nothing in writing). We now want to sell and move to a house (garden, garage, etc). Do we have to declare this in the sellers' info pack?

Onadark · 04/04/2026 15:33

All disputes are supposed to be disclosed, not just the ones that were officially documented.

Having said that, if they weren't officially documented and I thought it would affect the house sale then I wouldn't declare it.

Twiglets1 · 04/04/2026 16:09

Kadkas · 04/04/2026 15:29

We have neighbours who wake us up most mornings by going out between 7.45 and 8.45am for a newspaper (we're retired so like to get up about 9am). We have spoken to them which has made matters worse. We have spoken to the managing agent (nothing in writing). We now want to sell and move to a house (garden, garage, etc). Do we have to declare this in the sellers' info pack?

You would be mad to declare that.

Your neighbours going out for a newspaper at a perfectly normal time most people go out to work or other places … seriously?

Tollington · 04/04/2026 16:34

Kadkas · 04/04/2026 15:29

We have neighbours who wake us up most mornings by going out between 7.45 and 8.45am for a newspaper (we're retired so like to get up about 9am). We have spoken to them which has made matters worse. We have spoken to the managing agent (nothing in writing). We now want to sell and move to a house (garden, garage, etc). Do we have to declare this in the sellers' info pack?

Christ

FrodisCapering · 04/04/2026 17:03

Is there a time limit on it?
If you reported them 5+ years ago, with no issues since, would you still declare it?

Twiglets1 · 04/04/2026 17:08

FrodisCapering · 04/04/2026 17:03

Is there a time limit on it?
If you reported them 5+ years ago, with no issues since, would you still declare it?

No.

Doris86 · 04/04/2026 17:08

In theory you should declare it. In practice as it was done anonymously there is no paper showing you reported it. So they’ll never be able to prove you liked by saying ‘no disputes’

Kadkas · 04/04/2026 17:18

"Your neighbours going out for a newspaper at a perfectly normal time most people go out to work or other places … seriously?"

For your info, Twiglets1 (and Tollington), this has been going on for well over a year now and we are in a small block of 4 flats where everyone is retired, so no-one is going out to work.

I explained to our neighbours that I frequently don't manage to get to sleep until the early hours of the morning and that I am a light sleeper. Being woken most days, including weekends, for the purpose of someone getting a newspaper (the headlines of which are not going to change whether it is bought at 9am or 10am), smacks of a lack of consideration and an unwillingness to compromise in a communal living situation. I don't think it was an unreasonable request for us to make, especially since we had always been decent neighbours (taking in parcels, helping with small DIY jobs etc).

I was seeking genuine advice, not snarky comments from people who will hopefully never have to put up with a year's worth of poor sleep.

7238SM · 04/04/2026 17:24

Out of interest, do you have to declare disputes if that neighbour has since moved away?

Doris86 · 04/04/2026 17:30

7238SM · 04/04/2026 17:24

Out of interest, do you have to declare disputes if that neighbour has since moved away?

Yes you do. It could potentially still be an issue boundary dispute etc.

Doris86 · 04/04/2026 17:33

Kadkas · 04/04/2026 17:18

"Your neighbours going out for a newspaper at a perfectly normal time most people go out to work or other places … seriously?"

For your info, Twiglets1 (and Tollington), this has been going on for well over a year now and we are in a small block of 4 flats where everyone is retired, so no-one is going out to work.

I explained to our neighbours that I frequently don't manage to get to sleep until the early hours of the morning and that I am a light sleeper. Being woken most days, including weekends, for the purpose of someone getting a newspaper (the headlines of which are not going to change whether it is bought at 9am or 10am), smacks of a lack of consideration and an unwillingness to compromise in a communal living situation. I don't think it was an unreasonable request for us to make, especially since we had always been decent neighbours (taking in parcels, helping with small DIY jobs etc).

I was seeking genuine advice, not snarky comments from people who will hopefully never have to put up with a year's worth of poor sleep.

This has to be a wind up. If they were getting up and leaving noisily at 5am I could understand it. But between 7.45 and 8.45. Seriously?

Twiglets1 · 04/04/2026 17:55

@Kadkas if you want to sabotage your own sale by mentioning a problem that most people wouldn't even perceive as a problem then feel free.

People may be retired in your block but that is still a normal time to start making noise. Retired people do voluntary work, go to the shops, walk dogs, go to a cafe for breakfast, do activities and hobbies, etc.

Doris86 · 04/04/2026 18:04

Twiglets1 · 04/04/2026 17:55

@Kadkas if you want to sabotage your own sale by mentioning a problem that most people wouldn't even perceive as a problem then feel free.

People may be retired in your block but that is still a normal time to start making noise. Retired people do voluntary work, go to the shops, walk dogs, go to a cafe for breakfast, do activities and hobbies, etc.

As she has reported it to the management company then she will have to declare it.

However any buyers reaction when they find out will be ‘WTF did they complain about that for?’