Hi everyone. I'm new to the Forum. I've read mostly all of the Threads/Posts here and I'm hoping you can give me your feedback/advice. I also look forward to contributing.

I have an issue but I don't want to go into great detail so I'll be brief ...

If you found your ideal home and the EA acting for the seller told you (the purchaser) that the neighbour next door was an alcoholic/drunk .....

Would you still buy the property ?

Would your re-consider if you had children ?

Would you rather the EA had told you or not told you ?

Many thanks.

I would question why the EA told you this. He must either be stupid, very altruistic, or have an ulterior motive.

Thank you for your reply Velvet.

I believe, as the EA is an acquaintance, it was because he didn't want any comeback.

After asking other neighbours, the neighbour in question apparently wouldn't pose a problem however my child overheard the EA and is now concerned (ie. terrified) and doesn't want to move the house.

I don't know whether I should feel grateful or annoyed.

XXI, have you decided what you are going to do? Also, what did the agent say that would terrify your child - how old is he?

An alcoholic doesn't necessarily a bad neighbour make, as his neighbours have apparently indicated.

I can understand your child's concern / fright but this may also have to do with his/her general unease with moving to a new environment.

I would probably take the opportunity to 'educate' my children about alcohol(ism) and the problems it can cause.

If it was indeed my ideal home, I would still buy it.

It wouldn't matter to me if the EA had told me or not.

Hi Laura NB and Pont. Thanks for your replies.

Laura .. The EA said that he wouldn't buy the house if he were me as I may get harassed/pestered by the neighbour. This wasn't an issue for me because I'd just politely tell him where to go but it's frightened my daughter.

Pont .. I totally agree with you, that an alcoholic doesn't necessary mean he's a bad neighbour.

My daughter is 11 and she's educated in many areas. A couple of years ago she had an experience where she was outside, coming home and had to walk past a drunk man in the street. He was staggering across the street and he fell. He also tried to speak to her and unfortunately this has stuck in her mind and she's terrified of drunk men. I've tried to explain many things to her .. including the fact that we are moving and could be moving next door to someone much worse.

I think my concern is that we have already discussed a few issues around this move. 1 - being it is not in our current neighbourhood so she'd be moving away from her friends. 2 - being her schooling although we had agreed she could remain at the same school. although that would mean 3 -I would have to commute and cut my hours at work in order to collect her from school. These issues had been discussed at length and now this other issue has cropped up.

I feel that moving house should be a new and exciting time for both of us but I'm having to take so much into consideration. I'm not usually a pessimist but on this occassion I feel as if I'm saying a lot of 'What if's'.

Perhaps I'm giving her too much say on this, however the fact that it's been just the two of us all her life, I'm used to considering her wants and needs more than I am myself.

If we stay where we are we won't have any schooling/work/commuting/friends issues however I won't get the same quality of house at that price. I suppose if I really want the house, I'll figure a way around everything else. Then again, it's just a house, is it really worth all this re-shuffle. Oh, my head hurts.

Many alcoholics are perfectly funtioning, quiet people who keep themselves to themselves. However, those who are in this bracket (which is actually probably the majority), are not usually labelled as 'drunk/alcoholic'. How does the EA know that next door is a drunk/alcoholic? There must have been some issues in the past to make this a relevant cautionary word of his, don't you think?

I would press your acquaintance for further information on how he knows this (presume it's the vendors or it's a known local fact) and for details of anything that might have occurred in the past. Chances are it was just a passing comment by the vendor, if there were a real problem they'd probably just try to say nothing (after all, unless authorities have been involved you don't have to class anything as neighbourly disputes do you?) so as not to hinder a sale.

So I say ask more questions but don't turn down your ideal house for the reason of someone being an alcholic. They are not all loud, irresponsible or trouble.

quote:

if there were a real problem they'd probably just try to say nothing (after all, unless authorities have been involved you don't have to class anything as neighbourly disputes do you?)

To the first part of that quote , I thought the complete opposite to queenstomper. I figure if it was a next to nothing problem then the estate agent would take a chance on not mentioning it .In my experience theyre loth to say anything that could even slightly risk a sale. If he/she has chosen to tell you, then my instinct would be that the situation is such for him to recognize that he might not able to wriggle out of any accusations that he knew of the problem, if you bought and later complained .

