Pulling out of house before exchange?

[p0ppyx]

I am sure I will get lots of mixed opinions on this. We have been stuck in a chain for the last 7 months and finally got an exchange and completion date for next month. However we have come across planning permission approvals to add parking to a block of flats that is next to the house. There is currently a hedge next to an access way which goes down the side of the house which provides some privacy between the house and the flats and this hedge is to be replaced with 6 parking spaces. The spaces would have to be accessed by driving round our house and the spaces will be directly opposite the front door and kitchen window. This has really worried us about losing privacy and the added noise around our house. We are also concerned this will put people off when we come to sell it as I feel it would put me off personally.

Are we absolutely awful people to pull out at this point? I would feel so awful, our seller has been lovely and helpful through this whole process.

Is this why the vendors are selling l wonder

I'm sure there's a question about this in the vendors property information form too

Perhaps the vendors decided to sell because they got wind of the plans. I would pull out now.

This was approved last year, our solicitor informed us that there was PP for another block of flats to be built which was on the other side of the current block so wouldn’t have affected us but didn’t mention anything about parking. It’s only now I’ve done a google search and looked into it further that the extent of this PP has come to light. Maybe our fault for not looking into it more earlier. We have also just been informed the road is being turned into a one way street!

What is the land currently used for?

I’d pull out. Not only are you losing privacy you’ll also have to put up with building works.

I've got chronic anxiety AND I'm not a parent, so sometimes my responses can seem irrational but I'm getting it out here anyway, because this has been playing on my mind for half an hour now.

If I was a parent, I'd be buggered if I'd be moving into a house where my ears always had to be on alert for cars stopping and starting, car doors slamming, unfamiliar to me engine noises and the like, not because of the risk of a child getting run over, but because the increased footfall (carfall?) means that far more people now have easy ACCESS to my kids, or, at the very least, I'd be listening out for it.

Sorry if that's grim, I do overthink things, but then kids also do go missing.

I also agree with several PP in that I think this is why they are moving.

Look on the planning portal. They may even have submitted an objection (or, albeit less likely, a support comment)

How bloody patronising! Why on earth are you assuming the OP isn’t fully aware of that fact?!? Weird

New to mumsnet?

I have certainly seen OPs thinking the most outrageous things during the house buying process so absolutely not out of realms of possibility!

It’s just a land of grass behind the hedge currently

We are aware thanks lol. Our solicitor said we would owe him £350, not a lot in the grand scheme of things.

I have checked this and they did submit an objection, it even says our seller started a petition and got 50 signatures against the plans so she was most definitely aware

He’s either very cheap
or he’s really not spent much time on this at all!

I’m usually very against pulling out so late into a purchase but in your case, in the light of this new information, I would say it’s the right thing to do.

Go with your gut, that’s what a good friend told me once and I use this now for every decision I make. Good luck.

If you’ve got the ick for whatever reasons, you are not awful people for pulling out.

It’s probably the biggest purchase of your life so far. You have to be sure.

Can you draw it, OP?

I'd pull out then.

Clearly don't think it will be an advantage for the property. I'm very surprised this wasn't required on any of the property information paperwork and it certainly should have come up in searches unless it missed because of the 7 month delay and being recent. They should have said though.

😬

You feel bad pulling out bc the sellers are nice.
But they aren't. They hid this from you. They could have been upfront about it from the start so you could make an informed decision. That would be a normal thing to do. But maybe they hoped you wouldn't find out till too late. They are the ones who should feel bad.

It is required. They’ve failed to disclose.

Ooof

Yep, I’d have no hesitation pulling out of this if it was me. I’d be livid.

If that's the case, when you pull out you need to state exactly this in your reason.

I would pull out OP, can't believe the seller knew and didn't tell you ! Are you outraged? Isn't there some sort of law against them not disclosing it.

definitely nice