Selling a House with Noisy Neighbours

According to government research, almost half of the British population experiences disrupted sleep due to noise outside their home, which is one reason why selling in a challenging neighbourhood can be difficult. A quarter of us name neighbours as the biggest cause of noise pollution, and one in six Britons has been forced to move house due to noisy neighbours. 

But how easy is selling a house with noisy neighbours? Won’t they put potential buyers off and drive down the final sale price?

When Noise Becomes Unreasonable

People lead very different lives, and the chance of every neighbour in your street sharing the same musical preferences and sleep routines is highly unlikely. Unless you have the budget to live in a palatial detached pad miles from anyone else, a certain amount of tolerance and compromise is a reasonable expectation when living side-by-side with your neighbours. 

However, when taken to extremes regularly, noise becomes a problem. One that you have the right to complain about. 

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, councils must follow up on any complaints about noise that could be a “statutory nuisance”. Noise will fall into this definition and result in an “abatement notice” — an order to stop making the noise —  if it:

• Unreasonably and substantially interferes with the use or enjoyment of a home or other premises.
• Injures health or is likely to injure health.

Excessive noise at any time of day may be deemed unacceptable, but a local council will be more likely to intervene and issue a warning if the disturbance is caused during “night hours,” between 11 pm to 7 am. 

If the person making the noise fails to comply with an abatement notice or warning, the council can prosecute, issue a penalty notice and a fine or remove any equipment making the noise, such as loudspeakers. 

Resolving a noisy neighbours problem can be time-consuming. So, what can you do if you need to sell a house with noisy neighbours before the council steps in? Or if the noisy neighbour is persisting with their actions despite council intervention?

Do I Have to Tell Potential Buyers about My Noisy Neighbours?

Any reputable solicitor will require their client to complete a TA6 Sellers Property Information Form. This form provides the buyer with detailed information about the house. As of 2020, sellers must disclose information about boundaries and details of any historical or current disputes with neighbours or any issues that could give rise to a dispute in the future. 

Failure to disclose details of an existing or potential dispute could result in legal action or a financial compensation claim from your buyer.

Remember that a type, level or frequency of noise that makes your life unpleasant may not have the same impact on a potential buyer. If your neighbour plays loud music late at night and your buyer works night shifts, they’re unlikely to be deterred from completing the sale. Likewise, if you can’t stand the loud barking of your neighbour’s dog, a buyer that has their own may be less inclined to see this as a problem. 

Be honest — as long as your buyer is fully informed at the point of purchase, there is unlikely to be a problem. Concealing a potential noise issue, on the other hand, could result in a lost sale, legal wrangles and arguments over financial compensation. 

How to Talk to Neighbors about Noise

The best way to resolve a problem with noisy neighbours is to talk to the people concerned and try to reach a compromise. This is typically far more successful and much more cost-effective than pursuing legal action.

Give yourself the best chance of a positive outcome by taking the following approach:

1. Try to understand your neighbours.

Okay, so their noise is making your life a misery, and you’re convinced it will put potential buyers off too. But, try to learn a little about your neighbours’ lives and understand why they are making this noise.

Perhaps constant barking from a pet dog is driving you crazy, but your neighbours are unaware of the problem as they’re out at work when the noise occurs? Are your neighbours night workers who simply haven’t realised how much their music travels during the small hours? Maybe a crying baby is stopping you from working during the day, and a brief conversation to explain that you work from home could encourage your neighbours to develop a new routine for their baby that gives you a few more peaceful working hours? 

Try to avoid assuming that your neighbours are inconsiderate or deliberately being disruptive, and approach the problem with an open mind. 

2. Choose your moment. 

Don’t stomp around to your neighbours when they’re making noise or when you’re feeling tired and frustrated. Choose a time when your neighbours are peaceful, and you’re feeling rested and calm.

Picking a time that is convenient for both of you will give you the best chance of achieving a positive outcome.

3. Prepare a few possible solutions.

It may be difficult to come up with ideas for reaching a compromise if you’re not entirely sure of your neighbours’ situation, but if possible, write a short list of some potential solutions. Could you agree to fixed quiet periods at key times? For example, if you work from home in the mornings, perhaps your neighbours will agree to keep the noise down until the afternoon?