Remember that long term neighbours youve asked may be too loyal or polite to tell tales which could scupper a friends sale.

The latter part of the quote about it only being necessary to divulge incidents of 'neighbour problems ' if authorities are involved, surprised me. Is that actually a legal fact , or just the criteria generally used? I agree with QS - press for more info.

Finally, you know your own child. You have to decide whether she's the type who CAN emotionally cope (once youve explained things) if the neighbour does turn out to have periodic 'strange' social habits like pestering or staring in.

I am utterly astonished that an EA would say to a potential buyer "I wouldn't buy it if I were you". If I were the vendor and happened to find out about this I would go absolutely ballistic.

quote:

Originally posted by Cypriana:

quote:

if there were a real problem they'd probably just try to say nothing (after all, unless authorities have been involved you don't have to class anything as neighbourly disputes do you?)

To the first part of that quote , I thought the complete opposite to queenstomper. I figure if it was a next to nothing problem then the estate agent would take a chance on not mentioning it .In my experience theyre loth to say anything that could even slightly risk a sale. If he/she has chosen to tell you, then my instinct would be that the situation is such for him to recognize that he might not able to wriggle out of any accusations that he knew of the problem, if you bought and later complained .

Remember that long term neighbours youve asked may be too loyal or polite to tell tales which could scupper a friends sale.

The latter part of the quote about it only being necessary to divulge incidents of 'neighbour problems ' if authorities are involved, surprised me. Is that actually a legal fact , or just the criteria generally used? I agree with QS - press for more info.

Finally, you know your own child. You have to decide whether she's the type who CAN emotionally cope (once youve explained things) if the neighbour does turn out to have periodic 'strange' social habits like pestering or staring in.

I agree with you but the EA is an acquaintance of XXI which might be the difference between whether they would say anything or not.

As for the authorities being involved, I think it's just a general criteria - if authorities have never been involved how can a buyer ever prove that there ever was any problem? If someone moved in and found the neighbours to be a nightmare all the vendor has to say is that they were fine when they lived there. If you get what I mean.

I agree with Pigster, the EA's loyalty should be to his client - the vendor.

In XXI's position I would speak direct to the vendor about the neighbour. She may not want to tell the entire truth, but you will get a pretty good idea from her reaction whether she has ever found it a problem.

And in answer to one of the original questions - I would rather the EA had not told me. Apart from being unprofessional, his action has put you in a very difficult position and turned up more questions than it answered.

Thanks for all your replies. Everything that has been brought up here has been on my mind ....Which is why I started this Thread.

I totally agree that the EA's loyalty should lie with the vendor and I'd be absolutely mad if my EA said something to jeopardise my sale.

I'm also annoyed because if someone else had noted interest in the property, I doubt he would have told them what he told me. They would have been ignorant to the fact, bought the house and there would more than likely be no problem.

The EA works in property part time. His full time job is in social work. Apparently this is how he is aware of the problem. I'm not sure if there really is a problem or whether he's just trying to let me know that he's got his nose into everyone's business. I had been told that he told me because he didn't want me to buy, find out and then complain to him. Although, according to the neighbours, the guy in question has lived there for years and won't pose a problem. The neighbours don't have any relationship with the vendor.

I can't ask the vendor because he's a property developer and the property is empty. The person who lived there bofore passed away.

I have a family member who knows someone that lives in the area so I managed to get ahold of their number. She told me that she knew the man, confirmed he liked a drink but told me he wouldn't bother me. She also called her friend who lives across the street from him and they confirmed the same.

If I'm honest, I'm angry at the EA. I wasn't too concerned for myself .. my concern was for my daughter. A concern that needn't be necessary. I discussed it with her further and explained everything in detail and tried to re-assure her.

I can't thank you all enough for your feedback/advice. From your replies, I believe that you were thinking along the same lines and I was right to be curious and concerned .. about the neighbour and the EA.


