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

This reminds me of similar scams in the USA. Scammers pose as "foreclosure specialists" to approach people behind on their mortgage payments, offering a way to save their homes. They trick owners into signing complex paperwork disguised as financial assistance, when in reality, the owner is signing their property over to a shell company for a fraction of its value. Another scam is real estate agents aggressively target older or financially vulnerable Black homeowners with cash offers. By using high-pressure tactics and manipulation, these agents convince owners the property is worth less, buy it for a lowball price, and quickly resell it for a massive profit.

How is it paid by the taxpayer? My tax definitely doesn't go to subsidizing landlords. In fact, landlords pay tax on rent. We may not like HMOs, but surely they are helpful for the tax budget.

Genuinely happy to be corrected if I'm wrong here.

Telling them that their house is too big for them and that the sender of the house will be coming round to their house at a particular time - not a request, but telling them that they're coming

What is intimidating about that letter?

I would personally just go over at 11am on the day someone is meant to come and make sure they are alright. If also report it to 101. They won't do anything, but it could quite easily be a scam, and it's good for there to be a paper trial in case lots of people are being targeted. These fuckers always go for the elderly and people who have things like dementia. It doesn't do any harm to try and safeguard your neighbours a bit.

Whoever sent the letter is committing a GDPR breach by using the elderly couple’s data in a way that they haven’t agreed to. They could report the, to the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office). I think they should tell the police too and say they feel intimidated.

I really don't think the police will be interested. No crime has been committed. This potential purchaser is obviously trawling land registry and the electoral register and making speculative enquiries to try to cut out the middle man and get good deals from elderly or vulnerable owners before their houses hit the market the usual way.

They can let the bloke turn up and either answer the door, or not. Their call. If they don't feel comfortable with just ignoring him or telling him to sling his hook themselves, then they should ask a relative or neighbour to be there to offer support and deal with it for them.

How old are this elderly couple?

NO. There's a big difference between a note saying "If you're interested in selling, I'm interested in buying" and a note telling you that your house is too big for you (bloody cheek!) and the writer is coming round at a stated time to offer you less than the going rate. I can see why these elderly people are frightened.

OP, I hope you or the police can ensure there's someone with them when this CF comes to call.

I would have thought that it was obvious that the whole point of the OPs post was their concern about two elderly people who were scared by the letter. It wasnt about what would a well informed confident person would do.

What does that have to do with being
elderly and vulnerable? If I received that letter I would ignore it.

Agreed! Better still, dont even open the door when they knock!!

🤦‍♀️ Yes, I know there are. And I’m well aware that some elderly people would be more than capable of seeing off some bullying scammer without needing any help or advice from anyone else.

But if you scroll right to the top of the thread and read the very first post, you’ll see that the OP’s friend has told her that they are frightened. So I think it’s pretty safe to assume that they are not the sort of elderly people who would be happy to tell impending caller to fuck right off.

Blopi How is that intimidating 🤔 it’s an enquiry surely?

it’s very easy to get names, religion, DOB in fact anything.

Because they are telling them they are going to come around to their house uninvited to talk about purchasing their property. You might not find that intimidating, but I can understand how somebody could feel vulnerable in this situation. I find it hard to understand why you can’t see why somebody, although not you, might find that intimidating?

Please report the letter to the police

As I said most properties are registered I didn’t say all. I still deal with some first registrations but as a paralegal dealing with the Land Registry for 40 plus years I am well aware of the position. What is worrying is those who dismiss facts. You can clarify what I have said with the Land Registry on 0300 006 0411 for the general public or use the attached link for further information https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/land-registry/about/about-our-services

easy to change it. Just click on the one you want to select.

Luckily, the poster you’re responding to specifically didn’t say that all elderly people would feel that way

Some posters have suggested if this was reported to the Police, the Police would laugh at the people reporting.

The land registry is not complete.

Can people stop parroting this nonsense, please ?

Who's laughing?

I don’t know if the thread is real or not but if it is I hope the OP’s friend helps their neighbours to report to the Police non-emergency service and will report back whether they were laughed at or not.

There are plenty of threads on here where posters will tell you it would be ageist to assume that every elderly person would feel that way.

And did your electoral candidates tell you in a letter that they were coming round at x time on y day to try and intimidate you into voting for them?