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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder what he's done? Just speculating.

27 replies

Sockstealer · 04/11/2014 13:58

I live in a row of 3 houses we're on the end of a country lane so kind of on our own, they're all owned by a housing association and because it's just the 3 of us I get on quite well with my neighbours.

Yesterday out of the blue my neighbour was evicted, he wasn't there but his adult children were and they didn't seem to know anything about it. They had to leave and the house was well and truly boarded up.

Today two guys have turned up with a pick up truck and are emptying the house of everything he owns. Literally everything they've taken beds part and all sorts.

I'm thinking that he can't have known this was going to happen because he'd been decorating his sons room only a couple of weeks ago, and the men have emptied paints trays and rollers in use.

I guess I'll never know but it just seems so strange and sudden, he'd lived there 20 years and loved the house.

I guess. He must have done something pretty bad but it's sad and harsh seeing all his stuff dumped on a truck.

What will they do with it?

OP posts:
KingJoffreysBloodshotEye · 04/11/2014 14:01

Put it in storage.

Are you sure he hasn't died?

Babiecakes11 · 04/11/2014 14:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

26Point2Miles · 04/11/2014 14:06

go round and explain you have no clue whats going on but can you have back your lawnmower/drill/hoover.....they might tell you

Hatespiders · 04/11/2014 14:08

If you live in the countryside (as I do, right in the sticks!) you'll hear soon enough via the village grapevine I expect. I second Cakes, probably debt-related (like that programme, Don't Pay - We'll Take It Away)

Vitalstatistix · 04/11/2014 14:09

tbh, if it's housing association he's probably had a lot of warnings and home visits and everything.

Maybe he just thought they wouldn't actually go through with it, who knows?

with a HA, it'll likely be rent arrears or anti social behaviour. But if it was the latter, you'd probably know about it.

What a shame. And what a shock for his children.

How old are they? I know grown up, but how old?

I hope he hasn't taken off and just left them to it.

Poor bloke. Must be in a mess to have this after living happily somewhere for 20 years.

Original poster
Sockstealer · 04/11/2014 14:10

No he hasn't died, sorry should have said.

Yesterday I heard loads of knocking on the door going on for about 30 minutes, after I while I thought what on earth is going on so looked out of the window and there was a police car and a big van with security/alarm systems all over. At first I thought he'd been burgled.

Other neighbour later told me he'd been evicted, she'd spoken to the police and the son had had to leave and go to other family.

I guessed it must be rent but seems so strange he was decorating if he knew he was going to be evicted.

He worked but I don't think he was getting regular work, zero hours contract type thing.

OP posts:
19lottie82 · 04/11/2014 14:13

as BC11 has said, it sounds like this has been coming for a while and he has just stuck his head in the sand, hoping it will go away, which is sadly the worst thing you can do in these sort of situations.

Vitalstatistix · 04/11/2014 14:19

Possibly he just ignored it, thinking they'd not actually do it.

Some people can ignore very serious things and go on as normal, totally ignoring this MASSIVE issue. If they ignore it, it doesn't exist. If it doesn't exist, they don't have to deal with it.

Of course, in the end, you can't keep running because one day the shit truly hits the fan and you are forced to accept it. But it hits you like a tonne of bricks because you were in denial, and because you refused to do what you could, when you had any power or control, you just have to accept what's done to you. Which is almost always far worse than what would have happened if you had faced it head on and dealt with it.

I do feel sorry for him. I bet he's in total shock.

Original poster
Sockstealer · 04/11/2014 14:20

That's a good idea 26miles, although they don't look very approachable.

I always thought HA were quite flexible really so I realise it must be quite bad.

He's a bit of a character, always having big ideas, I went into his house a couple of times and there were loads of unfinished bits of DIY, nothing that damaged the property or would warrant eviction but made me think he's quite scatty.

He seemed to have weeks where he'd be working 50-60 hours then weeks when he'd hide away in the house.

His kids are in their 20s, only came back to live with him recently.

I just think it's a shame even if it's his own fault, it can't have been very well planned for all his stuff to be out on the drive like that.

OP posts:
KingJoffreysBloodshotEye · 04/11/2014 14:21

My in-laws have had two eviction notices. They just ignore them.

Heads in the sand. No idea what's going to happen...

Lepaskilf · 04/11/2014 14:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

captainmummy · 04/11/2014 14:27

My DP lives in an exHA terrace - his HA neighbour is a Anti-Social NFHell. We have had problems for the best part of a year with him and HA show no sign of even threatening him with eviction.
Another neighbour got caught growing cannabis in his HA house, and did 6 months in jail for it. Even he wasnt evicted - came out and straight back home.

