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Original poster

Previous occupant of my house

206 replies

NoGoAway · 27/08/2022 15:59

I have NC for this as don't want it linking to previous posts I have made.

I have just returned home and found a note from someone who says they used to live in my house. They are asking if I would allow them to show the house to their daughter who was born here. They are staying nearby for the next few days. They have given the years when they say they lived here which mean nothing to me. I know how long the previous couple owned the house but not whether they lived here the whole time or rented the property out. My initial reaction was to ignore the note as I thought it was probably a scam of some sort. I then thought even if they are genuine and staying locally, I don’t want them in my house. There was a mobile number at the top of the note which I tried ringing to say nope not convenient, but the phone is turned off with no facility to leave a message.

I know IANBU to not want random people wandering around my house but is this a scam I haven’t come across before now? I don’t want to spend the next few days on tenterhooks every time someone knocks at the door and nervous of opening it.

OP posts:
BMW6 · 27/08/2022 16:05

Doesn't sound like a scam to me. I'd love it if someone asked to see my house because a relative lived here years ago.

I'd just make sure I wasn't alone with them and I'd accompany them all the time.

Work2live · 27/08/2022 16:06

It might be genuine, it also might not be.

It would be very strange behaviour for them to just show up on your doorstep again, uninvited.

I just wouldn’t try and get in touch with them again and leave it at that. I probably wouldn’t get in touch with them to say “no”.

Moancup · 27/08/2022 16:06

I don’t think it’s a scam. I suspect you overstate the value to someone of scamming their way into your home.

They just sound a bit more proactive than most people who lurk outside a meaningful home and hope to be invited in. If you don’t want them in then don’t message, but no need to get all twitchy that someone is plotting to inspect your wallpaper choices.

Aquamarine1029 · 27/08/2022 16:09

I would absolutely not allow this. You have no idea who these people are, and I wouldn't be letting strangers into my home. Nope.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 27/08/2022 16:11

Tbh I'd be worried they wanted to see what valuables you had, or what lock types on the doors. Is your house particularly old or grand?

gogogadgetgo · 27/08/2022 16:12

Nah call me cynical but I wouldn't let strangers in my home.

Also weird they've given you a number you can't actually get hold of them on.

Can you send a text saying no?

O11 · 27/08/2022 16:13

Moancup · 27/08/2022 16:06

I don’t think it’s a scam. I suspect you overstate the value to someone of scamming their way into your home.

They just sound a bit more proactive than most people who lurk outside a meaningful home and hope to be invited in. If you don’t want them in then don’t message, but no need to get all twitchy that someone is plotting to inspect your wallpaper choices.

Or a bit more proactive than opportunist burglars...having a good look around people's homes first to check out how secure they are and whether there is much of value.

ILoveMonday · 27/08/2022 16:15

I wouldn't do it. It might be genuine but if it's not you could be paying a high price for being trusting.

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 16:17

unlikely a scam

but something I really could t be bothered to facilitate. Arranging a time, ensuring no change to my plans etc. No. look from the outside, sure, but if property meant to much to you - shouldn’t have sold it to me! 😂

hedgehoglurker · 27/08/2022 16:18

If true and you were willing, you could ask to see a copy of the birth certificate, as it lists the mother's residence. Wouldn't blame you for saying no though.

Aquamarine1029 · 27/08/2022 16:20

I don’t want to spend the next few days on tenterhooks every time someone knocks at the door and nervous of opening it.

Why are you so nervous? If they knock and you decide to answer you can just say no, you're not comfortable with letting them in.

YesitsBess · 27/08/2022 16:21

I drove past the house where my son was born a while ago, I pointed it out and said “that’s the house you were born in!” and carried on.

Unless you’re really up for it in an ‘interesting history of your home’ type thing, then I don’t think you need feel obliged.

MrsGluck · 27/08/2022 16:23

I wouldn't want strangers looking around my house either.

I think it's unlikely to be a scam, but why take the risk?

cathyandclare · 27/08/2022 16:27

We’ve had a couple of people come around for something similar, one lot from America chasing their family history. I’m obviously more trusting/gullible than you because I just let them into the downstairs, showed them some old house pics and gave them coffee! No one has scammed us yet <peers nervously over shoulder>

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 16:28

cathyandclare · 27/08/2022 16:27

We’ve had a couple of people come around for something similar, one lot from America chasing their family history. I’m obviously more trusting/gullible than you because I just let them into the downstairs, showed them some old house pics and gave them coffee! No one has scammed us yet <peers nervously over shoulder>

A couple of times this has happened?!

do you just take them at their word?

Crunchymum · 27/08/2022 16:29

If they come back tell them you have covid and cough on them

I jest. Kind of.

Hugasauras · 27/08/2022 16:32

I don't think it's necessarily a scam. My mum took me to see her childhood home years ago just from the exterior and while we were outside looking at it, the occupants came out and got talking to my mum and invited us in to look around. It meant a lot to her Smile

SpiderinaWingMirror · 27/08/2022 16:32

One of my happiest memories is visiting Lincoln with my Dad. We went to look at the house his grandparents lived in when he was a child. He knocked just to ask if he could take a picture of the outside. The kindness in inviting us in was just wonderful.
You don't have to, but I doubt it's a scam!

Original poster
NoGoAway · 27/08/2022 16:32

Not a grand house whatsoever. It's a cottage which is straight onto the pavement with no front garden or porch. Means anyone dodgy knocking at the front door could potentially be in the house before I could stop them. This is reminding me I have been meaning to get a chain for the front door, tomorrows project I think. I'm not going to try and ring them again and hope for the best that they won't just rock up here.

OP posts:
Hugasauras · 27/08/2022 16:32

(Oh and we didn't steal anything!)

abblie · 27/08/2022 16:34

Why can't they look from outside lol

Rapples · 27/08/2022 16:34

I overheard someone outside my house a few days ago with his children telling them it's where he grew up. I thought it'd be so lovely to invite him in so they could see how it's changed. Unfortunately, I have a newborn and my house is a shit-tip, so I didn't. I don't think it's a scam, how could they possibly be scamming you or making money from this? It'd only work if they were "casing the joint" but, unless you live in a mightily expensive home with significant security, they wouldn't be.

Original poster
NoGoAway · 27/08/2022 16:36

abblie · 27/08/2022 16:34

Why can't they look from outside lol

Exactly!

My parents took me past the house I was born in once just so I could see it. Left there when I was three months old so no interest in seeing inside.

OP posts:
cathyandclare · 27/08/2022 16:36

Yes- we’ve been here for twenty odd years and it’s a very old house. The Americans had a family tree, and the other man had a convincing story ( my DH was there at that time too. It seemed genuine -but equally I could have been naive.

SisterAgatha · 27/08/2022 16:37

I think it’s genuine. My grandad once asked to go back and visit the home he was evacuated to, his brother had been in the house opposite. He was desperate to see it as he had such lovely memories. He wrote to the lady and arranged it, they had some back and forth conversations about convenient times to visit etc.

it meant the world to him. He spent years there and was very happy. You’d be giving someone a gift.