Just bought house- concerning neighbor behavior

bri007

Hi all,

We have gone sale agreed and signing contracts this week for our house.

We have checked the area inside out over the last 6 months all hours of night and mornings..... all looked great.

Well, this evening we did a drive over as we do many evening planning what we will be/want to do to it once we get the keys.

While we were there, we pulled in outside and two people came out from the house opposite ours and were screaming and shouting and one another. This escalated and then went across into our property to be and got pretty violent. We then decided to get ready to go but we wanted to make sure they weren’t going to damage the house we were buying.

We obviously didn’t get involved but we made out what they were saying. The fight was over heroin and money owed to them. The girls were killing each other until eventually one of the girls got what looked like drugs and went back into the house.

We were shocked, I know this can go on anywhere, but to go on literally in our garden we will be hoping planting trees and plants in in a few weeks time, last thing we want is syringes in the garden.

Is there anything anyone could advise we could do, obviously they haven’t done anything to us other than that and don’t want to start off getting in bad books with them but we are very concerned now.

We love the area and know this can happen anywhere but we don’t want it on our doorstep and especially in our own garden!

Thanks, and I’m not drugs bashing by any means, just don’t want it at my front door.

Wildly Boaring

Ugh

It's too easy to just say run. But probably the best advice.


They renting?

They both live there?

votecounts

If you have not signed contracts, i would consider buying elsewhere. Do you want to put up with this behaviour for months, years

bri007

As far as we can gather they are renting, really was a shock as we did so much research into the area and walked numerous times through it.

Not sure what to do, due to sign contracts Tuesday

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

Ugh

It's too easy to just say run. But probably the best advice.


They renting?

They both live there?

katiek102010

Sorry but run, probably why the people are selling tbh.

It’s not what you need, especially if you have kids or are planning on having kids soon

Twenty Grand

Have a chat to other neighbours and see what the story is.

That could have been a once in a blue moon thing or it could be daily.

Find out before doing anything else.

Plumbthedepths

Nothing signed? walk away life is too short to put up with that crap.

Where is the house exactly?
Maybe people herecould advise about the area.
Drug addicts can rent anywhere.....

cocaliquid

bri007 wrote: »

Hi all,

We have gone sale agreed and signing contracts this week for our house.

We have checked the area inside out over the last 6 months all hours of night and mornings..... all looked great.

Well, this evening we did a drive over as we do many evening planning what we will be/want to do to it once we get the keys.

While we were there, we pulled in outside and two people came out from the house opposite ours and were screaming and shouting and one another. This escalated and then went across into our property to be and got pretty violent. We then decided to get ready to go but we wanted to make sure they weren’t going to damage the house we were buying.

We obviously didn’t get involved but we made out what they were saying. The fight was over heroin and money owed to them. The girls were killing each other until eventually one of the girls got what looked like drugs and went back into the house.

We were shocked, I know this can go on anywhere, but to go on literally in our garden we will be hoping planting trees and plants in in a few weeks time, last thing we want is syringes in the garden.

Is there anything anyone could advise we could do, obviously they haven’t done anything to us other than that and don’t want to start off getting in bad books with them but we are very concerned now.

We love the area and know this can happen anywhere but we don’t want it on our doorstep and especially in our own garden!

Thanks, and I’m not drugs bashing by any means, just don’t want it at my front door.

Its Heroin not just any drug!. Users have been known to do just about anything to get their fix.

splinter65

Walk away and thank your lucky stars you happened to come upon the scene before you exchanged contracts and not after.
Better luck next time.

sabat

Are you saying that those are tenants who are still in in situ in the house a few days before you exchange contracts? I'd walk away and start looking elsewhere. It's a horrifying situation but the correct decision. I was messed around myself for a year before withdrawing and buying a different place so I understand. Before even thinking about the neighbours etc, you can almost guarantee there'll be a long drawn-out process trying to get rid of them.

Edit: sorry I misread your post, thought they had some interaction with the occupants of "your house." Still though...

Steer55

Run and don't look back, you have had a very lucky escape. I had similiar problem few years back. A young single mother moved in next door and countless youngsters were calling to house, parties and the air thick with cannabis smell, fighting and screaming could be heard at all hours of the night. Eventually after a long time, council moved her but it was very scary and upsetting at the time to have to put up with it

theteal

That's some serious due diligence, fair play. I want to ask where this is but I'm not sure I care, I just think that's a red line I couldn't cross


EDIT - also thread title is wholly inaccurate, you've bought nothing yet, DO NOT feel obliged to follow through on this purchase

Renegade Mechanic

bri007 wrote: »

Is there anything anyone could advise we could do, obviously they haven’t done anything to us other than that and don’t want to start off getting in bad books with them but we are very concerned now.

