Dispute dilemma
Question
Two years ago, I took my neighbour to court for common assault and he was found guilty. The issue was personal and not relating to boundary issues. We have had no trouble from him since the verdict.
I have now accepted an offer to sell the house. Will I have to tell the buyer about the incident?
Answer
In England and Wales, a seller normally has to fill out a form containing standard questions about the property being sold. These will include questions about disputes with neighbours. It is worth being honest at this stage as a buyer can sue a seller who doesn't disclose a dispute with a neighbour.
So, even though this wasn't a boundary dispute, it may still be classed as a neighbour dispute. In these circumstances, you should tell your prospective buyer about the incident. If you are worried about how they will react to the news, you could explain that this was a one-off event and there have been no problems since.
You may benefit from getting further help and information from your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). You could also ask the solicitor who is dealing with the sale for advice.
Updated: 12/09/2008
Question answered by Shelter
