Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

something strange is going on isn't it?

201 replies

MrNobodytheNeighbour · 27/05/2017 21:58

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?

OP posts:
SaucyJack · 28/05/2017 09:38

Yes, something's up. It's condition of a council tenancy that the property is your primary residence.

I think at best they've obtained an address for benefit purposes, and have moved back in with family either in the U.K. or abroad.

Greenkit · 28/05/2017 09:44

place marking

Mooey89 · 28/05/2017 09:46

I'm voting cannabis farm

Original poster
MrNobodytheNeighbour · 28/05/2017 09:51

Surely I'd smell it if it was cannabis ? Or does it only smell when smoked ?

OP posts:
Jupitar · 28/05/2017 09:55

The smell only carries when it's smoked, it probably smells less than a house full of daffodils would Grin

Jupitar · 28/05/2017 09:58

It would also explain the person hiding from you as they wouldn't want to be identified as the person responsible for the plants.

childmaintenanceserviceinquiry · 28/05/2017 10:02

Sounds very strange. Worth calling the Housing department at the LA. I have always found my local council staff to be very knowledgable and helpful if I have a query over something a neighbour has done.

TSSDNCOP · 28/05/2017 10:06

We are all being urged to be vigilant these days. You wonder if the landlord that smelled chemicals after the Manchester bomber moved out could have raised the alert sooner.

What's the worst that could happen if you called 111 or the council? Someone pops round to have a recce, no harm done.

You could be living next to a perfectly lovely, quiet family OP, or not.

becotide · 28/05/2017 10:07

Jupitar, cannabis stinks. It stinks when it's smoked but it also stinks when it's growing.

Bluntness100 · 28/05/2017 10:10

Possibly they were preparing it for someone to move in and something has went wrong or is delayed. As in if they were living with elderly parents and then one got sick so they have stayed to help care intending to move in when they can.

KungFuPandaWorksOut16 · 28/05/2017 10:13

It would only start smelling when theybwas pretty much grown so you should have smelt something by now. I would make a call.

Jupitar · 28/05/2017 10:15

Becotide

The plants only smell when they're big, baby and mid sized plants don't really smell, plus the smell doesn't travel like smoked cannabis and you wouldn't smell it next door if they've sealed and blacked out the windows and rarely open the doors.

witwootoodleoo · 28/05/2017 10:17

I'd be concerned about fire risk tbh. Could be a cannabis farm or used for cooking meth or similar. Both have increased risk of fire associated with them. I'd definitely report it

user1495388403 · 28/05/2017 10:22

Sounds dodgy as hell! Was the company the parcels were from printed on them? I would definitely call the police, at the least its a council house that should go to someone else if not being used... At the worst, who knows??

walmo · 28/05/2017 10:23

From what you say OP, the only light you see is in the bathroom. Could the other windows be blacked out? Don't understand how anyone could be living in a house without lighting at night.

GeorgeTheHamster · 28/05/2017 10:24

I think I'd call both the council and the police non emergency number. Better safe than possibly very sorry.

Original poster
MrNobodytheNeighbour · 28/05/2017 10:26

Yes a couple were from shops I think it was Wilko and Homebase. Others plain boxes

The bathroom window is open today it's the only one. That's the only room that ever see a light in too

OP posts:
LaLegue · 28/05/2017 10:26

From what you've said my guess is the family applied for a council house, got it, went through the appearance of moving in a family with children and have now buggered off to live elsewhere while they sublet the house to several sharing adults and rake the money in. I would report to the council and get them to check it out.

metalmum15 · 28/05/2017 10:32

I agree with LaLegue ,sounds like they've managed to get a council house on the basis of having children, but aren't actually using it for those purposes. They're either living somewhere else or abroad. We have a family near us who I think are Egyptian, they spend most of their time abroad and only come back with the kids for a few weeks every year. The rest of the time the house is empty. (House is private though, not council. )

metalmum15 · 28/05/2017 10:32

I agree with LaLegue ,sounds like they've managed to get a council house on the basis of having children, but aren't actually using it for those purposes. They're either living somewhere else or abroad. We have a family near us who I think are Egyptian, they spend most of their time abroad and only come back with the kids for a few weeks every year. The rest of the time the house is empty. (House is private though, not council. )

MuncheysMummy · 28/05/2017 10:32

Jesus the lengths your going to to justify not reporting it to yourself! I have never heard such an obvious scam/dodgy situation so obvious yet the OP still isn't sure to report it? What would it take? A big box labelled 'BOMB' being carried into the house in the middle of the day by 4 men or a van pulling up outside with "cannabis harvesting services" written on the side to get you to report to the authorities?! It's been 10 months and you are sure there is no one living there this alone is reason enough to report to LA! DO something or you will always live with the regrets that you could've been the person to avoid/stop the situation happening.

firawla · 28/05/2017 10:37

If you want an excuse to go and knock again and see if you can have a chat, you could take something over in the evening (cake etc?) and say Ramadan Mubarak cos the first day was yesterday

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 28/05/2017 10:39

Please report your concerns OP, 9/10 months is a long time.

chocolateworshipper · 28/05/2017 10:40

maybe one of the adults is in a witness protection programme

LaLegue · 28/05/2017 10:45

Bloody hell if you are taking them cakes for Ramadan remember not do do it until after dark! 😂😂😂