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Original poster

I've bought a house but the previous owner keeps coming back and trying the lock.

58 replies

LouiseAnne0130 · 14/06/2018 19:41

Basically, I bought a house with my partner nearly 2 months ago now and the previous owner keeps coming back to "drop round" keys that she has mysteriously found. We know that she has tried the lock (we changed it the day we moved in) as our neighbours have witnessed her doing so. She has also tried banging on the door when she can't get in. I have a small 3 month old daughter and am looking for advice on what I should/can do? I feel that this woman is coming round too often when she no longer even lives within 15 minutes of my home.

OP posts:
bakingdemon · 14/06/2018 20:22

We didn't change the locks immediately when we bought our place as we were about to start a massive renovation project - which also meant we didn't move in straight away. The previous owners let themselves back in to pick up some junk they'd left. We asked our solicitor to write to theirs saying that we knew they'd done this and could they hand over any keys as per the contract. Then put up builders hoardings so they couldn't get in. Agree with @CraicMammy that you go through solicitors and that should stop it.

MayFayner · 14/06/2018 20:22

I wonder if she’s realised she left something hidden in the house, and she’s trying to get in when you’re not there.

lindalee3 · 14/06/2018 20:22

You said she has been TWICE in 2 months. That's not much really. Although, as has been said, she should not be coming back at all really. And she has been trying the door? Trying to get in? Weird!

I do think you are over reacting a bit ... Don't call the police yet. Tell her that you don't want her to keep coming.

I also agree that if she is friends with a neighbour she may keep coming.

I am wondering (a little bit) why she moved..........

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 14/06/2018 20:22

It’s a bit cheeky trying the lock, although maybe she wanted to make sure they were your keys before offering them to you.

She probably did hand over all the ones she knew about, but others will be in circulation, (DC, neighbours etc) so it’s probably just as well you changed the locks and have started afresh.

You probably won’t see her again.

HonkyWonkWoman · 14/06/2018 20:23

Calm down! massive over reaction!
She's been round twice in two months with keys that she's found. She was probably, stupidly, trying one of them in your lock to see if it was the front door key that she'd found.
A bit odd but hardly an axe murderer.
Just put a note through her door, as you pass her house every day and thank her for bringing keys round but you've changed the locks so don't need them.
You shouldn't see her again, unless she's visiting her old neighbours, in which case, just ignore her or smile and say hello.

Doilooklikeatourist · 14/06/2018 20:24

I drove up to my old house many times after we moved , sheer habit after living there for 11 years ( it was the first time my children heard me say Fuck - and they were. 14 and 16 ! )
Never tried the doors though
Just ignore her

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 14/06/2018 20:24

An excess of probablies there but you get what I mean.

DoinItForTheKids · 14/06/2018 20:25

I'd tape a letter to the front door advising her that if she called round again for any purpose you would consider it harassment and be taking the advice of a solicitor.

I'd probably immediately install a Ring doorbell in order to be able record video and sound of all her interactions. If your neighbours are quite near it will record her going over to them probably as well.

If you don't want the expense of CCTV / Ring doorbells - start with the letter and see how you go. Don't be British and polite! Be firm, be absolutely crystal clear it's not ok and you consider it harassment and intimidating when you have a very young child in the house and now that the house is no longer theirs they should not be calling round. You could say to her if she finds any more keys take them to the estate agents.

Hope you can sort it.

I think it is worrying though because what if OP was out or the baby downstairs and OP upstairs grabbing something, and the key she tried DID work - what would the woman have done, just walked into OPs house?! I wouldn't be having that. Mama Bear mode would be fully triggered!

wormysquirm · 14/06/2018 20:25

My friend once went back to her old house when drunk as she'd forgotten she'd moved. Assume not a similar scenario?!

PlateOfBiscuits · 14/06/2018 20:29

The person we bought our house from used to walk very slowly past it pretty much every day when we moved in.

At first it was awkward but then when she stopped doing it I kind of missed her.

The other day I caught a glimpse of her looking disapprovingly at what we’d done to the garden. Grin

ParisUSM · 14/06/2018 20:44

Talk of harassment is totally OTT, as is taping letters to doors. Babies being in supposed danger too, good lord.

Original poster
LouiseAnne0130 · 14/06/2018 21:08

I have never once mentioned my baby being in danger. My point is that if we hadn’t changed the locks she’d have got in. Yes it is only the second time but she isn’t friends with our neighbours. They hated her (a lot) all I needed was advice on the channels I could go through if it got worse but what I should do in the meantime. I mean if she’d have got into my home then it would be a crime but she didn’t as I was smart enough to change the locks.

OP posts:
GummyGoddess · 15/06/2018 12:49

She isn't trying the key to see if she has the correct one, if she was then she wouldn't have left the keys as they wouldn't fit the lock.

Original poster
LouiseAnne0130 · 15/06/2018 13:02

Well that was my problem @GummyGoddess I just don't really understand it. As I was busy at the time I never was able to find out what she wanted. Just wondered if anyone had experienced anything similar and had any advice

OP posts:
anewyear · 17/06/2018 09:12

See, I don't think the op is being ott,
If the woman has found more keys why not just put them through the letter box with a note if necessary.
Trying the key in the lock is just wrong imho, what on earth would she have done if it opened, just wander in and have a look!!they're not best friends fgs Hmm All wring

anewyear · 17/06/2018 09:13

Wrong not wrong

Sharpy12 · 01/12/2018 17:18

This happened to me today.

Have been in new house for 6 months, previous owner left loads of stuff and for a few months gradually came back and took stuff from garden. I didn't do anything about it as it saved me clearing it.

However, today she was back and trying to open my shed. I saw her from the upstairs window and knocked the window at her and signalled that I was coming down but she pretty much ran away.

There's nothing in the shed that was hers so not sure what she was up to and think if she was being legit then she wouldn't have ran away!

Not sure what to do really, is it too extreme to phone the police if she comes back?

mumto2babyboys · 01/12/2018 17:25

Get cctv or at least a dummy cctv camera and the warning sign put up ASAP

She probably feels attached to the house but you have a young baby do it's not on disturbing you like this

domton · 08/01/2019 01:42

Really odd, and I can understand your discomfort. Do any neighbours have contact details for family? Children perhaps, that may be able to intervene? I really don't knew what else you could do... Her actions don't make sense, but what's underlying it is anyone's guess.

Do you have a local police station where you could ask for advice?

wafflyversatile · 08/01/2019 01:51

Why do the neighbours hate her?

KeiTeNgeNge · 14/01/2019 02:44

Hopefully that is the end of it

marcopront · 14/01/2019 03:24

The OP last posted in June.
Why are people giving advice now?

MummySharkBabyShark · 14/01/2019 04:08

@Sharpy12 I would

KeiTeNgeNge · 14/01/2019 04:13

Have you seen her again Sharpy?

BBInGinDrinking · 14/01/2019 04:24

Zombie Thread after 7 months, surely?

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