Anyway, I love this house and although I'm angry at the EA, I'd be even more angry if I lost this house due his unproffessionalism. So, I took the bull by the horns and submitted my offer today.

quote:

Originally posted by XXI:
Anyway, I love this house and although I'm angry at the EA, I'd be even more angry if I lost this house due his unproffessionalism. So, I took the bull by the horns and submitted my offer today.

I drink to that!

Wow, you don't mess around XXI!

Here's hoping that your offer gets accepted - I always think you should go with your gut feeling on these things.

The problem with other people trying to "help" is that everyone has a different definition of what is a problem, which obviously didn't help you in this case. Part time estate agent and social worker?? Hmm, interesting combination

My Offer was accepted.

Can you believe, the Qualified Acceptance was faxed today. Obviously, they don't mess around either

Just out of interest - does this alcoholic neighbour live alone? And where does he consume his drink?

I only ask because an alcoholic by himself won't (most of the time anyway) pick fights with himself or be upsetting etc. anyone else in that house with his behaviour.
My experience: the house we moved from, the man stayed at home all day mostly drinking wine, the woman worked and they would scream at each other most nights. In that case they were hysterically funny with their abuse to each other and went to bed early and were otherwise nice people and we missed the action when they moved, as they'd stop arguing to sing drunkenly to each other
Similarly, Mr. HC now drinks loads most nights and picks loud, monotonous fights at me, even though I never actually speak back, he does start at the open window, no doubt interrupting the neighbour's peace - and he won't be told!

Again, if the man drinks at home he's less likely to do what my dad used to do and bring a selection of friends home from the pub to drunkenly play guitars on a school night.

Obviously with your offer in, it hasn't bothered you, but, especially where my children are concerned (as I've been around it) I'd be very wary. You can't trust drunk people to act in a completely level way if you get me, even if they appear to be.

Hi Holy Cheeses

I typed a reply to you early but the system wouldn't allow me to post it (Server error) .. so I'll try again.

The man lives with his Father. I've been told that the Father is around 80 yrs old and was the drinker of the family .. but now he's told old to do the drinking .. and the son has carried it on. The son is, I believe, around 40 yrs old.

I've also been told the he doesn't drink at home .. his Father apparently won't allow it .. so he drinks at his friends houses and then staggers home. I've been told that I will see him stagger home regularly. I've also been told that every 3 years or so he tries to argue with a neighbour (any neighbour) .. then apologizes the next day.

My house as on the end so he's not directly through the wall to me. The side of my garden and driveway are next to his and then his house.
His garden is unkept, with loads of wood in the front and back yard. I would have had a bigger issue if I lived directly through the wall to him and if there was any risk of him falling asleep drunk and setting his house on fire or if his house brought down the area .. but that doesn't seem to be the case.



I got my survey report back today .. all was ok

Just thought I should add .. My daughter is happy that we're moving to the house. I don't think she wanted to lose it either.

Also .... the are I'm moving to is a small community/village. I believe that he has lived there for more than 30 years .. as has most of the neighbours.

Also .... the area I'm moving to is a small community/village. I believe that he has lived there for more than 30 years .. as has most of the neighbours.


ps .. I'm having terrible problems trying to post.

.

quote:

Originally posted by XXI:
The EA works in property part time. His full time job is in social work.

Wonder what his bosses would think about him shouting about the problems of clients?

Confidentiality no matter once property the comes into the equation - how very modern .

quote]I've been told that the Father is around 80 yrs old and was the drinker of the family .. but now he's told old to do the drinking .. and the son has carried it on.[/quote]

I loved this! Like taking over the family business. Can you imagine the conversation?

'It's no good son, I'm getting too old for this, I'm going to have to jack it all in.'
'But Dad, you've put so many years into it. your liver's nearly on it's last legs, don't give up now. It's been your life.'
'Aye and my Dad's, and his Dad's before him.'
'I'm not having you waste all them years, all those pints, I'll give up the day job, pick up where you left.'
'No! Son, I can't ask you to do that.'
'No arguments. I'll start tomorrow.'
'You've made an old wino proud son. Are you sure you can take it on?'
'No probs Dad, I'll be sh*tfaced before lunch.'

why wasn't my quote quoted.