something strange is going on isn't it?

[MrNobodytheNeighbour]

New neighbours moved in a few months ago. A couple and I think 3 children. Lots of stuff was moved in toys etc etc.
Then they went and didn't see anyone for a few days ...never actually saw the mother and children again just saw a man return a few days after
Some parcels arrived which I took in-maybe 4 in the space of a week, picked up by various people all very polite and nice. I assumed relatives.

Then....nothing. Literally nothing. Never see anyone. Never hear anyone. Terraced houses so you always hear front doors closing....nothing.
Had someone knock twice asking if I knew were next door in.
The weird thing is we NEVER see the children, apart from that first moving in day-they never are around at school time morning or aft and were school age. Perhaps they are home schooled I thought?
Never ever in the garden.

Once I stepped outside and the other side of the fence I heard somebody rush back in so there is somebody there. It's just eerily quiet.
We've had by mistake a fair bit of post too and there seem to be a few adults living there if the post is anything to go by. I just put it through the door the first couple of times then with the last three I've knocked but no answer so then posted it.

AIBU to think it's strange?

So by the 'obviously not RC' comment I am going to assume they are non-white and/or foreign, either Chinese looking or very obviously Muslim/Sikh/whatever because of the way they dress?

Otherwise you couldn't say for sure they are not RC. Tell us, and it might help us narrow down the possibilities of what's going on!

I think you need a hobby, OP

No one would be bothered to buy loads of kids furniture, toys etc just to commit housing fraud. I'd say his wife and kids were supposed to have moved in with him but changed their mind either due to divorce or because they prefer the old place they lived. It happens a lot.

What's a scatter house?

The fact only the bathroom light comes on occasionally is weird, do they just sit in the dark? I'd report too. Just for peace of mind.

I also immediately though 'front for a cannabis factory'

I'd report to police 101/Council/both

Letters were all addressed to the correct house number just for some reason all got out through our letterbox
Highly doubt its cannabis as can't smell anything.

Maybe I should just knock again and hope for a response? Introduce myself or something? But never had a response previously. They seems friendly the day they 'moved in' and did say hello but clearly didn't want to actually talk likewise when collecting the parcels

How could you tell they were not RC?

I would report it and hopefully someone will
Come round and check.

They are muslim hence why I feel that it's not a school catchment area. The school nearby has barely taken any non RC children in years (we enquiried as it was so close but were told even living so close it would be impossible)

I have no idea what a scatter house is so can't comment on that

Maybe they are subletting it?

Am interested to see what comes of this, I have similar happened next to my house

Nose out!

Subletting doesn't seem likely as surely we would then see somebody. It's just so unusually silent. Quiet neighbours id just be grateful for and I know how nosy I sound but it's so so strange there's literally nothing going on there at all

nose out!

I know, I should, but it's such a small street with small houses that are all terraced that it's really noticeable there's nobody coming or going etc. It's really unusual they literally did the house up over a few weeks lots of coming and going from decorators etc etc, moved in one weekend and then drove off-never seen anyone there since apart from to collect the parcels that arrived
I don't want to be nosy but I can't help it

I'd have to report, definitely sounds strange

You know it's definitely council, ya? And not an ex-council property that was bought under RTB? Googling the exact address potentially brings up any previous online estate/lettings agents listings.

Perhaps you should report it if you think that there's tenancy fraud taking place. I don't really like telling tales on people, but it's not OK to take a house away from a family that needs it.

Maybe I should pop a note through if they won't answer the door ? Just saying we never got a chance to introduce ourselves properly, we hope they've settled in well something like that ? For all I know they could have serious problems anything could have happened maybe I should take a neighbourly approach initially rather than reporting to council etc?

It could be that a family has separated, been offered council accommodation and decided to stay together for whatever reason. It could be that the family that is renting the house is living with other family for now. Maybe there has been an illness or a new baby or something.

I used to live next door to a family of Pakistanis and there were actually 3 family units living in one property despite the fact that one of the familys owned another property. They were slowly doing the property up to move into but had a new baby and it was more culturally expected that the young family lived with relatives for a while.

Or it could be something dodgy.

I would be tempted to wait until the school holidays and see what happens then.

Wow. You do know that Muslim children do go to both RC and CoE schools?

Yes def council we knew the previous tenant well and her family told us when they handed keys back to council etc and we saw the HO showing potential tenants round etc

As they are a Muslim family, do you think they may have gone on an extended trip to visit family abroad? Maybe they have an ill relative somewhere so need to stay there. And in the meantime are getting someone to check on the house occasionally.

Yes I'm aware of that but this particular RC school hasn't admitted any non RC children in 6 years. It's very small and we tried for our own dc.