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Original poster

Buying house - homeless outside

286 replies

Whatinthedoopla · 03/09/2025 21:21

Hi,

I'm buying a house, and opposite the garden is the community car park. Area is lovely, people are lovely. However, I've noticed thpere has been a van parked right outside the garden (obviously in a parking space), and has been there for weeks. I thought nothing of it, then saw they they open the door and it looks like people live in it! And they look homeless, I saw they legs popping out of the van.

The house has now been emptied, and I'm worried that the homeless people are going into the garden to get water from the tap outside.

My partner isn't worried, but I am, or AIBU?

What should I do?

OP posts:
Fran2023 · 04/09/2025 09:17

crackofdoom · 03/09/2025 21:24

What should you do?

Count yourself lucky that you are able to afford a secure roof over your head, unlike the hundreds of thousands of people in this country who can't.

That's what you should do.

Exactly.

LeticiaMorales · 04/09/2025 09:17

Has anyone seen them taking water?

FamBae · 04/09/2025 09:16

It could well be that they are choosing that spot because of the convenient water supply from your vendors house, chances are they will move on once they realise someone's moved in. You can always voice your concerns to the estate agent.

slashlover · 04/09/2025 09:16

Do you actually know someone is living in the van? Surely it could just be a van which belongs to a neighbour?

justasking111 · 04/09/2025 09:15

GeniuneWorkOfFart · 03/09/2025 21:34

Report it to who? It's not illegal Hmm

Show quote history

It is where we live. The council deal with it.

LeticiaMorales · 04/09/2025 09:11

What does the OP know for sure?
A van has been in a parking space for a while.
She has seen legs coming out of the van.
That is all. They could well be criminal, water stealing vagrants, they may be ordinary people with legs. We don't know.
If there was a problem, surely the vendors would have declared it?
What have the vendors said, OP?

Enigma54 · 04/09/2025 09:10

Watch Lady in the Van OP, it night make you feel better! It’s a cracking film!

Seriously, don’t worry until you need to.

Summeriscumin · 04/09/2025 09:09

Put a lock on the tap and report the van.

New2you · 04/09/2025 09:05

Isn’t this just part of life. How many home owners secure their outdoor taps in fact consider how many secure their EV chargers at home..

atamlin · 04/09/2025 09:05

Why do you think they are using your tap on your property? Because they don’t have a house made of bricks?

SusieSussex · 04/09/2025 09:01

It looks like there are people on this thread who would be fine with this and don't see the problem. Hopefully they are advertising locally that homeless people are welcome to live outside their house. OP, can you private message them to get their address? You can then send homeless people their way.

dodobedo · 04/09/2025 08:59

I think it's really kind of your partner not to object to them helping themselves to water.

I think what I would do is go and talk to them and tell them to help themselves to the water while they can and you are happy to do this because when you move in you'll be closing the garden off.

GarlicPint · 04/09/2025 08:59

I'm still unreasonably charmed by the idea of homeless legs, though.

Sharptonguedwoman · 04/09/2025 08:58

SeaAndStars · 03/09/2025 21:47

Could you speak to the vendor/estate agent and get the tap turned off at the stop cock?

I live in a seaside area and we have lots of van lifers and house boaters OP. We've never had any trouble with them at all - they mostly seem to be quiet folk just living off grid.

Yes. Get the water turned off.

YourBrickTiger · 04/09/2025 08:57

Whatinthedoopla · 03/09/2025 21:21

Hi,

I'm buying a house, and opposite the garden is the community car park. Area is lovely, people are lovely. However, I've noticed thpere has been a van parked right outside the garden (obviously in a parking space), and has been there for weeks. I thought nothing of it, then saw they they open the door and it looks like people live in it! And they look homeless, I saw they legs popping out of the van.

The house has now been emptied, and I'm worried that the homeless people are going into the garden to get water from the tap outside.

My partner isn't worried, but I am, or AIBU?

What should I do?

Count yourself lucky you have a roof over your head and try to help them.

Sharptonguedwoman · 04/09/2025 08:56

GeniuneWorkOfFart · 03/09/2025 21:34

Report it to who? It's not illegal Hmm

Show quote history

Think it depends on the rules of that particular car park.

upseedaisee · 04/09/2025 08:55

Turn the water off until you move in. Secure your garden and in the meantime remove the outside tap.
It could be one of your neighbours is allowing them to park in their space, so contact whoever controls the parking that the van has inhabitants. Ignore the negative naysayers on here, they don't have this on their doorstep.

GarlicPint · 04/09/2025 08:54

Kubricklayer · 04/09/2025 08:43

OP you shouldn't have mentioned the word homeless. It makes all the faux white knights jump on their pedestals to try and make you feel bad, all for showing parental due diligence before moving into an area.

I guarantee you the same people berating you would show interest or concern why a van full of people are living in a car park for weeks opposite their soon-to-be new home.

Edited

Not really. The car park over the back from me has a five-star rating on the van-life websites, so evidently is used and enjoyed by them. It has free parking overnight - paid during the day; it has toilets that are cleaned every night; it's near the shops and a nice little park. Never seen or heard any hassle there.

I don't know any van dwellers to ask, but I'd have thought them quite likely to deal with anyone abusing the facilities. They want the good places to stay open, presumably.

TheSaltedCaramelPath · 04/09/2025 08:46

An outside tap lock would work

Buying house - homeless outside
Kubricklayer · 04/09/2025 08:43

OP you shouldn't have mentioned the word homeless. It makes all the faux white knights jump on their pedestals to try and make you feel bad, all for showing parental due diligence before moving into an area.

I guarantee you the same people berating you would show interest or concern why a van full of people are living in a car park for weeks opposite their soon-to-be new home.

LeticiaMorales · 04/09/2025 08:41

LillyPJ · 04/09/2025 08:37

As soon as I posted my comment, I realized that might be the case! (Sorry, @VoodooQualities) But I was shocked by the number of comments along those lines. I can imagine what horrible neighbours the judgemental snobs would be.

Show quote history

Yes, the judgment is strong on here.

LillyPJ · 04/09/2025 08:37

Pissenlit · 04/09/2025 08:34

I think you missed the sarcasm of @VoodooQualities ’ post…

Show quote history

As soon as I posted my comment, I realized that might be the case! (Sorry, @VoodooQualities) But I was shocked by the number of comments along those lines. I can imagine what horrible neighbours the judgemental snobs would be.

LeticiaMorales · 04/09/2025 08:37

Has anyone suggested to log it with 101 yet?

Pissenlit · 04/09/2025 08:34

LillyPJ · 04/09/2025 08:32

That's just silly! They might be lovely people who will turn out to be friendly, helpful neighbours. Starting off with the assumption that they're going to be awful is exactly the wrong way to go.

Show quote history

I think you missed the sarcasm of @VoodooQualities ’ post…

LillyPJ · 04/09/2025 08:32

VoodooQualities · 04/09/2025 08:22

I would be very concerned about this, homeless legs is just the start, it WILL lead to fence peeping and before you know it they'll be after your water for sure.

As another poster said, the thing to do here is to report them for being like rats, they are probably dirty anyway.

That's just silly! They might be lovely people who will turn out to be friendly, helpful neighbours. Starting off with the assumption that they're going to be awful is exactly the wrong way to go.

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