You exist. That puts you automatically into their bad books I'm afraid. Expect to be robbed night and day when they need money - and they will need it - as heroin users don't generally fall under the 'better not **** on my doorstep' category of forward thinkers, unfortunately like so many other societal undesirables at least do.

Think; You reckon there might be a reason you just happened to arrive there and at that time?
Personally? I wouldn't bother buying a lotto ticket. All your luck just went into this massive, glaring, flapping red warning flag. Use it wisely..

vladmydad

The fact that you’ve been there many times and just days before you’ve to sign this happens, someone is watching over you. Maybe take the hint and run.

6541

If you can pull out of that contract full stop. Your life will be hell. That fight will suck the life out of you. Sorry to hear.

Deeper Blue

I'd agree with most on here, walk away, it's not worth the hassle.

I've had neighbours like this in a house I was renting. Take it from me it's an absolute nightmare.

At least I had the option to up and leave though, you won't.

Sorry to be such a downer.

Poll Dubh

It’s quite ok to bash heroin. Watch the original Trainspotting.

Always a good idea to chat to the neighbours before signing on the dotted line.

If you do proceed you will need to ramp up security - boundary walls, gate, cctv, alarm, dog.

December2012

No house is worth dealing with a heroin problem.

You are under no obligation to sign and exchange those contracts on Tuesday

GoneHome

bri007 wrote: »

While we were there, we pulled in outside and two people came out from the house opposite ours and were screaming and shouting and one another. This escalated and then went across into our property to be and got pretty violent. We then decided to get ready to go but we wanted to make sure they weren’t going to damage the house we were buying.

It's stories like this make me glad that I live in the middle of the country with not a neighbour in sight, jeez I couldn't cope with that kind of carry on

GoneHome

OP I presume this is in Dublin, I've family members living in different parts of Dublin without a problem, what area is it?

lawred2

Probably why the current owners are selling up. Just move on elsewhere.

lawred2

GoneHome wrote: »

It's stories like this make me glad that I live in the middle of the country with not a neighbour in sight, jeez I couldn't cope with that kind of carry on

Most people don't live beside neighbors with heroin problems

GoneHome

lawred2 wrote: »

Most people don't live beside neighbors with heroin problems

It's the risk you take though buying in certain areas isn't it

lawred2

GoneHome wrote: »

It's the risk you take though buying in certain areas isn't it

Indeed. But you don't have to go to the middle of nowhere to avoid it. It's not like every second house in Urban areas has a drug problem.

Either way, the OP been given a chance most people don't get. The chance to get out before it happens.

hairyslug

Pull out now. 13 years ago, I moved into an estate which had drug problems. At the time, I didn't know about it but it made my life hell. If there's users, there could be dealers and that attracts more users. We had bins burnt out, blocks thrown through windows and warnings painted on our driveway because we tried to stand up to them.

Poor Uncle Tom

You have found out a very useful piece of information that has a direct bearing on the value of the property you are potentially buying, I'm sure the fact there is a heroine problem on your doorstep wasn't disclosed in the sale pack sent to your solicitor.

You've been dealt a wild card, it's up to you how you play it. Personally, if I liked the general area and wanted to live there, before contracts are signed I would use this as a reason to get your solicitor to request full disclosure on the issue, request disclosure on whether the valuer was made aware of this when setting the sale price, ask what steps are being taken communally to address the issue, ask if the Gardai and the Local Authority are aware of the situation, and what's being done to sort it out.

You are now in a position to renegotiate terms, as well as the actual sale price. Certainly sign no contract under current conditions.

Be prepared to walk away, or if you are not willing to do the above, just walk away now.

December2012

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

get your solicitor to request full disclosure on the issue, request disclosure on whether the valuer was made aware of this when setting the sale price, ask what steps are being taken communally to address the issue, ask if the Gardai and the Local Authority are aware of the situation, and what's being done to sort it out.

Just FYI that is not the type of thing that your solicitor would be advised of either way. But you can make all of these enquiries yourself, go to the Gardaí, talk to the neighbours, etc. The estate agent is not under any obligation to disclose anything that relates to another property. You are responsible for your own due diligence, and thankfully you did that and you've got your answer.

