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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am I an uncharitable bitch ?

164 replies

snugglecat · 01/01/2017 23:14

I live in a small block of flats. The guy opposite us is a bit of a character 30-40 pretends to be homeless in the local town but obviously has a two bed flat to himself. The police are often knocking on the door and the corridor often has the smell of cannabis but he doesn't cause me trouble. We politely exchange a hello on the stairs but that's about it.

I've noticed recently he's had the flat door propped open on occasion but there is no lights on - I suspect he's run out of electric (but has money for weed)

Today I came home and he's ran an extention cord from one of the sockets in the hall through the letterbox into the flat.

Our communal areas are well looked after and regularly cleaned, but we do pay the service charges for this . Which includes the lightening and maintenance in the cost.

Effectively he's stealing electricity and we are all paying for it (16 I'm the block) .

I have been a single mother living on the breadline making ends meet so I've known hardship. I'm since married with two children . We do OK but we watch the pennies.

I feel annoyed by him doing this but in the same way I'm annoyed with myself for wanting to report him - do I really want someone sitting in the dark with no electric , even if it is self inflicted ?!

So wwyd? Aibu to report him to the housing association ? Or should I be more charitable and turn a blind eye ?

Interested in your views !

OP posts:
Megatherium · 02/01/2017 07:53

The landlord is sure to notice the sudden jump in electricity charges so the chances are he will be found out anyway. I think I'd report him, there is no reason why you should subsidise his fuel costs.

InfiniteSheldon · 02/01/2017 07:55

There's a 'homeless' man in my town like this. He drives up, parks gets his dog out of the car sets up his sleeping bag, guitar etc to look like he's been there overnight and stays til about 2 o clock in the afternoon. We see the same regulars give him money, coffee, sandwiches on a regular basis. All the regular traders on the market we work on comment on it.

Headofthehive55 · 02/01/2017 08:17

UN plug it. Repeatedly.

SoupDragon · 02/01/2017 08:18

I find it amusing that people who are up in arms about this man stealing electricity think that damaging his property is perfectly fine.

HappyFlappy · 02/01/2017 08:22

I would report him.

And I'd be tempted to unplug and then cut his extension cord too (except that the he couldn't be caught for stealing the leccy!).

If he had no cash I would sympathise to a degree. As he has money, but chooses to spend it on weed, I have none at all.

Headofthehive55 · 02/01/2017 08:22

It's a fire risk. And a big one. I don't think unplugging it is damaging to his property.

Skang · 02/01/2017 08:24

If she cut it in half there would be a risk of him dodgily jimmying it back together, which would be more of a fire risk.

SoupDragon · 02/01/2017 08:29

I don't think unplugging it is damaging to his property.

No, of course it isn't.

Cutting it in half, however, is. I don't think deliberately damaging someone's property is any more legal than stealing electricity.

AyeAmarok · 02/01/2017 08:41

He could be running a cannabis factory off that plug! Shock

Headofthehive55 · 02/01/2017 08:42

I'm not as worried over stealing electricity as the fire risk. He must be stopped.

zen1 · 02/01/2017 08:59

If it's plugged in all the time, surely the cleaning / maintenance staff will notice and inform the landlords?

Original poster
snugglecat · 02/01/2017 09:14

Wow - I didn't expect such a response

My husband (whom finds his cheeky behaviour very amusing) First comment was at least he's using a power surging resistant cable or something so he's doing the "right way"

I noticed as I walked past last night that the door was ajar and and it's running one extension off the first to his bedroom powering a light and a few other bits (presume tv phone charger etc) I'm not concerned he's cold as we are on the second floor (and top ) so our flats stay pretty warm.

Mystic - the second bedroom is very small I've recently found out it maybe exempt from bedroom tax , makes me feel a bit shitty my two boys share it. (Both in primary school) but at least we have a home

Robin - I used the word character to be polite Grin

Infinite- this behaviour grinds my gears ! I'm quite a sensitive person , the fact he's taking it away from somone who maybe genuinely homeless is awful. He sometimes borrows a dog too !

The cost will be passed on to us all sooner or later. I'm sure there are people in this block who struggle pensioners ect so I find it disrespectful.

