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AIBU?

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What is going on in this house?

462 replies

Neighbourmystery · 20/07/2026 18:14

Right, this is going to sound nosy but here goes...
A house in a street I know was owned by an old lady with no family. When she died, her house stood empty for nearly a year then it started having work done. It's been bought by a health service far away from he town we live in (think I live in Liverpool and NHS Devon and Cornwall bought it) BTW these are not the real locations. So, they do lots of renovations, including putting a much higher fence up which has a key code entry they also put frosted film on every window. There's a new build extension on the side with coded keypads too. This is where 2 carers are. There are 4 carers altogether, 2 at a time and then a swap. There is one man who lives there . He is in his 30s , able bodied can move well etc I've seen him once or twice in the garden in a whole year. Another twice I saw a darkened van come to get him. He was only gone for an hour or so then back.
I cannot imagine the scenario this might be. I'm not curtain twitching and permanently watching but I am fascinated.

OP posts:
familyissues12345 · 20/07/2026 19:46

Our local addiction services is covered by an NHS service in a totally different area of the country to us - to possibly explain the normality of the NHS difference

heizfiftyseven · 20/07/2026 19:45

NoodleHorses · 20/07/2026 19:21

Are you in Wolferton and live by the Andrew formerly known as as Prince?

😆

Gwenna · 20/07/2026 19:44

Neighbourmystery · 20/07/2026 18:23

I am not trying to find out in real life. To be clear, I'm just interested. He's very healthy and able so I was just interested about the always 2 carers seperate living quarters and all the security etc

Could be mental health and/or a teenager under 18 in supported living - they will need carers going in at the very least because they’re minors.

Neighbourmystery · 20/07/2026 19:44

SallyD00lally · 20/07/2026 19:41

Of course they can tell her what the building is being used for.

And there's nothing rude about pointing out that the OP is being ridiculous to claim she knows this man is able bodied and healthy.

She knows nothing of the sort.

It was really clear what I meant from the context about the able bodied and healthy comment .
If you're continuing to tell me off about the fact that you can't see mental health or other health complaints, consider me told.

OP posts:
SallyD00lally · 20/07/2026 19:41

Autumngirl5 · 20/07/2026 19:39

Why do you have to be so rude to the OP? Are you like this in real life? You must know that t for confidentiality the carers would most likely not be able to tell her.
I would be curious too if this happened on my street.

Of course they can tell her what the building is being used for.

And there's nothing rude about pointing out that the OP is being ridiculous to claim she knows this man is able bodied and healthy.

She knows nothing of the sort.

Neighbourmystery · 20/07/2026 19:39

Bookworm20 · 20/07/2026 19:37

The NHS lanyards from miles away are the thing that is throwing me. Aside from the property windows and security etc. If its assisted living, why have nhs staff from a trust hundreds of miles away?

I'd be curious too OP. Its hardly an everyday thing is it, I think most people would be curious about it if something like that popped up on their street.

Yeah that is curious I think.

OP posts:
Autumngirl5 · 20/07/2026 19:39

SallyD00lally · 20/07/2026 19:19

Because you keep banging on about him being 'healthy and able bodied', when you know that people will mental health issues can need carers too.

That and the fact that assuming you aren't non verbal, you can quite simply ask a carer what the building is being used for nowadays 🤷‍♂️

Why do you have to be so rude to the OP? Are you like this in real life? You must know that t for confidentiality the carers would most likely not be able to tell her.
I would be curious too if this happened on my street.

heizfiftyseven · 20/07/2026 19:37

TeenLifeMum · 20/07/2026 18:22

Seriously, if this was happening in anyone’s street you’d be curious! I’ve no idea op but I’d be interested. We once lived near a 3 bed semi that was turned into a halfway house for male prisoners upon release. One of the newly released criminals tried to stab my 19 yo neighbour. We’d had no issues in the three years before that and didn’t even know it existed.

😮

Bookworm20 · 20/07/2026 19:37

The NHS lanyards from miles away are the thing that is throwing me. Aside from the property windows and security etc. If its assisted living, why have nhs staff from a trust hundreds of miles away?

I'd be curious too OP. Its hardly an everyday thing is it, I think most people would be curious about it if something like that popped up on their street.

Neighbourmystery · 20/07/2026 19:35

SallyD00lally · 20/07/2026 19:34

Oh don't be daft.

It's a building on a public road, not MI5.

And if privacy and security are so important, how on earth are you going to get a definite answer out of Mumsnet??

Yep you're right, totally, that's me told, thanks.

OP posts:
SallyD00lally · 20/07/2026 19:34

Neighbourmystery · 20/07/2026 19:32

Because privacy and security are clearly important to them so I don't want to compromise that.

Oh don't be daft.

It's a building on a public road, not MI5.

And if privacy and security are so important, how on earth are you going to get a definite answer out of Mumsnet??

Neighbourmystery · 20/07/2026 19:33

heizfiftyseven · 20/07/2026 19:29

Is it a sort of "half-way house" for people newly released from psychiatric units?