Don't ignore it.

drunkmonkey

Are you sure your not jumping to assumptions, It got pretty violent did someone beat someone else, was there blood? How do you know it was heroin they were hardly shouting you owe me some heroin, you also assumed it was heroin one gave the other, you've no proof of this. It all seems a bit too energetic for smack heads.
Regardless of the herion I wouldn't pay good money to move in beside bad neighbours.

listermint

GoneHome wrote: »

It's the risk you take though buying in certain areas isn't it

Drugs are in every single county and town in Ireland. For anyone that thinks drugs aren't within a couple of kilometres of them I'd have a chat to the local guards. They'll put you straight

mugsymugsy

You could go to the local gardai and say you are looking at buying a house on that street. Off the record they might just confirm what you have witnessed.

As others have said run like the wind.

Zorya

You're going to feel like you are mad not to sign now that ye have come this far and it must have been a long enough process to get to now. You are probably going to agonise over your uncertainty.

But wade straight on through any such feelings of doubt and stop the process of signing. Don't do it.

In one year you will be very glad you did not walk down the aisle. The time will pass quickly and you will have another house lined up, and everything will be grand.

Don't move in to this house. Here on boards I have read such terrible stories of what people go through with such neighbours - it is really what I would call hell. You might never be able to sell it again either, so you would be trapped.

You have had a sign from providence/destiny/fate - don't ignore it.

mp3guy

We have had to pull out of not one but two houses as buyers this past 6 months because of last minute discoveries like this. I know how terrible it feels to be invested in a place and ready to move in when you think it's basically impossible that you won't sign but things like this crop up and it's a hard pill to swallow.

Under no circumstances should you sign contracts. You don't even have to explain why you're pulling out if you don't want to and you'll get your booking deposit back. You may have incurred engineers and solicitors fees, but that's just the risk you take with any house.

Ursus Horribilis

Cut your losses and run. In the grand scale of things, the time and money you've invested in this so far will fade into insignificance. This incident has taken the shine off your house purchase and it'll always be in the back of your mind. You'd like to think that these people will move on. Eventually they might but it could take a long time. In the meantime you've to live there.

Pkiernan

listermint wrote: »

Drugs are in every single county and town in Ireland. For anyone that thinks drugs aren't within a couple of kilometres of them I'd have a chat to the local guards. They'll put you straight

I've never seen my neighbours brawling in the road over heroin.

OP would we foolish to move in to that house.

dar_cool

Jesus what a horrible situation. Feel sorry for yous OP. Is it a rough area and thats why you were going over at different times to see what it was like ?

Samuel T. Cogley

It will depend where it is to a certain extent. In some estates there is still the odd bollox that isn't tolerated by the majority, in other areas it's so endemic people just keep their heads down. I know you're not keen on naming the suburb but it would help.

10pennymixup

mugsymugsy wrote: »

You could go to the local gardai and say you are looking at buying a house on that street. Off the record they might just confirm what you have witnessed.

As others have said run like the wind.

This.


Looking at buying a cheap place for rental once, but had doubts about the area. Went to the Guard's and asked the lad on the desk.

"Take you money out to the car park there and set light to it",

Enough said.

bri007

Thanks everyone for the replies and the good advice.

I am not going to name the exact area, all I can say is it is in north Dublin but the area itself would not be known for this kind of behavior at all. It’s a sought after location to be honest that’s why we were so shocked by it last night.

We have decided we are;
1. Going to the Garda today to see if this is known in the area or any info they can provide

2. We are going to knock into some of the neighbors and see have they any experience of this and what is/has been done about it so far

I will keep you all posted.

Thanks again.

Ursus Horribilis

Don't be afraid to put off the signing of those contracts for a couple of days if you feel you need time to think about this.

To what degree is the area gentrified? i.e. younger people moving into an old established neighbourhood, doing up the houses, adding value to the properties and essentially elevating the road to a more sought after area? If it's well on the way, then I think incidents like this will decrease not increase over time.

You say you "love" the area so there's obviously something attractive about it. I'd take a wider view than some people here. Are you getting a good deal on the house? If you start your house hunting again, will that mean a0 year or two of more rent? Potentially 24K at least going in rent before you get another house?

They're not next door to you which is a significant point to make. Maybe they're permanent residents but maybe they're renting which means they could move on ultimately. I'd really try and establish what the neighbours say and what they're thinking. If the Gardai say that those people are not representative of the type of people living on that street, then that might provide some reassurance. However, if the general area hasn't been gentrified (yet), then you may have to accept that you've got a property in your price range, close to the city, but it comes with "baggage" right now. And it's up to you to decide if this is worth going for.

There are some estates and areas of Dublin that may never move on from the bad name they have- families entrenched in drugs, violence and just not giving a damn about their surroundings.

