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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:
Marmite17 · 13/01/2022 21:11

Awol lady was OK but anti social behaviour, bullying basically, made elderly neighbours lives a misery.
Fortunately better now but more young families.

gelatodipistacchio · 13/01/2022 21:34

Oh, that definitely seems off. You did the right thing!

Northernsoullover · 13/01/2022 22:10

I think its really unlikely that they would up and leave. Not from a HA property. My local HAs (I work in a related field) said that unless people are displaying violent behaviour towards neighbours they won't evict Not even for rent arrears.

AdviceNeeded367 · 13/01/2022 22:31

@stillwaitingonaring

I've heard so many horror stories like that I think I remember hearing about the Joyce Vincent too.

I'm starting to think it's probably down to rent arrears and they just upped and left but then I am sure you have to wait to get an eviction notice until council re house you? I would of thought HA would of been making a ton of visits too if that was case.

I was told by a welfare rights worker who was helping me when I faced eviction due to rent arrears, if you get evicted through rent arrears, you’re essentially making yourself intentionally homeless and so the council do not have to regime you. It was a very scary time (through my own stupidity for not paying the rent) and luckily someone loaned me the money to clear my arrears (and avoid eviction!) before the eviction day.
silentpool · 13/01/2022 22:56

I did call police once for a welfare check. It was in the early days of Covid and they showed up in full forensic plastic suits. Turns out that the neighbour was on a multi-day bender and was alive but wasted. Blush But the neighbour had a lot of issues and was a frequent flyer on the welfare checks so the Police were happy that it was dealt with on the early side, rather than risking a gruesome discovery. So I would call the police and have them check.

user1486131602 · 13/01/2022 23:06

Ring the police and ask them to do a welfare check

TickyTok · 13/01/2022 23:12

Just wanted to say that it might not be anything sinister since the only fact at hand is that they are no longer there.They could have gone to visit relatives over New Years, or on holiday, someone caught covid (very likely with 4 children) and they've all been forced to quarantine.

A PP mentioned rent arrears which is another likely scenario. Our neighbour disappeared out of the blue and left tons of things in the flat (eg a laptop charger and shoes on the balcony). There were bailiff notes on the door which is how we realised it was due to arrears. We were slightly worried something might have happened but we found the flat up for rent online so clearly the owner knew about the situation and everything was duly tidied up for the next tenant.

Leaving the lights on is a red herring since that's so easily overlooked during a daytime departure. I travel between two homes quite often and have left the light by accident on several times, including during an entire lockdown. God know what the neighbours thought about that. Heating is also a non-issue if they have left due to arrears.

maximist · 13/01/2022 23:16

@user1486131602

Ring the police and ask them to do a welfare check
Goodness, 182 posts in and you're the very first person to suggest that. What are the chances?
PriamFarrl · 13/01/2022 23:32

A midnight flit makes sense and I guess why worry about the heating and lighting when it’s not your bill.

JacquelineCarlyle · 13/01/2022 23:44

Keep us posted Op! Hope they're ok!

EddyF · 13/01/2022 23:46

How would you know their heating has been on?

saraclara · 13/01/2022 23:51

@EddyF

How would you know their heating has been on?
OP had already said that she can see the steam from the boiler output vent.
TedImgoingmad · 14/01/2022 01:00

Dreams of a Life, the documentary about Joyce Vincent, is one of the saddest things I have ever watched. She was clearly a very beautiful person, inside and out, well loved but ultimately alone in the world. She died in her flat above a shopping mall DH and I used to frequent. So awful to think she was up there all the time we were blithely going about our business below.

OP, I hope your neighbours turn out to be ok. Bless you for caring.

WombOfOnesOwn · 14/01/2022 01:23

My late ex MIL was discovered dead after a welfare check from a kind neighbor. Or maybe just a nosy one. Either way, their smart thinking saved her beloved cats from dying of starvation and thirst while she was dead on the toilet.

WomanStanleyWoman · 14/01/2022 01:32

As someone who usually avoids getting involved with the neighbours, I think you’ve done the right thing. Based on the pattern of their behaviour, you had reason to be concerned.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 14/01/2022 01:47

Have you called anyone yet?

I always leave a light on if I’m away for a night. I would also let my immediate neighbours know.

StrangerThanSpring · 14/01/2022 02:07

I hope you hear something and it's nothing bad. You were right to report this, I think.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 14/01/2022 02:12

Hope it's a simple answer like they've run off due to rent arrears.

Mamanyt · 14/01/2022 02:42

I would request a wellness check. If you do, and nothing is wrong, you might feel a bit silly. If you do not, and something is wrong, you're going to feel horrible.

CrumpledCrumpet · 14/01/2022 02:44

It would be pretty irrational to run off from a HA home due to rent arrears, but doesn’t mean it’s not what has happened.

They could have done a ‘flit’ for other reasons (eg to run away from someone who is a threat).

Whatever has happened, a welfare check seems the right course of action.

daisychain01 · 14/01/2022 02:47

@stillwaitingonaring

No update here guys sorry, all lights still on as usual. Outside light is bloody bright too and it stays on all through the night! Luckily we have blackout blinds as it shines right into our room.

I will chase it up again tomorrow if I don't see any movement.

Why not report the situation to the landlords as they will have a key to the property and they can at least enter and turn off all the heating and lighting.

If nothing else it's a dreadful waste.

daisychain01 · 14/01/2022 02:49

Surely the utilities would be in the name of those occupants, so I can't see how it would serve them to leave everything on just to piss off the landlord....

Labracadabradoodle · 14/01/2022 02:52

Her gas and electricity bill will be huge, assuming it's not a prepayment meter like a lot of HA housing, in which case it could cut off soon. Unless she's just shut herself away in the warm, of course.

Kinneddar · 14/01/2022 03:02

8 pages in & folk are still suggesting welfare checks. Ffs is it too much to at least read the OPs posts.

She phoned the police about page 2 🙄

LovedayCL · 14/01/2022 03:41

I know a milkman who was the only reason two elderly people were found (two separate instances) because they hadn’t taken their previous milk deliveries in a couple of days later. One of them was alive but had fallen two days before. The police did attend.