Selling your house with problem neighbours

Structural repairs or home improvements are often a good idea if you’re preparing your home for a quick sale. But some issues can be a lot more complicated, especially when they involve third parties. So how do you go about selling your house with problem neighbours?

Disputes and issues with the people next door are surprisingly common in the UK. Problems include noise, aggressive behaviour, rundown gardens and property and many more, which can all impact on your house sale and the price you achieve.

Simple disagreements over noise or property boundaries can often spiral out of control if you’re not careful and could end up costing you thousands of pounds.

Do you have to admit problem neighbours exist to buyers?

Sellers and estate agents are required to be honest when selling a property. If you’re asked about your neighbours, or fail to disclose any serious issues, you could be accused of misrepresentation and have to pay damages to the new homeowners.

During the conveyancing process, you’re required to complete a TA6 property information form, and this should include any neighbour disputes of material significance, or that involved a third party. So, if a mediator, local council or the police were involved, the issue needs to be included. But you can be a little more subjective if the people next door caused the occasional minor nuisance. 

Some issues might not bother potential buyers. Noise during the day is less of an issue if the new home owners are out at work and they might be less invested in maintaining a current boundary or trimming back a hedge than you were. That said, it is important to be honest and accurate to the best of your ability.

If you’re not sure whether something counts as a dispute or nuisance, you can get advice from your conveyancer or get an impartial opinion from organisations like the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Could problem neighbours sabotage house viewings and sales?

Not only is it possible for neighbours to disrupt viewings or lower the chances of you securing a sale, it’s also difficult to take action as a result.

You’d need to document proof of their sabotage, which is easier if they’re purposely letting the front of their house fall into disrepair or pile up with rubbish, but it’s more difficult if they’re making noise, or hassling anyone coming for a viewing.

It may be worth swallowing your pride and attempting to defuse the situation in advance of listing your property. This may mean you need to compromise on an issue, or just explain that the sooner you can sell, the happier both of you will be. 

Legal action is possible, but it can be expensive, time-consuming, and will also make the relationship with your neighbours even worse.

How to prevent problem neighbours stopping your house sale?

The first step is to try and find a suitable resolution before you begin to try and sell the property. While you still need to include historic disputes in the TA6 property information form, they’re likely to be much less off-putting to potential buyers if they have been resolved.

You could start by trying an informal chat. If you can find out the reason your neighbours are upset with you you can then assess whether it’s something you might be able to quickly resolve. In many cases, compromising on a minor issue or a quick apology could solve everything and let you get on with moving.

If this doesn’t work, you could invest in professional third-party mediation to help find a suitable solution for both parties. The cost is likely to be less than the time and money wasted by your neighbour causing issues throughout viewings.

You could also resolve any boundary disputes by engaging an independent surveyor or contacting your local council before resorting to legal action. Taking a neighbour to court may cost you more than simply lowering your price for a quicker sale, especially if it attracts buy-to-let investors who won’t actually be living there.

Selling a house quickly, even with problem neighbours

If you’ve had enough of trying to resolve neighbour issues without any success in sight, there are still some good options to sell your house quickly and end the stress and disruption once and for all.

Auctions are one choice for properties with various problems, including troublesome neighbours. The advantage is that your home might encourage bidders to pay more than the expected value, but you’ll also be tied into selling for less than the asking price. And you’ll also have to pay fees and commissions regardless of how much you get for your home.

Or you could get a quick cash offer based on a local property valuation from National Homebuyers. If the amount is acceptable, then completion can happen in a matter of days. And you could have the money in your bank account in as little as seven days from accepting.

No more problem neighbours, no estate agent or auction fees to pay, and you even get a contribution to your legal fees. The result is that you can end the stress of problem neighbours, and avoid the hassle of the normal house selling process, letting you move on to your new home.

If you are looking to sell your home quickly contact us today on 08000 443 911 or apply online now and a member of our friendly team will be in touch.