So while I appreciate you don't want to mention the area, you have to make this decision yourself. Parts of inner city south Dublin were no-go areas 15 years ago- now they're the most expensive parts of Dublin, by square metre. If that's the sort of area you're about to move into, the longer term financial return may be worth a few disturbances as long as they're only isolated.

Loud continuous noise, 24/7 (parties, shouting, loud music etc), next door to you, is much worse than irregular scangger outbursts like you may have seen- I wouldn't run quite yet, until you've established a bit more. Even if you could post the post-code, you might get more specific advice around localities in that postcode that should be considered/stayed away from.
Best of luck on your decision either way. I don't think there is a "right" answer- remember, if a landlord purchased the property you're about to buy, they'll likely fill it with tenants regardless of who's living across the road.

Just FYI, officially Gardai are not supposed to give their personal opinions on an area, to a person looking to buy a house there.
I kid you not. Estate agents had complaints about this practise years ago. Many will try to help, off the record, but some may be by the book, so, just so you know that!
Neighbours would be much better imo anyway.

One more thing to consider.

When i was buying my first house many years ago, I looked at two estates near to the city centre. Both were in my price-range.

However, one was a 1970's build, had a bad reputation and didn't look at all pleasant. I'd say even structurally the houses were full of damp and bad materials.

The other was a 1950's well built council estate that had a bad name in the 1970s (even way before heroin took its grip on Dublin).
But when I was considering purchasing, I knew things had settled down there. It was mostly elderly people living there, the shysters had moved out or were in jail and young couples were buying up the houses and gentrifying them.

I knew at the time, had I purchased there it would be a good decision. As it happened I didn't, but many years later, that estate is beyond recognition from what it was and prices are a very healthy 500k for properties in need of complete refurbishment. The other estate? it's still a bad area.

Which one is yours?

katiek102010

We bought in a new build estate about 15 years ago.

Area was pretty good as in the town we were buying was good.

We went through hell. A lot of people bought houses for investment to rent. Loads of drujggies moved out from the city.

We had druggies move in next door, I got up to feed the baby one night and met 2 of the scumbags trying to come in my back door.

Their front door was kicked in one night by a guy in a machete.

When I was pregnant I was ill and needed to go to out of hours doc, they had blocked us in with cars we asked them to move and they pulled a knife on us.

We notified the guards all the time everything happened, we got threatened continuously by them.

They used to deal drugs out of the sitting room window which opened into a shared driveway. Our front doors were next to each other.

The day of my sons christening and we were having a party at the house. They had a well known paedophile sitting in a chair outside their front door all day.

I was putting the baby to bed one night, going up the stairs with the baby in my arms and some shot up the front of their house.

That was it for us, at this point we had the house for sale for 18 months and we couldn’t sell it.

We walked away from it. The bank ended up repossessing it

My MH significantly deteriorated to the point that I am still affected 10 years later. IMO we didn’t walk away soon enough

malinheader

katiek102010 wrote: »

We bought in a new build estate about 15 years ago.

Area was pretty good as in the town we were buying was good.

We went through hell. A lot of people bought houses for investment to rent. Loads of drujggies moved out from the city.

We had druggies move in next door, I got up to feed the baby one night and met 2 of the scumbags trying to come in my back door.

Their front door was kicked in one night by a guy in a machete.

When I was pregnant I was ill and needed to go to out of hours doc, they had blocked us in with cars we asked them to move and they pulled a knife on us.

We notified the guards all the time everything happened, we got threatened continuously by them.

They used to deal drugs out of the sitting room window which opened into a shared driveway. Our front doors were next to each other.

The day of my sons christening and we were having a party at the house. They had a well known paedophile sitting in a chair outside their front door all day.

I was putting the baby to bed one night, going up the stairs with the baby in my arms and some shot up the front of their house.

That was it for us, at this point we had the house for sale for 18 months and we couldn’t sell it.

We walked away from it. The bank ended up repossessing it

My MH significantly deteriorated to the point that I am still affected 10 years later. IMO we didn’t walk away soon enough

What a shocking story. How can scumbags get away with this behaviour .
Decent honest people having there lives destroyed.

OP think your doing the right thing by asking around but I have to agree with most other posters and I would cut and run and count yourself lucky.

Kivaro

katiek102010 wrote: »

We bought in a new build estate about 15 years ago.

Area was pretty good as in the town we were buying was good.

We went through hell. A lot of people bought houses for investment to rent. Loads of drujggies moved out from the city.

We had druggies move in next door, I got up to feed the baby one night and met 2 of the scumbags trying to come in my back door.

Their front door was kicked in one night by a guy in a machete.

