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Original poster

Moving near a colleague

33 replies

Houseqqq · 02/07/2025 15:51

There’s a house come on for sale near us which is part of an exclusive estate. There are about 20 houses on this road and this one would be a few doors along from colleague. This person is also likely soon to be my boss.
We get on but we’re purely professional and not friends as such.
I really like this street though but should we avoid? I love the look of the house but can’t even bring myself to view it as the thought of potentially being neighbours feels awkward. Would this put you off??

OP posts:
KievLoverTwo · 02/07/2025 16:21

good lord, YES

Under absolutely no circumstances would I consider this.

Upsetbetty · 02/07/2025 16:25

Wouldn’t bother me…everyone has their own life to live. You don’t HAVE to be friendly with your neighbours.

HundredMilesAnHour · 02/07/2025 16:29

I’d avoid it unless you really can’t find any other suitable properties. A colleague could be bad enough, but your potential boss a few doors down?! Just no. Imagine when you’re sick. Or job hunting. Or having a family argument. Or a romantic moment. It’s all a bit too close for comfort.

Upsetbetty · 02/07/2025 16:38

HundredMilesAnHour · 02/07/2025 16:29

I’d avoid it unless you really can’t find any other suitable properties. A colleague could be bad enough, but your potential boss a few doors down?! Just no. Imagine when you’re sick. Or job hunting. Or having a family argument. Or a romantic moment. It’s all a bit too close for comfort.

unless the OP is doing all of those things in her front garden, then how in the world would they know?

Therealmetherealme · 02/07/2025 16:44

If I liked the house, I’d go for it. Wouldn’t give it a second thought.

lightand · 02/07/2025 16:57

Dont think I would care either.

SunshineAndFizz · 02/07/2025 17:00

I moved into the same street as an ex boss and only realised on moving day. Was very unsettled by it but honestly we hardly ever see them.

Unless they’re right next door or directly opposite/have a clear view of your house it wouldn’t bother me.

Perimenipausalmum · 02/07/2025 20:38

I really wouldn't care! I'm not overly friendly with my neighbours, we say hello and that's it, and to be fair we hardly see them anyway! If you want to live there go for it.

Onetwothreebadknee · 02/07/2025 20:43

I know those opposite me and my next door neighbours but the ones next door to both of them - not a clue who they are 😆

Bearinthesmallmessyflat · 02/07/2025 21:22

Wouldn’t put me off a house I otherwise really liked.
If you pass up on this one are you likely to be able to get something similar or equally as nice?

SunnySideDeepDown · 02/07/2025 22:07

I think it depends on a few things. Is it likely you’ll be colleagues for a long time? And what type of person you are. I’m very private and I’d feel perpetually awkward living so near to someone I have to acknowledge when we see each other. I just wouldn’t fully relax. So it would be a no from me. But if you are the type of person who can commit to saying hi regularly, and leaving work at work and home and home, then perhaps it’ll be ok.

For me it’s things like them knowing when I leave the house, what my family is like, how often I do the bins looking like crap etc that would bother me. And do you want to see that side of them?!

ForPearlViper · 02/07/2025 22:12

A friend of mine was horrified to discover that her house backed on to the garden of the CEO of her (large and very well known) company, especially with young and noisy kids. It was actually fine and she got to know his wife who was lovely. One day he was on a conversation by phone (pre zoom) with his executive team from home and asked if one of them could let friend know she'd lost a couple of her ridge tiles. Having said that, the house would have to be fantastic for me to move near a colleague.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 02/07/2025 22:22

I lived directly opposite a colleague. I already lived there and he moved in with his girlfriend who had been living there for a couple of years. I almost never saw him and it was fine, however he was not nor ever likely to be my boss.

MoominUnderWater · 02/07/2025 22:26

Wouldn’t bother me. I live next door but one to a colleague. We treat each other exactly the same as anyone else at work and then at home I treat her exactly the same as anyone else neighbour.

So passing pleasantries if see each other in the street, take in the odd parcel, etc but I’d never be the sort of person who would do round a neighbours for coffee, etc so I don’t see an issue.

BarBellBarbie · 02/07/2025 22:46

KievLoverTwo · 02/07/2025 16:21

good lord, YES

Under absolutely no circumstances would I consider this.

Same here

HouseHouseHouse7 · 02/07/2025 23:43

Wouldn’t bother me but I don’t really know many of my neighbours now. Also, I want to retire in 2027.

Lurkingandlearning · 03/07/2025 00:52

Do you think they would be intrusive? If they wouldn’t and you will just be saying hi when you occasionally see each other in the street, go for it.

What if you pass up the chance of a house you really want and then two months later you find out they are moving 🤬

CappyHamper · 03/07/2025 00:54

Oh I don’t know about this one.

One one hand I’ve not spoken to my actual next door neighbour since April just because that’s how infrequently I see them!! So someone a few doors down you really will barely see.

But on the other hand … something would make me hold back I think.

BeWittyRobin · 03/07/2025 05:29

Honestly I really wouldn’t care. You’ve said you are friendly but not close friends and you’ve said you don’t mind her so don’t see why living close wouldn’t make a difference to the relationship you already have established. And her pending promotion for me has no relevance. Xx

CrepuscularCritter · 03/07/2025 06:04

I bought a house on the same street as a colleague, maybe a minute's walk away and on the opposite side of the road. We never bumped into one another in more than a decade.

pinkdelight · 03/07/2025 06:17

No way. I wanna be able to relax on my local walks not worry about bumping into my boss. Even if we got on, I don’t want work ever present in that way, and they may feel the same.

Jeezitneverends · 03/07/2025 06:26

My boss lives round the corner-I rarely see her other than at work-we both have our own lives

DongDingBell · 03/07/2025 06:53

How do you all know where everyone lives? I mean I can pinpoint the town each of my colleagues live in (and the street for one of them) but knowing if I was moving nextdoor? I wouldn't have a clue.

skippy67 · 03/07/2025 06:58

Wouldn't bother me at all!

whackamole666 · 03/07/2025 07:02

Go for the house you want.

Your colleague may have moving plans of his own that you don't know about; he or you might leave the company you both currently work for.