There’s a good chance that if your neighbour’s noise is disturbing you, it’s also bothering other people, but ganging up on the noisy neighbour will probably only make them defensive and argumentative. State your case and do so calmly. You might be pleasantly surprised by the response you get. And if not, you’ve not lost anything by trying to reach an amicable solution.

Will Noisy Neighbours Impact the Selling Price of My Property?

Possibly. The impact on the value of your property will depend on its location, the nature of the noise and whether any formal actions have been taken to address the issue. 

If your home is in a property hotspot where demand far outstrips supply, you’re more likely to find buyers willing to pay the asking price despite noisy neighbours. If the noise is of a type, level and frequency that doesn’t bother your buyer, as mentioned above, the sale price shouldn’t be affected.

However, if you, a previous owner or another neighbour has taken formal action to stop the noise from occurring, this could have a negative impact on the sale price as it suggests a serious and persistent problem. 

What Are My Options When Selling a House with Noisy Neighbours?

• If your neighbours are deliberately sabotaging your house sale — by playing very loud music during viewings, for example — try to resolve the dispute amicably. If all else fails, you can pursue legal action against noisy neighbours and seek financial compensation (damages for lost sales). However, it is often extremely difficult to prove wrongdoing that breaks the law or that has directly cost you a sale. The process will also be lengthy and expensive.  
• Be patient — the right buyer will appear eventually, even with the most inconsiderate and noisy neighbours. If you’re not in a rush to sell, wait it out.
• Reduce the asking price — this may be the only way to entice a buyer if viewings are frequently disrupted by your noisy neighbours. Some people will accept a compromise if they think they’re getting a bargain.
• Take your neighbour to court — this is a stressful, time-consuming and expensive option, so it should be a last resort. 
• Sell to a house buying service — you’ll still need to lay your cards on the table and be honest about the noise problem, but cash house buying companies purchase all types of property in any condition or location. There’s no need for endless viewings, and you can sell your house fast without paying estate agent fees.

Selling a House with Noisy Neighbours FAQ

Q. Will noisy neighbours affect the selling price of my home?

This depends on how desirable your property is and how much competition there is between buyers for properties similar to yours in the current market. Some people may be willing to overlook noisy neighbours if they can snap up their dream home. However, problem neighbours could certainly deter some buyers, forcing you to compromise on the sale price.

Q. Is selling a house with noisy neighbours a common problem?

Unfortunately, yes! One in four Brits named noisy neighbours as a major cause of disruption, and one in six have felt forced to move because of this nuisance.

Q. Can I sue my neighbours for noise?

Yes, if attempts at reaching an amicable agreement fail, you can sue the noisy neighbour for compensation in the county court. If you want to argue that the noise constitutes an offence, you can take action against your noisy neighbour in the magistrates’ court.

Q. How do I complain about my noisy neighbours?

Try to speak to them when you are both calm. If it’s not possible to reach an agreement, report them to the local council. If you think a law has been broken, contact the police. As a last resort, you can take your neighbour to court, but this is likely to be stressful, time-consuming and expensive.

Q. Do I have to disclose my neighbours when selling a house?

It’s a legal requirement to do so. You can read more about what you must declare when selling a house for a full breakdown.

Q. How can I sell my house fast if I have noisy neighbours?

If the market is moving fast and competition between buyers is strong, you may be able to sell your house fast despite noisy neighbours. However, the only way to get a guaranteed house sale in as little as seven days is to sell to a genuine cash house buying company like House Buyer Bureau.

If you’re struggling to sell a property because of noisy neighbours and don’t have the time to wait for the right buyer to come along, get in touch with our team of house cash buyers today.

We have helped hundreds of homeowners to sell difficult properties quickly!

Chris

Chris

Chris has worked in property all his career, first as a successful estate agent before spotting a gap in the market for buying property directly from people looking for a simple, quick sale.

He has a passion for property and as an experienced valuer, has looked at well over 50,000 properties so far at HBB. He has extensive experience in property buying and regularly comments in the press on property matters, trends and promotes ways to simplify and speed up the selling process.

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