Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not seen neighbours in weeks lights and heating on

351 replies

stillwaitingonaring · 13/01/2022 10:14

Been thinking to myself the last week or so how weird it is that we haven't seen the neighbours in weeks probably coming up to a month now. Every single light on in the house and heating on all day and night.

They have had lots of police involvement in the past, she had 4 older children with learning difficulties police were being called out so many times a week. Her children are normally jumping on the car roof slamming doors etc. Not seen or heard a peep from them since mid December. I always felt sorry for her because it seemed like she couldn't cope with all of them in that small house they were running her ragged.

I knocked on yesterday morning and obviously no answer, is this something you would report to the police or just leave it?

OP posts:
Quackpot · 13/01/2022 11:10

I really hope it's nothing sinister

sidesplittinglol · 13/01/2022 11:16

Good on for you op for reporting it as it does sound odd given their history. Hopefully nothing sinister. Will the police update you?

Also, not the point, but how do you know the heating is on??

StrifeOfBath · 13/01/2022 11:28

@sidesplittinglol

Good on for you op for reporting it as it does sound odd given their history. Hopefully nothing sinister. Will the police update you?

Also, not the point, but how do you know the heating is on??

I know when my neighbour’s heating is on; I can hear their boiler varumph into action when the thermostat drops, I can see the vapour coming out of the vent from the boiler, and my house stays warmer longer.
SapphosRock · 13/01/2022 11:29

Also curious how you know their heating is on day and night?

Original poster
stillwaitingonaring · 13/01/2022 11:29

No flies or anything, I don't know if the police will update me she never said to be honest I may call up again in a few days if I don't hear anything.

@sidesplittinglol steam out the vents on the front, mine stops blowing out not long after I turn my heating off. Theirs is constantly on I have no clue about heating but best way I could explain lol.

OP posts:
BoredZelda · 13/01/2022 11:39

they have no blinds in the kitchen so I can see everything. Sides are empty though no kettle or toaster but then I don't know if she ever had them.

Sounds like they have done a bunk.

bloodywhitecat · 13/01/2022 11:42

@sidesplittinglol

Good on for you op for reporting it as it does sound odd given their history. Hopefully nothing sinister. Will the police update you?

Also, not the point, but how do you know the heating is on??

We have an oil fired boiler, you can tell when the heating/hot water is on by the clouds of steam from the boiler.
TheYearOfSmallThings · 13/01/2022 11:45

Are they from the UK? Might they just have gone to their home country for an extended stay?

littlefireseverywhere · 13/01/2022 12:02

Well done OP, you've done the right thing.

Glitterygreen · 13/01/2022 12:08

Hope they have moved, otherwise their bills will be massive when they return Hmm

Original poster
stillwaitingonaring · 13/01/2022 12:26

Police just called back and asked for the name of the company for housing. she sounded concerned and asked if knew their names to check if it matched up to what she had but I didn't.

So I guess I will wait and see what happens now!

OP posts:
GuardsGuards · 13/01/2022 12:28

How strange leaving all the lights on and heating. Unless they are pissed at the landlord so dumped the car and did a moonlight flit & left everything on on purpose. I hope that is the case.

GuardsGuards · 13/01/2022 12:29

Cross post.
I hope everything is ok.

MadeForThis · 13/01/2022 12:32

They may have ran off. At least the police are aware now if anyone does need help.

WhoAre · 13/01/2022 12:37

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Cornettoninja · 13/01/2022 12:38

At least you know they’re looking into it.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 13/01/2022 12:42

Well done for reporting. I remember the case of the woman alone who had been dead for so long.

I’m sure this isn’t the case, but it’s good to care about our neighbours.

SafferUpNorth · 13/01/2022 12:51

How odd - you've definitely done the right thing reporting it.

Heating being on day and night seems to imply that there's a window or door open / smashed. Can you walk round the back at all?

Anyway if the police are on their way to do a check, you've done your bit. Fingers crossed they're OK.

Looubylou · 13/01/2022 12:52

If her children are still children, and there have been multiple police visits, they will be known to Social Services. Hopefully, the police will do a proper Welfare Check. If you think they have not took your concerns seriously, I would ring Social Services, and say you are afraid for the safety of the adult and children, at that address. Sounds like the police are onto it though. Hopefully they are all safe and well - you've absolutely done the right thing OP.

londonrach · 13/01/2022 12:58

Report as a welfare check.. we did that on our elderly neighbour. I saw him daily going for a walk. Three days I didn't see him so reported it.. police turned up. They phoned his friends and no one seen him. They spoke to everyone in block, no one had seen him. They told us to all go in and took his door out. Letter on table from ambulance staff..my neighbour had been taken into hospital three days prior. I apologized to the police but they told me they were vvvvv glad I'd called as rather had a false alarm and they replaced the door within an hour. Sadly my neighbour never returned home and I miss our chats but always always report if concerned x

justhereforthecraic · 13/01/2022 13:03

you have done the right thing. i work for a housing association and we like to see people like this checking in on their neighbors and raising concerns.

It does sound like have done a bunk so fingers crossed

GoodieMoomin · 13/01/2022 13:08

@VestaTilley @Gargellen I remember that. The film was called Dreams of a Life and the woman was Joyce Carol Vincent. I seem to recall that she was wrapping Christmas presents at the time of her death which struck me as perhaps the saddest part. She cared enough about someone to be wrapping Christmas presents for them but she died and for no one knew for years.

crispsarny · 13/01/2022 13:10

@Gargellen

I would ask the police to do a welfare check.

Reminds me of the woman that had been dead in her flat for four years with the telly going day and night. The neighbours said that in retrospect, it did seem odd.

She was only discovered because her bank account had run out of money for her rent payments to fail.

That’s very sad, poor woman, seemed odd, why didn’t they check, such a cold selfish society we live in.
Joystir59 · 13/01/2022 13:11

I'd see if other neighbours know anything, and if not I'd report it to the police

Nillynally · 13/01/2022 13:12

This is worrying I hope everything's ok