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AIBU?

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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:
LaughingCat · 04/09/2025 07:10

Just to make it crystal clear - you’ve seen a van parked in a car park for a week. You’ve seen a pair of legs. And you’ve never seen them going into the bounds of the property or using water…or peeking through gates. But you’ve already run ahead to them trespassing, squatting in the house and stealing utilities.

Look, buying a house and moving is majorly stressful and can lead to some pretty crazy thinking - maybe dial back on the catastrophising and instead have a chat with the neighbours. Deal with things as they are, not as you’re fearful they might be at some point in the future.

nomas · 04/09/2025 07:05

Ask the estate agent to turn the water stop cock off and see if they move.

I hope they are ok and find somewhere to live.

WonderingWanda · 04/09/2025 07:00

Whatinthedoopla · 03/09/2025 21:56

I love the house and garden, but this has just made me worry a lot. I have little kids who will be running around in the garden, not sure if these people may be peeping through the gate, getting water at night.

Show quote history

You are being a but hysterical here, they are no more a threat to your little kids than your new neighbours will be, who presumably will have a much clearer view of your garden from their upstairs windows if they wanted to peep at them.

Once you move in you can put a tap lock on and secure your gate. They are not going to be coming in when people are living there and you don't appear to have any proof they are coming in now. It's not a van full of criminals, they are just people who are living in a van either through choice or because they have fallen on hard times. They will move on at some point.

JustGoClickLikeALightSwitch · 04/09/2025 06:56

It sounds like at the moment you haven’t seen any evidence of them using the tap, or coming past the property boundary - is that right? If so I think you are slightly letting your imagination run away with you.

More generally I think it’s worth considering as you are, before you buy. In my area there is one “van life” couple in a Transit; I only know of them because I run a food bank and they came to introduce themselves and ask about volunteering! Otherwise I’d have been past their van daily and not noticed a thing. But - if suddenly there were ten / twenty / fifty vans with occupants doing the same thing - I do think it would be a problem, and very likely there would be a cohort of people who weren’t as good at cleaning up after themselves etc. There is an area of Bristol where this has happened, and the newspaper reports paint a grim picture.

For me: one van, fine. But try and assess whether there is something about the area which would make it particularly attractive to more van lifers turning up.

ExtraOnions · 04/09/2025 06:51

Why not just talk to them? They are fellow Human Beings

SadTimesInFife · 04/09/2025 06:43

@Whatinthedoopla Yes.
"Hi, I work near xxx street and saw rats running along the gutter there."
You dont have to give your name/address (at least I didn't when I twice reported rough camping. Lo and behold the rough sleepers were removed.
Zero guilt.

To report a stationary vehicle...my council required 8 days after notification before they removed an abandoned vehicle. So report it asap.

The "One broken window" approach worked in NYC.

TiredCatLady · 04/09/2025 06:43

Plenty of people living in vans or boats work full time, often in occupations like care or education. They’re just priced out of a shitshow of a rental market that wants insane deposits and £700+ a month for a shoebox room. And that’s in places where the housing stock hasn’t fallen victim to Airbnb and second home ownership.
Maybe try talking to them before assuming?

butterflybreeches · 04/09/2025 06:42

Contact Shelter to see if they need help (they have branches in Wales and Scotland)

https://england.shelter.org.uk/

muddyford · 04/09/2025 06:39

You can buy tap locks. Our outside tap is out the front and it's something I have considered.

Toddlerteaplease · 04/09/2025 06:33

Turn the outside tap off from inside if you are not using it. And report to the council. Presumably over night parking isn’t allowed.

BaskervilleOldFace · 04/09/2025 06:29

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.

Absolutely 100% this.
What a horrible thread.

soupyspoon · 04/09/2025 06:28

GeniuneWorkOfFart · 03/09/2025 21:34

Report it to who? It's not illegal Hmm

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Most car parks or parking bays dont allow overnight campers or stayers.

babyproblems · 04/09/2025 06:22

Whatinthedoopla · 03/09/2025 21:56

I love the house and garden, but this has just made me worry a lot. I have little kids who will be running around in the garden, not sure if these people may be peeping through the gate, getting water at night.

Show quote history

😂

verycloakanddaggers · 04/09/2025 06:18

Whatinthedoopla · 04/09/2025 06:10

I go past the carpark every single day, it's a beautiful homely area, no anti social behavior, it's just this van, who has parked really close to the house

Show quote history

You could speak to the people in the van and then you'll know. A good thing to do when buying is chat to neighbours, they'll know what's going on.

Re. the carpark - do you go past it every night?

Zanatdy · 04/09/2025 06:14

Report them and the council will move them on.

Original poster
Whatinthedoopla · 04/09/2025 06:10

verycloakanddaggers · 04/09/2025 06:03

Sometimes car parks have high antisocial behaviour or criminal behaviour patterns. Depends on the car park.

You can get an idea by reviewing the crime map for the street.

Show quote history

I go past the carpark every single day, it's a beautiful homely area, no anti social behavior, it's just this van, who has parked really close to the house

OP posts:
verycloakanddaggers · 04/09/2025 06:03

Whatinthedoopla · 04/09/2025 05:46

What sort of issues? Apart from this one of course?

Show quote history

Sometimes car parks have high antisocial behaviour or criminal behaviour patterns. Depends on the car park.

You can get an idea by reviewing the crime map for the street.

Original poster
Whatinthedoopla · 04/09/2025 05:58

SadTimesInFife · 04/09/2025 05:27

Call the Council and tell them that "you have seen rats" . The council has to attend. That will get rid of them.

Don't put up with it.
And ignore sanctimonious nonsense about being grateful etc etc 🙄

That I've seen rats in the carpark?

OP posts:
ReplacementBusService · 04/09/2025 05:54

Whatinthedoopla · 04/09/2025 05:45

I go past the house everyday, and they do not move. They have been there for about a week

Show quote history

Ask them. Have a chat. Park up for a while yourself if it helps. Ask them nicely. Take someone with you if you feel nervous.

LillyPJ · 04/09/2025 05:52

If you're worried about people getting water from your outside tap, get an isolator put on the pipe indoors.

Original poster
Whatinthedoopla · 04/09/2025 05:46

Motnight · 03/09/2025 22:10

I wouldn't buy anywhere with a garden opposite a car park. Too much potential for issues arising in general.

What sort of issues? Apart from this one of course?

OP posts:
Original poster
Whatinthedoopla · 04/09/2025 05:45

Mauro711 · 03/09/2025 22:06

You saw legs popping out and they looked homeless? I think you might do well not thinking so hard about this. If there is an issue once you live there, contact the council.

I go past the house everyday, and they do not move. They have been there for about a week

OP posts:
SadTimesInFife · 04/09/2025 05:27

Call the Council and tell them that "you have seen rats" . The council has to attend. That will get rid of them.

Don't put up with it.
And ignore sanctimonious nonsense about being grateful etc etc 🙄

Francestein · 04/09/2025 05:02

They may be stealth camping. Check that one out on YouTube. My concerns would be what they are doing with toilet waste.

thelovelyview · 04/09/2025 04:17

MyElatedUmberFinch · 03/09/2025 21:28

For living in a van.

Wow. It’s not illegal to BE homeless! How nasty.

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