REVEALED: The REAL cost having bad neighbours has on YOUR home

THEY say you cannot put a price on a good neighbour.

Neighbours fighting - London husesGETTY

Living next to an inconsiderate household lowers off the value of the average home

But living next to an inconsiderate household wipes £37,000 off the value of the average home, new research reveals.

Estate agents say poor upkeep, overgrown gardens and items strewn across the lawn can devalue properties by 8.2 per cent or £17,321. 

By contrast, a good neighbour can add £19,856 to the asking price.

A poorly kept home can affect the value of those around you

Dan Simon

It means the difference between a nightmare neighbour and welcoming family is worth £37,177.

Experts say broken or boarded up windows immediately wipe £23,000 off the average house price. Ugly extensions and gardens or driveways full of junk have a similar impact on market value. 

Nine in 10 estate agents say a bad neighbour has a “serious negative impact” on the value of the homes and what buyers are prepared to pay.

Noise, unfriendliness and not taking care of their property are the tops reasons why neighbours have fallen out with a third of 2,000 Britons quizzed by Privilege home insurance saying they had experienced sleepless nights. 

Derelict house in LondonGETTY

Broken or boarded up windows immediately wipe £23,000 off the average house price

The same number said they wanted their neighbours to move while one in ten had tried to move, or desperately want to, as a result of an ongoing feud.

Those in London are most likely to want to move away, followed by the West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber.

Dan Simson, head of Privilege home insurance said: “Our increasingly hectic lives can mean that household maintenance falls to the bottom of the priorities list – especially for busy families. 

"Yet this study shows thatBut living next to an inconsiderate household wipes £37,000 off the value of the average home, new research reveals.

Squat house in LondonGETTY

Poor upkeep, overgrown gardens and items strewn across the lawn can devalue properties

Estate agents say poor upkeep, overgrown gardens and items strewn across the lawn can devalue properties by 8.2 per cent or £17,321. 

By contrast, a good neighbour can add £19,856 to the asking price.

It means the difference between a nightmare neighbour and welcoming family is worth £37,177.

Experts say broken or boarded up windows immediately wipe £23,000 off the average house price. Ugly extensions and gardens or driveways full of junk have a similar impact on market value. 

Nine in 10 estate agents say a bad neighbour has a “serious negative impact” on the value of the homes and what buyers are prepared to pay.

Noise, unfriendliness and not taking care of their property are the tops reasons why neighbours have fallen out with a third of 2,000 Britons quizzed by Privilege home insurance saying they had experienced sleepless nights. 

The same number said they wanted their neighbours to move while one in ten had tried to move, or desperately want to, as a result of an ongoing feud.

Those in London are most likely to want to move away, followed by the West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber.

Dan Simson, head of Privilege home insurance said: “Our increasingly hectic lives can mean that household maintenance falls to the bottom of the priorities list – especially for busy families. 

"Yet this study shows that a poorly kept home can affect not just the value of your own property, but the value of those around you too.

House in Earl's CourtGETTY

A good neighbour can add £19,856 to the property value

“Sometimes fixing something like a broken window can seem like a burden both on time and finances, but it can also have a negative impact on the area as a whole. 

"Most home insurance policies cover you for accidental damage, so people should check their documents – it might be an easier job than they think.”

The poll found the worst neighbours are likely to be a family living in London where the parents are in their 40s and are unemployed. 

The best neighbours are retirees living in Plymouth..

PlymouthGETTY

According to the poll the best neighbours are retirees living in Plymouth

“Sometimes fixing something like a broken window can seem like a burden both on time and finances, but it can also have a negative impact on the area as a whole. 

"Most home insurance policies cover you for accidental damage, so people should check their documents – it might be an easier job than they think.”

The poll found the worst neighbours are likely to be a family living in London where the parents are in their 40s and are unemployed. 

The best neighbours are retirees living in Plymouth.

TOP 10 THINGS THAT DEVALUE YOUR HOME:

1. Broken or boarded-up windows

2. Unsightly or imposing extensions and botched DIY

3. Rubbish in the driveway or front garden

4. Run down vehicles parked in the drive

5. Unsightly coloured external brickwork

6. Building work

7. Overgrown garden

8. Rotting or chipped window or door frames

9. Overflowing gutters

10. Dirty brickwork or property

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