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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to attempt to close the gay massage parlour?

90 replies

Snotgobbler99 · 17/04/2018 15:54

I live in a small block of six, privately owned, flats and it appears that two (if not more) young gentlemen have moved into one of them and are using it as a gay massage parlour. Am I being unreasonable to want to close it down?

Well, of course, I'm not. Not only is there a constant stream of strange men ringing on the doorbell (often my doorbell) and wandering around the entrance but clients also monopolise our private off street parking, because you have to feed a meter locally.

When I say "massage parlour", I've found the adverts and it's not a legit masseurs, it's a wank shop. I'm pretty certain a massage parlour with two 'masseurs' constitutes a brothel. Do any legal eagle Mn'ers have any suggestions?

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 17/04/2018 16:37

Anyone else worried about the dogs?

crunchymint · 17/04/2018 16:38

Monkey I can't see where you are quoting from?

MojoMissing · 17/04/2018 16:39

snotgobbler? That is a gross user name - and that's from someone with a pretty base soh. HH maybe - agree with pp.

FizzyGreenWater · 17/04/2018 16:40

I would put up a sign on the communal door and on my own door saying 'These premises are being monitored by CCTV following reports of illegal activity. You are warned that your image may be recorded and made public. Smile! You're on WankCam!'

BrightYellowDaffodil · 17/04/2018 16:42

Fair enough to be annoyed if their clients are ringing your doorbell and monopolising the parking, but maybe you could ask them to make sure their clients don't do this? Failing that, put a notice by your doorbell saying "Number [your house number] only" and tackle the management company about enforcing restrictions regarding private parking.

Other than that, I'd leave them to it. They aren't doing any harm to you - live and let live.

ToadOfSadness · 17/04/2018 16:43

Council could close them down, they need a licence to operate as a 'massage' business.

More than one person working is a brothel, Police matter, either keeping a brother or an unruly house.

Freeholder should deal with it, especially if you inform them that Police and Council have been informed. If the building is owned by an estate or similar and leased to the landlord he could lose his lease if reported to the landowner.

Failing that have a look and see if Angus Huck is still closing brothels down, Google will find him for you, he made it his life's work to try to close down every brother in the country at one time.

Put a note on the front door saying they have moved/closed down, or in large letters, MALE BROTHEL, POLICE AWARE.

SpringNowPlease2018 · 17/04/2018 16:45

sorry for you OP but gird yourself
much as it's against the law to run businesses from homes - and ironically I think that clause is mostly there to prevent brothels?! - in my local area they pay very little attention to this kind of problem

a brothel was operating in plain sight from a building I can see from my kitchen, for years and years and was only closed down when there were some issues with sex trafficking.

Also, very different situation (!) - but in terms of change of use, wasn't there someone on here who had a person in her terrace open up a cafe? Rats, cockroaches etc and the last I heard I'm not sure she had any luck? They seem to grant "change of use" very easily now!

crunchymint · 17/04/2018 16:46

Daffodil I would not want the kind of men who would visit a brothel hanging around a block of flats I lived in.
I have experience of this as well. Live and let live is bullshit in this case.

Snotgobbler99 · 17/04/2018 16:47

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

HazelBite · 17/04/2018 16:47

Contact HMRC, they are probably not charging VAT which they probably should if they are providing a "service"
(many "massage parlours" have been taken to court in the past for VAT owed)

fruitbrewhaha · 17/04/2018 16:49

Put up CCTV? And large notices to inform people they are being filmed. I'm guessing that there will be some clients who aren't supposed to be there. It might put them off. If you affect the business, they may move on.

ToadOfSadness · 17/04/2018 16:49

As for leaving them to it, it can be rather unpleasant living in a building with a brothel, while the workers can be decent people, those they attract are not always pleasant. And you do get lots of people stupid enough to ring all the doorbells, even looking out of your window will get you propositioned. They queue on the stairs, leave vomit and pee behind and can cause all manner of disruption.

A single worker with an appointment system and not too many punters is easier to live with.

If there is post left out in the hall, watch out for theft.

RulaLenskasHair · 17/04/2018 16:50

I'm with crunchymint. I'm sure some of the people who visit brothels are fine.

But from my own experience of living next to one, many of them were not the sort of people I wanted to encounter on my shared hallway.

RulaLenskasHair · 17/04/2018 16:50

Should say sure some of the people who visit brothels are fine -even though I disagree with them on a fundamental moral level. To be clear.

crunchymint · 17/04/2018 16:53

I had no problem at all with the women who were doing this near me, it was some of the men visiting who were an issue. And yes it will affect property prices as does any anti social behaviour.

Original poster
Snotgobbler99 · 17/04/2018 16:55

Mojo - Nose picking is now considered to be an excellent way of improving the immune system.

There's a series on BBC R4 about it now.

OP posts:
SwearyG · 17/04/2018 16:56

Speak to your local community policing team re antisocial behaviour law and particularly closure orders. Our police team shut down a downstairs sex/drugs/party flat using this legislation - the owner occupier was locked out for 3 months. Twice.

PM me if you want more info.

Keilninnock · 17/04/2018 16:58

How does it work? Because tax evasion is a massive source of hatred here. But if you are running a massage parlour from a home, do you have to be registered, insured or pay tax? It seems a bit unfair that things in the UK which are not legal (if it isnt) are allowed to.carry on trading.

CaoNiMa · 17/04/2018 16:59

"eat shit and die"?

Nice.

Original poster
Snotgobbler99 · 17/04/2018 17:05

I can't say the guys in question go out of their way to be pleasant, I might feel different if they did. They wear shades and simply blank other residents. Not so nice when access is shared between six flats. You have to "get on" with people - even if it's at the most superficial level - if you live in such close proximity.

I'm not intimidated, but my partner is.

OP posts:
AgnesBrownsCat · 17/04/2018 17:06

I’d be doing my best to get it closed down . As to how to go about it I have no idea . A brothel in a block of flats with a shared hallway must be horrible for the other residents . What the hell kind of people use these places anyway ? Surely the police can get involved . Tell them you’re worried about trafficking

GodYouMakeMeCringe · 17/04/2018 17:10

No problem with gays? How about not othering a group of human beings in a dismissive manner? Would you say you have 'no problem with blacks?'

Would that be okay?

And as for your 'eat shit and die' comment. Gosh, you really don't like people pointing out your unconcious bigotry do you?

Original poster
Snotgobbler99 · 17/04/2018 17:11

She called me homophobic without evidence, Cao, was that nice?

I asked a straight question, seeking advice. I didn't slur anyone. I'm not homophobic. I haven't even accused the guys of being immoral (because they aren't). I just don't want them to interfere with the quiet enjoyment of my own home, which they are at present.

Or do you enjoy being woken up at 2am by strangers shouting down your entry phone?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 17/04/2018 17:14

Anyone else worried about the dogs?

I'm surprised no-one seems worried about the sex workers.

Usually pimps, gangs and traffickers are a big concern on MN.

bobstersmum · 17/04/2018 17:16

All those supposedly cool about it, I bet you'd feel the same if there was a gay brothel next to your home...
Op I would openly take photos of the men arriving telling them you're going to post them on social media because I bet at least half of them are married.