Seems to be a huge thing, to actually get exicted.

Vitalstatistix · 04/11/2014 14:31

No, Lepa, they don't.

Housing associations don't pay your rent. YOU pay your rent.

As with anyone else, housing benefit may be paid TO the housing association IF the tenant applies and has an income low enough to qualify. As with any benefits. It's the dwp or dss or whoever it is now.

Housing associations don't give you money. Or free homes. They have homes, you pay rent. If you don't pay rent, they evict you.

Original poster
Sockstealer · 04/11/2014 14:36

Well other neighbour has just come back from work and I tried to listen in on her talking to them.

They said his furniture will go into storage and he'll have 28 days. They've roped her into making them tea.

They said to her it's been going on for two years.

You have to pay rent to the HA as you would a private landlord, but it's usually cheap, around £95 a week.

If you're on a low income or unemployed you can claim housing benefit to pay part or all if your rent, which goes directly to the landlord.

But I doubt he'd have been entitled to any benefits as he had no small children and an above minimum wage job, the problem might have been that he wasn't getting regular work.

He want exactly living the high life, he didn't have much, never went out really, never went on holiday.

I don't even thin he's got many friends and family as he always spent Christmas alone until his kids came back.

His own fault no doubt but still feel sympathy for him.

OP posts:
pissinmy2shoes · 04/11/2014 14:40

we had 5 years of shit from people, they are still there. it would have to be massive to get evicted.

Vitalstatistix · 04/11/2014 14:40

They really shouldn't be disclosing that information to the neighbour, I wouldn't have thought. Are the house clearers the housing association themselves or sub contractors/bailiffs/whatever?

I wonder where he's gone. If he knew it was today, he's possibly just left, do you think?
I hope he's ok.

Hatespiders · 04/11/2014 14:43

It is very sad, but (as I always say watching that programme) the rest of us try to pay our way, and if you don't, you just have to take the consequences.

I do feel the Police shouldn't have told people what it was all about. I suppose they were trying to reassure the neighbour. I said villages had a grapevine!

captainmummy · 04/11/2014 14:44

OP - that is why it is usually beneficial for someone like that to go unemployed. then the HA will pay his Housing benefit; it's not worth him working Angry

2Shoes - agreed.

Original poster
Sockstealer · 04/11/2014 14:47

They shouldn't be telling her I agree. Although they do sound sympathetic, they keep saying it's sad etc. They're in a HA logo pick up truck.

I wonder where he's gone, I doubt he'll be entitled to any help as he'll be intentionally homeless.

I can't help thinking he didn't know, not the date anyway as the sons were in the house, and the way he's left all his stuff.

They're going now and have said they'll be back tomorrow and a van too.

Feels like the end of an era, wonder who we'll get move in next.

OP posts:
Legionofboom · 04/11/2014 14:52

I agree that it is a awful to see someone evicted and then their belongings taken away. But this is all pure speculation. There are any number of reasons that could have led to this point. He could have run up huge gambling debts or something.

I agree that the people clearing the house shouldn't be gossiping with your neighbour.

Original poster
Sockstealer · 04/11/2014 14:58

True legion, curiosity is just getting the better of me. Genuinely sorry too though whatever's happened and had visions of him sleeping in his car last night.

We're quite close knit being located sort of on our own, and both neighbours were really lovely and welcoming when I moved in, both have bought presents round for ds on his birthday and Christmas and always stop for a little chat but without getting too involved, so I can't help speculating even though there's no point.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sockstealer · 04/11/2014 17:29

Well found out a bit more.

It was £5000 rent arrears and they've discovered cannabis growing in a locked bedroom.

OP posts:
Vitalstatistix · 04/11/2014 17:43

wow. They are really not fans of confidentiality, are they Shock

proper cannabis farm or plant for personal use? [nebby]

Original poster
Sockstealer · 04/11/2014 17:56

No they're not Hmm although this is 3rd hand from workmen to neighbour to me. I agree they shouldn't be giving out information, but it doesn't surprise me.

I've no idea how much just that there was a locked bedroom with a vent going up into the loft and cannabis growing. I imagine not loads or there'd have been more police around, but then I'm no expert.

Neighbour told me he'd had his loft hatch all screwed and bolted up as she had his key and workmen needed access to he loft once.

I'm obviously completely oblivious.

OP posts:
BalloonSlayer · 04/11/2014 18:04

What a shame.

I suspect the decorating thing was a feeble attempt to convince himself "they won't evict me if they can see how well I am looking after the place." Sad