When I was pregnant I was ill and needed to go to out of hours doc, they had blocked us in with cars we asked them to move and they pulled a knife on us.

We notified the guards all the time everything happened, we got threatened continuously by them.

They used to deal drugs out of the sitting room window which opened into a shared driveway. Our front doors were next to each other.

The day of my sons christening and we were having a party at the house. They had a well known paedophile sitting in a chair outside their front door all day.

I was putting the baby to bed one night, going up the stairs with the baby in my arms and some shot up the front of their house.

That was it for us, at this point we had the house for sale for 18 months and we couldn’t sell it.

We walked away from it. The bank ended up repossessing it

My MH significantly deteriorated to the point that I am still affected 10 years later. IMO we didn’t walk away soon enough

I am so sorry for your terrible experience, and I do hope that you recover fully from that ordeal.
Unfortunately, I've heard many similar stories.

It does seem that one segment of our society, who are contributors and law abiding, are held to ransom by a segment of society who are State-supported. And it also seems that the Irish system is heavily weighed against those of us who try to do the right things in life.

I can only imagine that this situation will get worse for all of us until this type of crime is dealt with properly by the Gardai, the courts, and the council. Ultimately, the responsibility is with government but at present there is no political party in Ireland that will take on these and similar issues.

Neames

Had a similar experience myself years ago.

Like others have said...run.

Our neighbours caused us years of stress and heartache. It was torture. We sold up and moved on. Every night now before I sleep I give thanks that we're away from that torture and that we live in a peaceful neighbourhood now.

Poll Dubh

Something else to consider - is this a scam to scare you off? You’ve been visiting the area regularly and at the last minute before you sign the contract these heroin junkies appear on your lawn? With the dog eat dog competition in Dublin anything is possible. (I’ve been binge watching ‘The Real Hustle’ on YouTube lately which is putting me in a suspicious frame of mind)

Muckka

This happens in every city town village and country crossroads in Ireland.

Drug's and agression doesn't discriminate on any person or area.
Whether it's a park bench or park avenue, it's not unusual.

Ill share my experience strength and hope, I had a deposit on a house in the west of Ireland and I was in a similar situation.

The place even ended up being spoken about on the national airwaves, ironically I hadn't sealed the deal and the place got worse.
My gut and everyone else said kick my Idea to the kirb.
So I held off and got an even better place, it was actually a blessing really.

In South hill in Limerick or the thriving housing estates in Shannon you could have loads of terraced houses, and all honourable members of the community are living there.
But it takes a few dysfunctional families to cause a doubt on every one else.

There's a beautiful estate in Ennis, which looks like any middle class suburban area you'd see around the country.
The place is a jungle now.
I won't mention the place,as it wouldn't be fair.

I know 4 families from Dublin who said that's it we're going to Clare for the urban renewal process.
They're thriving now, and love it there.
Unfortunately I think that scheme isn't running anymore.

Wishing you luck and good judgement OP

magicray

We had this next door to us for about a year, unfortunately the house was owner occupied and not rented, thankfully they sold up but it was very stressful for everyone around, the people on their other side moved in that year

I was terrified that who ever they had dealings with would get the wrong house, I wouldn't answer the door if I was here by myself with the kids, whatever they were hiding in their toilets blocked the drains for the whole road more than once , I could go on ....

Where we are is a private estate almost all owner occupied by people paying hefty mortgages

Honestly if you can find out if they own or rent firstly by chatting to the neighbours, if they own then I would run a mile - if they rent there is a good chance they will be moved on eventually so you could take a chance

chicorytip

bri007 wrote:

We love the area and know this can happen anywhere but we don’t want it on our doorstep and especially in our own garden!

bri007 wrote:

Is there anything anyone could advise we could do, obviously they haven’t done anything to us other than that and don’t want to start off getting in bad books with them but we are very concerned now.

bri007 wrote:

We were shocked, I know this can go on anywhere, but to go on literally in our garden we will be hoping planting trees and plants in in a few weeks time, last thing we want is syringes in the garden.

bri007 wrote:

We have checked the area inside out over the last 6 months all hours of night and mornings..... all looked great.

On balance, it seems to me, you should go ahead and buy this house if this is the house you really want to buy and if you think it would be difficult to find a similar type of home in another area in the near future. You are talking about one particular incident involving residents of one particular house in the estate. It would be a mistake to form an opinion based on this occurence alone. I think the best advice I could give you would be to knock on the doors of the other nearby residents and ask their opinions of what the general area is like to live in. I know it's an old cliche but the vast majority of neighbours everywhere are decent and law abiding people.