Do I approach this with neighbour?

[Ofalltheginjoints]

I bought my house in January 2020 and originally lived here with ex DP however he moved out in April after our relationship ended, the house was only ever in my name which made things much easier, I bought the house from my uncle but at market value.

Several weeks ago my neighbour across the road got a taxi and told the taxi driver that my ex partner had "done a bunk" and asked about the rent that I was paying, taxi driver was a close friend of my aunt and uncle and told her that I had bought the house.

Tonight, whilst tidying my front garden, I had a couple stop and approach me about when the house would be going on the rental market as they know my partner has left and obviously I don't a 3 bedroom house, they were quite put out and didn't initially believe me that the house was mine, asking what the rental price was, I clearly resolved that with them however this could only have come from the neighbour across the street.

Do I discuss this with her? Right now I feel furious so no calm discussion would be had tonight (and to be fair she is usually goes to bed around time as she's told me before, she's in her 80's) but tomorrow?

I hate feeling the subject of gossip (and this isn't the first time from her, she broadcast the end of my relationship to the street but I did tell her when she asked) although if this did come from her I'm guessing she'll find out soon enough?

Just ignore, rise above it. If asked directly then either shrug-and-ignore, or tell them you own the house. Don’t get drawn into discussion. Be direct :if you have to “maybe someone has made a mistake, but despite what you might’ve heard, I do own the house and I’m not looking to rent it out”. Honestly it’s not in a anyone’s interest to stand yelling on doorsteps about this.

You could act dumb abs point potential renters in direction of Mrs Gossips spare bedroom, or suggest juicy gossip about yourself, or any number of things. But it just isn’t going to make anything better.

Tbh when I seen she was 80 my first thought was that she's probably not considered a woman buying a 'family' home by herself as being reasonable/possible because it wouldn't have been in her day. I might be being ageist though, but might not be out of malice?

Id ignore OP. Galling as it is.

I also live in a street of retirees. The end of my relationship with my sons father was salacious gossip for the woman next door. Then (a few years later) my partner moved in. Then, when my car broke down and I needed to get DS to school my ExP lent me his car (he had a works van too). Well it all proved too much. She gave herself away with regards to what she’d been saying about me and begged me to tell her what the deal was with my men. Nosey bugger

Your neighbor really should mind her own business! I’m single, live alone, & certainly don’t advertise this around the neighbourhood!

In your shoes, one thing I’d mention to your neighbor is that you don’t want random people (like taxi drivers) to know you are alone, for security reasons as much as other things. Sounds like she doesn’t have much going on on her life though to be gossiping about yours

Some random bloke wandered up to me a few years ago and accused me of stealing the house I was living in from the elderly couple we'd bought it off, at the full asking price...via an estate agent...

People are very strange sometimes.

You could have a word but if she's anything like my mother, who is that age, she'll make up some story in her head, regardless.