Buying a house – three windows and the front door have just been smashed. Would this worry you?

[BeQuaintLion]

Hi everyone,
I’m currently in the process of buying a house, and something rather concerning has come to light over the last couple of days. I’d really appreciate some outside opinions.
I had a survey carried out on the property yesterday, and it was the surveyor who initially discovered that three separate windows and the front door had been smashed/vandalised. This damage has only occurred within the last few days, as it wasn’t present previously.
What strikes me as particularly strange is the extent of the damage.
If it were just one smashed window, I’d probably put it down to a passing yob or mindless vandalism. Similarly, if someone was attempting to break in, why would they need to smash three separate windows AND the front door?
To me, this seems more deliberate and targeted rather than a random act of vandalism.
To make matters more concerning, I’ve since heard some unverified information suggesting that the damage could potentially be connected to previous occupants of the property, although I have absolutely no way of knowing whether there’s any truth in that.
The house is currently vacant, and until this happened, everything had been progressing nicely with the purchase. I’ve already had my mortgage offer issued, and the conveyancing process is well underway.
I’m now wondering whether there could be some history attached to the property that I’m completely unaware of, and whether whoever caused the damage might return.
I’ve raised the matter with the estate agent and intend to ask my solicitor to make further enquiries.
What I’d really like people’s opinions on is:

• Does smashing three windows and a front door seem like targeted vandalism to you?
• Would this make you suspicious that there’s something more going on?
• Has anyone experienced anything similar when purchasing a property?
• Would you continue with the purchase if you could establish what happened, or would this be enough to put you off?
• Would you consider renegotiating the purchase price, given that this has happened during the buying process?

I’m particularly interested in whether others think I’m overthinking the situation or whether my concerns are justified. It’s a lovely property that I was genuinely excited about buying, but the last thing I want is to move into a house that might be the subject of ongoing trouble. Would you be concerned if this happened to a house you were in the middle of buying? Thanks in advance!

I would want to know how long it has been vacant. If it’s been empty for a long time, it might be youth vandalism.

If not then I would want to know more about the previous occupants. You don’t want to move into an address of an organised crime member.

I’d feel the same as you and be concerned. Have you ever camped out in your car nearby at different times of the day? Do you feel able to knock on the neighbours door and ask if they heard anything?

it would be a concern . I wouldn’t want to live in a neighbourhood with antisocial behaviour .

Housing officer here. It does seem targeted. A call to 101 to see if they'll shed any light on it would be a good idea.

It has been empty for around 6 months, it’s a bungalow that was occupied by an elderly man who has since moved into a care home and it was then let out by he’s son for a while… It’s on a “naice” quiet residential road in a regarded area with a mix of detached bungalows and houses.. It just seems so very odd

What kind of area is the house in? Are the surrounding properties in good order? Who are the sellers? I must admit it would worry me.

I don’t think you’re overthinking. It would put me off even if it was the house next door, never mind the property I was planning to buy…

Could you speak to the neighbours and try and find any more information about current and history?

Badly distributed inheritance? Not sure. I would be very displeased

Answering your questions:
Yes
Yes
No
No
No

I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole. Even if not targetted, something's up with the nature/demographic of the road.

@BeQuaintLion it's a buyers' market.

it’s in one of the what i would call upper working class area. A nice respectable street of privately owned homes.

Halloween pests?

Yes I’d consider pulling out for that,

The seller is a hospital consultant who lives other end of county, it was he’s dads house.

Did it happen on 31st? We had some houses targeted locally by teens throwing stones at houses that didn't partake in trick or treating.

I don't think i would treat this as a show stopper but would make sure i had visible cctv set up - I would do that in any property though.

i thought that, but the amount of vandalism seems odd.

I would ask the neighbours but I would want to be very sure of the reasons before proceeding

Not sure of exact timings but definetly within the last few days

I would pull out of the sale, but I suppose it depends on your circumstances. I'm a woman and I live alone so feeling safe is very important.

It would probably put me off. But if it is generally a nice neighbourhood, I might get in touch with police and ask if this was unusual in that area, and what they made of it - targetted or random vandals. Could have been someone trying to break in to squat if they thought it was empty.

I wouldn't proceed with the sale until the current owners have fully repaired the damage.

Yes i plan to approach the neighbours within the next few days when i get off work

I suppose they will replace the door that needed changing anyway - possible silver lining?

I think I’d pull out, sorry.

@BeQuaintLion if you may proceed, you need to rely on your solicitor to raise the appropriate inquiries. Absolutely not the EA who is acting for the vendor, not you.

Im having these thoughts, but love the property.