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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to report neighbours

127 replies

aibucouncilhouse · 22/09/2026 07:31

This is a bit odd.

6 months ago we had new neighbours move in to a council house on our street. In 6 months theyve spent two weekends at the house.

They are never there, never check on the property and just leave the curtains shut. We saw them once and rhey explained the council made them take the property due to homelessness but their family live 45 minutes away so they took rhe house to eventually exchange when they're allowed and live with family. Know nobodies there as theres no n
Movement in the property, bins never taken out, and when they do appear they are very loud.

Our area has had stolen cars and lots of attempts to break into people's houses. I'm worried someone's going to clock on nobody lives there and basically make our street a target for break ins. Am i unreasonable to report to the council that they're not actually living there? Also takes the piss lots of people are facing homeless and theres a perfectly decent house basically being left to rot. Obviously winters coming and the pipes will likely freeze and burst if nobodies there.

OP posts:
Original poster
aibucouncilhouse · 22/09/2026 09:45

unlikelysuspect · 22/09/2026 08:42

I'd report it. Is there a possibility that its being used as a cannabis growing house?

I would think we would see people going in and out more to tend to the plants if that was the case. They wouldn't leave them months at a time.

OP posts:
OneFastPinkTraybake · 22/09/2026 09:41

My council would do zero. I have a neighbour who hasn't lived in his property since COVID as he has caring responsibilities elsewhere. The council know but don't care.

theneighbourgotmycake · 22/09/2026 09:39

I am not sure telling people "you can crash with family, you don't need a property" to remove applicants from social housing is a very good idea.

theneighbourgotmycake · 22/09/2026 09:37

They're allowed a home, they are given one, they are not cheating anyone. Where they spend most of their time is their problem?

If someone has a council property but spends most nights with boyfriend or her mother, isn't she allowed? It's social housing, not house arrest!

You should be delighted to have quiet neighbours!

Lemonpossett · 22/09/2026 09:37

fruitbrewhaha · 22/09/2026 07:49

Yes report it. It’s everyone’s business we all have a duty to report this.

This

therockingbird · 22/09/2026 09:35

I would report this, they clearly have somewhere else to live and were possibly not even homeless in the first place. There are families that are and could really benefit from this property.

Sunshineandoranges · 22/09/2026 09:34

AtlasPine · 22/09/2026 07:53

I don’t think you should report this. They’re doing their best to organise suitable accommodation for their family long term. They have a right to that house even if it’s their only means of getting where they need to be. Different if they were subletting it.

Surely that is ridiculous. They have somewhere they are living, close by family or with family, while. other families are living in hotels and need a home.

Viviennemary · 22/09/2026 09:33

AtlasPine · 22/09/2026 07:53

I don’t think you should report this. They’re doing their best to organise suitable accommodation for their family long term. They have a right to that house even if it’s their only means of getting where they need to be. Different if they were subletting it.

They don't have a right to the house when they choose not to live in it. Thry don't own it. If you feel they are depriving another homeless family then report it.

Lookatmelookatmedontevenlookatme · 22/09/2026 09:33

Surely if they’re able to live with family they’re not homeless under LA criteria? Ideally it should be reallocated to someone in genuine need.

Be careful what you wish for though. You don’t know what the next people might be like.

Fast800goingforit · 22/09/2026 09:29

unlikelysuspect · 22/09/2026 08:42

I'd report it. Is there a possibility that its being used as a cannabis growing house?

This is what I was thinking. The story about keeping it until they can sell it is so fanciful.

Chickpeacurrywithrice · 22/09/2026 09:29

aibucouncilhouse · 22/09/2026 07:52

The area is nice minus the break ins but that happens everywhere. They said as its not near their family, you can't exchange for two years so by their logic they want to leave it empty for another eighteen months. I just think its wrong when its a sought after house and we have 100s of families stuck in temp housing.

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But your initial post was concern that it would make the street a target for break ins? I don’t understand your logic, why would that happen?

keepincool · 22/09/2026 09:26

I live in a HA property. You need to report it. There will be a clause in their lease that they have to be living in the property and can't leave it empty over a certain amount of weeks. I don't believe the story about family ties and swapping either, they probably hope to buy it. It pisses me off when SH properties are left empty. We have situations where couples each have a flat in lovely HA areas, by pretending they're single and they use both properties jointly. There are thousands of people on SH waiting lists, a family in real need would have a home if others didn't take the piss.

Anonfortoday2 · 22/09/2026 09:19

I’d be enjoying the nice and quite

Timeforachange26 · 22/09/2026 09:16

BlondeBanshee · 22/09/2026 08:13

Using logic.

if they were paying themselves, they’d be privately renting in a place they wanted to live.

they’ve been also been allocated emergency housing which means they have a need for it (officially rather than actually otherwise they’d be living there) and a lot of the time this includes but isn’t limited to financial assistance.

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Nonsense. Maybe they can afford to pay £450 a month but not £1200

OriginalSkang · 22/09/2026 09:15

Grow was my thought too

OhBotherSaidPoo · 22/09/2026 09:14

Why have you posted this both on Reddit and Mumsnet?

Happyjoe · 22/09/2026 09:11

I doubt the council will do anything though they should take the house away from them - they obviously are not in need.
But, if you say they are as noisy as you say they are when they are there, I'd keep quiet. If the council are made aware they may well come back to live there.

MeowDoku · 22/09/2026 09:10

What's the smell like OP?
Might be a grow

Alternatively imagine if you report them, they get turned out and the family from hell move in. Maybe just enjoy 18 months peace and quiet

Whoopiedooo · 22/09/2026 09:09

Yes if you feel able to then report it. Like you say, there are families who really need that scarce resource and the current tenants clearly don't.

Dery · 22/09/2026 08:53

To be quite honest, i wouldn’t report it because i would be worried about reprisals. They know where you live and it may get back to them that it was you who reported them.

PussyGaylore · 22/09/2026 08:51

Better the devil you know . . . I wouldn’t report it as you could get worse neighbours in there. Maybe suggest that they get a light on a timer (explain about burglaries in the area) and also suggest they turn the heating on if it’s going to be below freezing?

unlikelysuspect · 22/09/2026 08:42

I'd report it. Is there a possibility that its being used as a cannabis growing house?

ThatGoldScroller · 22/09/2026 08:36

I think I’d report. It’s so hard to get housing where we are. I’ve people sleeping in car so they don’t lose their job, waiting for housing. Only hostel offered is an hour drive away.

WhoPaintedMyRosesRed · 22/09/2026 08:34

aibucouncilhouse · 22/09/2026 07:52

The area is nice minus the break ins but that happens everywhere. They said as its not near their family, you can't exchange for two years so by their logic they want to leave it empty for another eighteen months. I just think its wrong when its a sought after house and we have 100s of families stuck in temp housing.

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They weren’t as homeless or as desperate as they said. It should be allocated to a family that really needs it.

WhoPaintedMyRosesRed · 22/09/2026 08:31

aibucouncilhouse · 22/09/2026 07:39

Needs to be two years of being there so another 18 months to go. Just seems wrong theres families stuck in temp housing when theres a perfectly good house not being used.

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If they are not there, there’s no bins being filled, so none to take out.

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