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AIBU?

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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:
Growingaseed · 22/09/2026 08:30

I would report in these circumstances and wouldn't feel bad.

Theres a housing crisis and people in dire situations. It's not right to leave a perfect good home empty for 2 years.

AbzMoz · 22/09/2026 08:28

It is tenancy fraud and a misuse of council housing stock. I would notify the council or the social landlord that the occupants are only there sporadically and this doesn’t appear to be their sole or primary residence.

Original poster
aibucouncilhouse · 22/09/2026 08:15

ItsOnlyMee1 · 22/09/2026 08:12

You have a nice quiet house nextdoor. If you make a fuss you risk them moving in?

Which is the least worse option?

Not all council neighbours are loud though, we have a few council on this street and they're lovely people. So not worried about who moves in after at all. I just see it as they're taking the piss as they have other means of accommodation and taking up valuable resources which there already is not enough of.

OP posts:
BlondeBanshee · 22/09/2026 08:13

Timeforachange26 · 22/09/2026 08:09

How do you know it' "won't be them paying the rent"

Show quote history

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.

ItsOnlyMee1 · 22/09/2026 08:12

You have a nice quiet house nextdoor. If you make a fuss you risk them moving in?

Which is the least worse option?

Logoplanter · 22/09/2026 08:10

Agree with others it's selfish behaviour. If they are so picky then they should rent privately. There are people in real need who'd love that house and your neighbours are stopping them. I'd report.

Timeforachange26 · 22/09/2026 08:09

BlondeBanshee · 22/09/2026 08:04

It won’t be them paying the rent tho will it?!

I’m another one on the fence. The fact that they are so entitled and blasé about it to tell someone who is effectively a stranger irks me. Also that there are kids and babies in b&bs when they could be in this house taken by people who don’t actually need it… the system is so broken.

do I think you should report it? Absolutely. Would I have the confidence to report it myself? Doubtful.

Show quote history

How do you know it' "won't be them paying the rent"

BlondeBanshee · 22/09/2026 08:04

SparkyBlue · 22/09/2026 07:47

its awful but maybe it’s a blessing they aren’t there if they are loud and if they are paying their rent the council won’t care

It won’t be them paying the rent tho will it?!

I’m another one on the fence. The fact that they are so entitled and blasé about it to tell someone who is effectively a stranger irks me. Also that there are kids and babies in b&bs when they could be in this house taken by people who don’t actually need it… the system is so broken.

do I think you should report it? Absolutely. Would I have the confidence to report it myself? Doubtful.

TwentyDunhill · 22/09/2026 08:01

If they aren't using it they don't need it, and so many people do (I'm in temporary housing). We were in a Travelodge before this house and have no idea how long we'll be here. Were miles away from school, family. Utterly selfish. I'd report them.

Anjelika · 22/09/2026 07:59

I would report them. Can’t be that homeless if they have a house but choose not to live in it. Must be plenty of people way more in need of a roof over their heads.

Ceffton · 22/09/2026 07:58

They’re doing their best 🤷‍♀️

UnwillingAdvocate · 22/09/2026 07:58

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.

You have to be using it as your main home, not living somewhere else. This is a breach of tenancy.

DanaScullysLegoHair · 22/09/2026 07:57

Honestly? I'd mind my own business. You only know what they've told you which may not even be true.

UnwillingAdvocate · 22/09/2026 07:54

Well the terms are that you must be using it as your main home if you want a council property so….

This is technically a breach of tenancy and if people are going to say breaches of tenancy in council properties shouldn’t be reported then they also need to apply that when their neighbours are causing trouble.

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.

MissyB1 · 22/09/2026 07:52

Im torn on this. On one hand yes it absolutely should be reported as social housing is like gold dust and shouldn't be wasted like this. But you say they are loud, so maybe its a blessing in disguise thst they aren't there!

Original poster
aibucouncilhouse · 22/09/2026 07:52

chirrupybird · 22/09/2026 07:49

What's so wrong with the house that they won't live there? If it's an awful house in an awful area maybe I would ignore, otherwise report it if they are that picky they can go private.

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.

OP posts:
chirrupybird · 22/09/2026 07:49

What's so wrong with the house that they won't live there? If it's an awful house in an awful area maybe I would ignore, otherwise report it if they are that picky they can go private.

fruitbrewhaha · 22/09/2026 07:49

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

Nincompoo · 22/09/2026 07:47

Of course you should report it. There’s a family somewhere waiting for a home to actually live in! Social properties shouldn’t be left empty.

SparkyBlue · 22/09/2026 07:47

its awful but maybe it’s a blessing they aren’t there if they are loud and if they are paying their rent the council won’t care

ReallySeriouslyNope · 22/09/2026 07:44

I would absolutely report this.

OvernightBloats · 22/09/2026 07:44

Tricky one. It does seem unfair that there are families in desperate need and this family are happy to live elsewhere for a long period of time.

lolacherricoke · 22/09/2026 07:43

keep your nose out, the system is buggared and they had no choice but to take!! What harm is this doing you?

Smallpoxy · 22/09/2026 07:42

None of your business.

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