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First-time Buyer

Nuisance neighbours could halt your house sale

Joanna Faith
Written By:
Joanna Faith
Posted:
Updated:
14/08/2018

Bad neighbours can be stressful to live next door to – but they can also affect the sale of your house.

Nearly half of buyers (48%) would be put off a house if the garden of a neighbouring property was littered with rubbish and 43% wouldn’t buy a property if the house next door was in a dilapidated state, according to a survey by GoCompare.

Over a third of potential buyers – 37% – wouldn’t buy a home next door to a student let.

According to the poll of 2,000 UK adults, 28% of people have fallen out with a neighbour, with the most common disputes concerning noise, issues with pets and rubbish, and disputes over parking spaces.

Neighbours also fell out over overgrown trees and hedges, damage to property or cars and maintenance of hedges and fences.

Ben Wilson, spokesperson for GoCompare, said: “Anyone selling their property is legally required to disclose information about any disputes they’ve had with neighbours on the ‘Seller’s Property Information Form’ provided by their solicitor.  Providing false or omitting information could lead to legal action taken against you by the buyers – so as ever, honesty is the best policy.”

If you’ve fallen out with a neighbour, Citizens Advice suggests:

  1. Keeping a record of when problems happen
  2. Talking to your neighbour if you feel safe and comfortable
  3. Contacting your local council for help finding a mediator