Why isn't this house selling?

[Ftb09i7]

It's been on the market since Sept 2024, firstly on the open market with an asking price of 207.5k, then in a tradition auction. It hasn't sold with a guide of 155k in 2 consecutive auctions (July and Aug 2025). It's been vacant all this time and vendors have moved into a new build (they'd initially wanted to sell this house as a part exchange). They purchased the property for 188k (asking price 195k) in Dec 2021 after being on the market since July 2021 and having 2 offers fall through (1 after a day and the 2nd after 2 weeks). Is there something I'm missing? FTB and love the house but trying to do due diligence before taking the plunge. Grateful for your thoughts.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/163269674#/?channel=RES_BUY

Gosh I don't know, OP, but it's refreshing to see a house on here without a £1 million +++ price tag 😀

I love the open land at the back, but some buyers might see it as a security threat?

This link might be useful, unless you're already familiar with the area:
https://www.bradford.gov.uk/Documents/EvidenceBase/Area%20profiles/Local%20Insight%20Profile%20Reports%202021//Local%20Insight%20Profile%20Bingley.pdf

Something nasty showing up in the searches/surveys?
Local pricing/competition on the market?
Bedrooms look tiny?

I don't know the area at all, but are there plans to build on the land at the back? I would assume that even with a low guide price, the vendors have set a reserve that hasn't been met at previous auctions - so there may have been offers well over 155k, but below what they are happy to accept.

Perhaps something to do with surveys? Or neighbours? Although as I know this road (fairly) well! I’m not sure, it’s a nice road in a pleasant area of Bradford. Perhaps there are damp issues or something like that? Particularly as it’s been vacant and it’s not a new property x

I’d check if there are any plans for the land behind or if it’s protected in any way.

ask the agent if any surveys have been done and if they have shown anything that would require work? I believe they are obliged to answer honestly if they are aware of anything

Also I realise builders throw up houses everywhere these days but I don’t see that area of land being a threat anytime soon x

Maybe someone was murdered there!. I can't see anything other than a possible massive development at the back. It's a fine house with sizeable garden and garage. Puzzled....

Ask for legal pack. Last time I saw similar was because they have only just did underpinning but the reason for structural damage was still there (tree).

Could it be as simple as the fact it’s been at auction? Lots require completion within a certain amount of time or payment of a deposit at the auction, which many buyers can’t do.

Agree with those saying to check whether there are any plans to build on that land. The difference between overlooking open fields and overlooking a building site for a huge new estate for years is significant!

The only issue I see with the house itself is that bedroom three is tiny. Maybe not an issue for the price, but not much room to grow, which could put some people off.

Check the flood risk map, as well as potential development I'd be worried about runoff from the field at the back.

Looks like a lovely house but as others have said, you need to see the survey. The auction would be a problem for many people as only 8 weeks for completion. Not much time to get a mortgage offer, if, in fact the property is mortgagable.

Is it by any chance a none standard construction, so it cannot get mortgaged?

Have you asked the vendors why they put the house on the market only 2.5 years after buying?

Estate agent here, ask a solicitor to look over the legal pack for you and pay for a survey. Perhaps speak with the neighbours

It’s usually the price that stops houses from selling

It may also be that it’s empty, some people will struggle to see it as a home without furniture in. It can also be cold in the autumn/winter, that’s a bad first impression if someone walks into a house and it’s freezing cold. Logically of course it would be warmer once someone lives there but a lot of people will naturally follow their heart rather than their head when it comes to buying a home. This equally goes for smell, if the house has a damp or musty smell because it’s empty.

As a mum, it might bother me that it’s steps up to the front door, that would be a pain with a pushchair

If unsure, always google the road name and hit 'news'

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/17827687.cottingley-residents-concern-homes-march-cote-lane/

I bet that's just been approved after a fight, or is already in progress, or is close to being approved.

Local Facebook groups are also a valuable source, even for rumours.

I’m wondering if it’s failed surveys? Or a proposal to build at rear as others have said

@KievLoverTwo indeed- my father in law didn’t look at a lovely bungalow for same reason in Frome - ongoing dispute over saddleback fields- was easily findable by googling - and at 85 it wasn’t a development that bothered him it was at 85 he didn’t want the associated noise and mess going on for several years -

The first interior picture (no.2) is so hideous and whatever it is on the floor in front of the radiator would put me off looking further even if it was something innocent.

The bedrooms are too small for me and the smallest room has the big cupboard which may well be essential stair headroom. The dining area looks quite narrow. The other areas and fields at the back are lovely.

Maybe something bad happened there that local people know about? Maybe the Bingley Mega Chippy situation has put people off the area?!

I love the size of garden and view. Is that field going to be a building site for the next ten years though?
The only thing that's wrong to me is the winding steps towards the front door. That seems odd. And not suitable for anyone with a buggy or mobility aid/ issues.
I don't know the area, so is it very remote? Far from amenities?

Dodged this bullet myself last year. Offered on a house, it was rejected. Didn't care enough about it to counter-offer. A day or two later, curious, looked up planning for the area. Discovered 2000 houses had just been approved on the other side of the road backing onto her garden, over a period of, iirc, 10 years.

"I'm moving to be closer to family"

.... when that family's only 5 miles away, huh?

O_O

Glad your FIL dodged that bullet.

It's listed as being in Bingley but it's actually in Cottingley. Completely different amenities, what's walkable etc due to the way the roads around there are set up. There are mine shafts all over the shop around there too, if you do buy, get a mines survey done. Bedroom 3 couldn't have a bed in it in both dimensions.