David Maslen: “Next Door”

When investing in a property, you are not only buying bricks and mortar, but also the immediate surroundings, which are significantly influenced by your neighbours. Good neighbours can help sell a house and boost its value, whilst bad ones can knock as much as 10% off the price.

So when buying, it’s worth enquiring about a seller’s relationship with the neighbours, and sellers should always be transparent when answering a buyer’s inquiries, as an omission can lead to problems. One buyer successfully sued the previous owners of their property for not disclosing long-running problems with neighbours, and were awarded £67,500 in costs and compensation.

Although by no means a comprehensively reliable guide, the following pointers might help you avoid future headaches:

1 How well do the neighbours maintain their property and garden?

2 Could any bordering hedges be a potential sticking point? If so, investigate.

3 Find out if the surrounding properties are rented or owner-occupied. If rented, what is the turnover of residents, and are they likely to be as interested in maintaining a good relationship with their neighbours as an owner-occupier might be?

4 Are the neighbours planning any building work that might interfere with your personal space and privacy? There is nothing to stop you asking them!

5 Do they have loud parties? A walk-past on a Saturday night might be useful.

6 Do they have numerous loud children running round their garden on a sunny day when you want to enjoy your own garden?

7 Is there a pub or club that creates noise nearby?

Tidy, friendly and courteous neighbours undoubtedly contribute to a more pleasant living environment, so a little research before you buy can pay dividends and add not only to your enjoyment of your new home, but also to its value.