If you want to find out, you'll need binoculars (preferably night-vision type) and a comfy chair to sit on while you watch.

Please keep us posted.

🤣 I'll try my best

OP posts:
Neighbourmystery · 20/07/2026 19:32

SallyD00lally · 20/07/2026 19:26

And yet you won't ask a completely normal run of the mill question to the carer next time you see them 🙄

Because privacy and security are clearly important to them so I don't want to compromise that.

OP posts:
heizfiftyseven · 20/07/2026 19:29

Neighbourmystery · 20/07/2026 18:14

Right, this is going to sound nosy but here goes...
A house in a street I know was owned by an old lady with no family. When she died, her house stood empty for nearly a year then it started having work done. It's been bought by a health service far away from he town we live in (think I live in Liverpool and NHS Devon and Cornwall bought it) BTW these are not the real locations. So, they do lots of renovations, including putting a much higher fence up which has a key code entry they also put frosted film on every window. There's a new build extension on the side with coded keypads too. This is where 2 carers are. There are 4 carers altogether, 2 at a time and then a swap. There is one man who lives there . He is in his 30s , able bodied can move well etc I've seen him once or twice in the garden in a whole year. Another twice I saw a darkened van come to get him. He was only gone for an hour or so then back.
I cannot imagine the scenario this might be. I'm not curtain twitching and permanently watching but I am fascinated.

Is it a sort of "half-way house" for people newly released from psychiatric units?

If you want to find out, you'll need binoculars (preferably night-vision type) and a comfy chair to sit on while you watch.

Please keep us posted.

TroysMammy · 20/07/2026 19:28

Have you been on the council's planning portal?

butmumineedit · 20/07/2026 19:28

Neighbourmystery - check out your local planning applications and see what they submitted the planning for, my guess is mental health facility for high level need / but I find it strange they would need it miles away

SallyD00lally · 20/07/2026 19:26

Neighbourmystery · 20/07/2026 19:24

OK so I randomly started a thread pretending to be nosy about this house. Odd, but ok.

And yet you won't ask a completely normal run of the mill question to the carer next time you see them 🙄

Neighbourmystery · 20/07/2026 19:24

PinkyFlamingo · 20/07/2026 19:24

Because I refuse to believe anyone doesn't realise that there are community facities (in ordinary houses up and down the country) for people with mental health problems, learning disabilities, autism etc.

OK so I randomly started a thread pretending to be nosy about this house. Odd, but ok.

OP posts:
PinkyFlamingo · 20/07/2026 19:24

Neighbourmystery · 20/07/2026 19:18

Nope , not a need for an eye roll. It's not matching in tone with how I'm speaking to everyone

Because I refuse to believe anyone doesn't realise that there are community facities (in ordinary houses up and down the country) for people with mental health problems, learning disabilities, autism etc.

hifriend · 20/07/2026 19:22

hifriend · 20/07/2026 19:13

An extremely small number of people get this type of care because as you say it's so expensive. My understanding is it would normally be people who have been very long term inpatients, eg in secure psychiatric units. There's specific funding and policies for getting people who have been in inpatient care for 5+ years out of hospital, for example (these are referred to as Transforming Care patients). Some of these will be forensic patients. Also compared with the cost of inpatient care long term my understanding is it's still cheaper although I don't know how exact costs compare.

Also just to add generally the reason they get it is because they have a legal right to free aftercare under section 117, it's not provided out of the goodness of anyone's heart sadly. The NHS might not actually own the house either, I think these can be bought and refurbished by private housing providers for a specific patient, and then 'rented' to that person but the rent is paid for by housing benefit. The NHS would commission the care and housing providers as opposed to purchasing the house themselves. I think that's how it works in some cases but details can differ.

Neighbourmystery · 20/07/2026 19:22

NoodleHorses · 20/07/2026 19:21

Are you in Wolferton and live by the Andrew formerly known as as Prince?

Hahahaha now that's a thought! I think I preferred the Elvis theory

OP posts:
NoodleHorses · 20/07/2026 19:21

Are you in Wolferton and live by the Andrew formerly known as as Prince?

Neighbourmystery · 20/07/2026 19:21

SallyD00lally · 20/07/2026 19:19

Because you keep banging on about him being 'healthy and able bodied', when you know that people will mental health issues can need carers too.

That and the fact that assuming you aren't non verbal, you can quite simply ask a carer what the building is being used for nowadays 🤷‍♂️

I'm not banging on, I was reiterating to other pp why I thought it was unusual. I will not ask.a carer as its none of my business in real life which is why I'm.chatting on here!

OP posts:
shrunkenhead · 20/07/2026 19:21

My guess is he's done something dodgy and the high security is there for his own safety...
And I think it's only natural to wonder about strange goings on in one's neighbourhood so not sure why the OP is getting so much flack for being "nosey"!

ithinkilikethislittlelife · 20/07/2026 19:19

Not the same at all but what’s hugely common is something like my elderly neighbour who has a care package of two carers 4 times a day. Hugely expensive. It’s just another level of care required I suppose 🤷🏻‍♀️