AIBU to think this intimidating house buying letter should be reported to police?

In this case, it’s 100% the Land Registry.

I own several pieces of land and get letters from developers all the time - all addressed personally. Anyone can get any property/name information they want from
the LR.

Would love to know an update. I felt so sad for the old couple reading this post.

A PP mentioned that they didn’t know how the Electoral Roll could indicate age. There used to be a marker showing if people were not eligible for Jury Duty. This would often be age- over 75- or some MH issues. Fairly sure that it still exists.

Sensible. I think the people who are saying ignore it are not putting themselves in the position of elderly people who could be threatened, bullied etc. They probably won’t turn up, but they might. I wonder if there’s a phone number on the card? If so a message saying this is pressure-selling and intimidation and the police have been informed would surely put them off.

Anyone can get information of home owners names by searching the register at land registry. It only costs a couple of pounds.

I would advise them to register for property alerts as suggested by a pp.

@Blopi Ignore anyone saying the police should not be contacted.

From Google:

if elderly people are getting threatening anonymous letters saying they need to sell their house the police should be told

Threatening letters demanding someone sell their home are a criminal offence—often categorised as malicious communications, harassment, or intimidation. Even if the threats are vague or anonymous, they are sent with the intent to cause fear and should be investigated.

Here is how and when to report the letters, and additional steps you can take to protect the elderly person:

1. How to Contact the Police

In an Emergency: Call 999 immediately if someone has been threatened with violence, is in immediate danger, or if a suspicious person is outside the property right now.

Non-Emergency: If there is no immediate danger, report the letters using the non-emergency 101 number or online via your local police force's website.

Action Fraud: Because the threats are tied to their property, you can also report the incident to Action Fraud (the UK's national fraud reporting centre), which tracks scams and property-related crimes.

1. What to Do with the Evidence

Do not respond: Do not reply to the letters or attempt to contact the sender, as this can escalate the situation.

Preserve the letters: Handle the letters as little as possible so you don't destroy potential fingerprints or DNA. Place them in plastic wallets or envelopes.

Take photos: Take clear photographs of the letters, envelopes, and postmarks before handing them over to the police.

1. Protect Their Property

Sometimes these letters are the first step in property fraud (where criminals try to steal an identity to fraudulently sell or mortgage a house).

Register for Alerts: You can sign up for the free HM Land Registry Property Alert Service, which will send you an email notification if anyone applies to change the register of the property (such as a change of ownership).

Property Fraud Line: If you are worried the property might be targeted for a fake sale, you can call the HM Land Registry Property Fraud Line on 0300 006 7030 for practical guidance.

They should NOT ignore this. As a few posters have already said, also contact Age Concern.

This does not need to be reported to the police - no crime has been committed. If they are worried just get someone else to be there at the relevant time.

Thanks for alerting us to this. I would like to see this.

I think that this should be reported yes. It's a disgrace! Scaring the shit out of elderly people like that. Who the hell do they think they are, telling a couple with a 5 bed house that they've no right to be in it, and it could be an HMO. They can look on the market for a 5-bed house that's ya know, actually FOR SALE and buy that! The absolute stinking nerve of them!

As has been said though, it is easy to find out people names (electoral roll.) Not sure how they find out peoples ages, but there are ways and means to find out. Very likely have had people looking out, and watching people.

Police need to know about this, so they can act accordingly and warn people. And nobody is saying that ALL elderly people are vulnerable, but many are, and they are a demographic that is very likely to be targetted by scams (and fall for them!) People don't need to be getting huffy because THEY would 'never fall for a scam.' Bully for you, but many people would, (and do.)

Also, never say never!

I think that this should be reported yes. It's a disgrace! Scaring the shit out of elderly people like that. Who the hell do they think they are, telling a couple with a 5 bed house that they've no right to be in it, and it could be an HMO. They can look on the market for a 5-bed house that's ya know, actually FOR SALE and buy that! The absolute stinking nerve of them!

As has been said though, it is easy to find out people names (electoral roll.) Not sure how they find out peoples ages, but there are ways and means to find out. Very likely have had people looking out, and watching people.

Police need to know about this, so they can act accordingly and warn people. And nobody is saying that ALL elderly people are vulnerable, but many are, and they are a demographic that is very likely to be targetted by scams (and fall for them!) People don't need to be getting huffy because THEY would 'never fall for a scam.' Bully for you, but many people would, (and do.)

Also, never say never!

Elderly people being threatened. What are your reasons for saying to ignore it?
Would this be the sane advice for your loved one?
I'm curious

I'm sorry your friends elderly neighbours feel like this, but to be honest the only data that the company have accessed is the couple's name linked to their address, that's easily in the public domain. I'm not convinced the police would be interested unless there is a real threat in the letter like "we'll do X to you if you don't sell us your house." While morally the situation is dodge, legally the data they are using is accessible and the offer on the house is legal unless you can actually prove intimidation.

Just make sure they are out on the Thursday to completely waste the letter writers' time.

Niot particularly nice . Rude and likely to be a tactic of a 'certain type' .

My advice is to ignore it. The police are unlikely to do anything in any case at this stage.

If however it should progress to unsolicited phone calls, more letters etc then get the police involved as it is clearly becoming intimidating

Agreed, and it’s worth speaking to Age Concern about this too

DH is police and said this is 100% the right thing to do. Even if they send a PCSO, it’s the presence of someone who can help. If they ask for someone from the Safer Community Team, a police officer from this team may come out.

Glad there was someone there with them and also that no one turned up. I do think it's important to report. Police encourage reporting and while they may not do anything immediately the evidence is there if it escalates, there is a pattern or anything more substantial happens. Definitely regster with Land Regstry and perhaps ask neighbours if they have had anything similar.

There was a BBC R4 series on stealth takeovers of properties that was quite frightening - not quite the same MO (this was stealing homes via fake wills), but worth being aware of https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m002fvgg . Nobody would want our house but I regisitered for alerts after this porgramme! If they don't have the tech to get alerts perhaps get the nephew to get the notifications?

There's a big difference between getting a letter from an estate agent on their business letterhead and a note from someone with no return address (which is how I understood the op).

The way the op described this makes it sound like a threatening letter

Ownership info for a property is a matter of public record and easily obtainable from HM Land Registry.

Whilst I understand your neighbours unease at the bully tactics I'm not sure what crime you think would be reported on the basis of the letter. They need to contact the sender to say they aren't interested in selling, he is not welcome in their home and specifically request no further contact.

If they are approached again after clearly asking not to be then at that point it's potentially harassment

Why is it so widely assumed that all elderly people are 'vulnerable'? I would probably qualify as elderly by some standards but I would not be the least bit intimidated by this, in fact I would quite enjoy addressing the unwanted visitor from an upper window and telling them 'get orf my land'.

Vulnerable couple because of their age. Worth reporting and having it logged incase anything else comes of it.

This happened to my parents, my mum was having chemo.

i was there when they turned up and said we weren’t interested. They were persistent.

I would also try to attange some kind of camera to cover the house on that day.

I doubt the police would do anything but the couple's Ward Councillor should be concerned and will be able to support them and warn others who might be targeted in the area.

there was no phone number or other business contact details