It poses little trip hazard as the only person that would walk past is my family and visitors it would also make it quite outing to report however I'm not worried about that !

OP posts:
Original poster
snugglecat · 02/01/2017 09:15

Zen - I think they come every 1-2 weeks to do a clean. Due to the location none of the other residents or workmen visiting for repairs would notice

OP posts:
Paddington68 · 02/01/2017 09:16

Give it a few days, actually I wouldn't really care.
The extension cable might have a fuse in it, so would stop working if overloaded.

cherrycrumblecustard · 02/01/2017 09:19

Well I can completely understand you having issues with him pretending to be homeless but don't really get how it's disrespectful. I suppose it depends how long it goes on for.

Viviene12 · 02/01/2017 09:26

I would report because a) I do have a massive issue with people who smoke weed b) I do have a massive issue with people who milk the system.

CombineBananaFister · 02/01/2017 09:30

YANBU - it would bother me, as you said, it WILL affect your service charge as its revisited yearly based on costs.
This is a constant bone of contention in our shared block between those who dont pay service charge and those who have to. Those who ruin the communal areas that then need fixing (added to service charge). Dont follow recycling rules and leave shit everywhere (added to service charge) Chuck their DPs keys down the drain in a row then make up but have to lodge he main entrance door open with a fecking rock and break door hinge (added to service charge) Angry
Why should those being responsible who are having to watch the pennies themselves, pay for someone who does whatever. I'd speak to him.

Mrsemcgregor · 02/01/2017 09:57

What a righteous bunch MNetters are.

Presumably he isn't planning on living off of one extension cable forever and he probably wants to get his electricity back ASAP. I would leave it for a week or two and see if it is likely to be a long term problem.

Like a pp said, if he is living as a beggar he probably isn't running washing machines, fridge freezers and a vacuum off of the extension. More likely a charger, a lamp and maybe a heater. I have used a single extension block for more than that. They are designed to be safe or they wouldn't be sold.

The begging is worse in my opinion. I work with genuine homeless in my town and beggars cause huge issues for those who genuinely need help. We have several "tourist beggars" who travel into our affluent town to make more money. Chances are the police know who he is and I imagine soon he will get an ASBO or similar banning him from the town centre.

statetrooperstacey · 02/01/2017 09:58

I'm pretty much turn a blind eye live and let live etc but this would annoy me and I would be concerned about fire risk also. I know someone in this exact situation and they were caught they were not evicted tho even though they had run up a massive bill as they had been doing it for ages.

harshbuttrue1980 · 02/01/2017 10:07

I agree with Robin - its far worse that he's pretending to be homeless. I try my best to give money to homeless people begging when I can, as it would be such an awful situation to be in. The fact that this man is doing it when he lives in a 2 bedroom flat would seriously piss me, who lives in a 1 bedroom flat, off. If he's so strapped for cash, he could rent out his spare room. He is harming other homeless people, as someone might give money to him and then not have any more to spare for someone who is genuine. I'd report him to the police for this.

Tanith · 02/01/2017 10:09

I had just two items running from an extension cable, all fused.
Eventually the fuse tripped out on the extension cable but, when I unplugged it, the socket itself had burnt through - we are very lucky it never started a fire and that we were there at the time.

It does depend on what sort of appliances he's running and the fuses he's using, but it sounds like a disaster waiting to happen and I'd report for that reason.

Tropezienne · 02/01/2017 10:10

I dont care what his problems are. You are not responsible. He's got money for weed, has a 2 bed flat on his own, but expects everyone else to subsidise his life style. Fuck that! Report him - now!

AliceInUnderpants · 02/01/2017 10:22

he's resorted to hacking into the communal resources

Hacking? He's plugged into a socket. Are you the type that accuses someone of 'hacking' into an email account when they know the password?

Dawndonnaagain · 02/01/2017 10:26

He's got money for weed
We don't actually know that. Just because he has some doesn't mean he's paid for it.

cherrycrumblecustard · 02/01/2017 10:27

They aren't subsidising a lifestyle, he's using a socket!

Honestly some of you need to calm down!

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