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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
TurquoiseDragon · 28/08/2022 11:32

Windbeneathmybingowings · 28/08/2022 11:23

Were the other couple resident in the house during the years the letter says? Are you 100% sure?

Otherwise being reported to the police for happening to be born in a house OP owns. Seems harsh but ok.

If you read the OP's update, the previous owners don't recognise the name and were also resident the entire time they owned the house.

Windbeneathmybingowings · 28/08/2022 11:48

Yes. But were they resident during the years specified in the letter?

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.

Great. OP has confirmed they were resident the entire time they lived there. But if criminal daughter was born in March 1967 and OP’s neighbour moved in June 1967, it’s not conclusive or scam of the century is it.

Windbeneathmybingowings · 28/08/2022 12:03

Can you imagine if this couple are real and they get a call from the police just for writing a letter asking nicely to see a house they had their baby in? It just seems so cold, unfriendly, and hostile. If they come back with a clear DBS check and police escort, will you let them look through the window OP? Or get the gun out for your best “get orf my land”?

AnchorWHAT · 28/08/2022 12:34

Probably just got the address wrong.

Original poster
NoGoAway · 28/08/2022 12:42

Windbeneathmybingowings · 28/08/2022 11:23

Were the other couple resident in the house during the years the letter says? Are you 100% sure?

Otherwise being reported to the police for happening to be born in a house OP owns. Seems harsh but ok.

The lady who lives opposite me rang the previous owners, the people we bought the house from, who lived here dates that were given. They were adamant the couple who left the note had not lived here then. I have no reason to disbelieve them.

OP posts:
Original poster
NoGoAway · 28/08/2022 12:50

The previous owners lived here for eight years, 2002-10. The other couple are saying they lived here 2004-06. If they are as innocent as some posters seem to believe they can explain it to the police if they are contacted.

OP posts:
IcedOatLatte · 28/08/2022 13:04

I read the comments on the Mirror Facebook post on this thread and it seemed pretty evenly split between those who wouldn't and those who thinks it's fine

I would have expected more nos from facebook posters

Original poster
NoGoAway · 28/08/2022 13:21

IcedOatLatte · 28/08/2022 13:04

I read the comments on the Mirror Facebook post on this thread and it seemed pretty evenly split between those who wouldn't and those who thinks it's fine

I would have expected more nos from facebook posters

So I've made the Red Tops 😀

OP posts:
LittleBearPad · 28/08/2022 13:22

I can’t believe you reported them to the police!

Ignoring the note could be reasonable - but you’ve totally overreacted.

Windbeneathmybingowings · 28/08/2022 14:22

I’m just going to report every person who ever lived in my house to the police now, just to save time in case any of them have the sheer gall to come back here.

OP you were pretty desperate for them to criminals I think, just so you felt justified in not having a tidy up.

Endlesslypatient82 · 28/08/2022 14:25

Windbeneathmybingowings · 28/08/2022 14:22

I’m just going to report every person who ever lived in my house to the police now, just to save time in case any of them have the sheer gall to come back here.

OP you were pretty desperate for them to criminals I think, just so you felt justified in not having a tidy up.

Whereas I put my hand up and said I couldn’t be arsed to arrange and ensure I was definitely in! My house is pretty much always “guest ready” (much loved mumsnet phrase 😂) but I simply wouldn’t be prepared with the potential hassle!

Endlesslypatient82 · 28/08/2022 14:27

NoGoAway · 28/08/2022 10:59

I feel it's not up to me to text the couple and get further involved with them so decided to report the note and visit to the police. I filled in an online form last night to the non urgent 101 website and have heard this morning that they will be following my report up. I doubt I will hear anything else but who knows.

A budding Nancy Drew OP

No judgement here…. You could be arsed with the tidy up and hassle. I get you and agree

but enough with the Nancy Drew now!

Endlesslypatient82 · 28/08/2022 14:27

not be arsed

gingertoast · 28/08/2022 14:35

My dad still lives in our family home. It's very old, rural and used to be tenanted as part of a country estate. We had several people knock on the door asking to look round as they'd lived there previously. We did let them. They shared stories of what it had been like and the various occupants over the years.

WhereAreMyAirpods · 28/08/2022 14:50

Phoned the police???

Fuck me.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 28/08/2022 15:18

@WhereAreMyAirpods
I concur. Jesus wept, as if there ain't enough for the police to
so.

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 28/08/2022 15:28

Eastangular2000 · 27/08/2022 17:34

No of course she is not obligated to show kindness, no one is. They have asked, there is nothing entitled about that. All of the hostile and suspicious people in this thread seem to be convinced that they are terribly interesting and people would be looking at them and their stuff rather than just looking at a house and having some happy memories. People in general have a tendency to overestimate how interesting they are to others. They are probably the same types who insist on conducting viewings themselves when they sell their houses, so convinced are they that prospective buyers are going to nose through their belongings.

Show quote history

What a load of utter rot.

Endlesslypatient82 · 28/08/2022 15:30

@Eastangular2000

you do like hyperbole don’t you? 😂

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 28/08/2022 15:31

@NotMyDust

I'd rather be scammed, and bt kind and trusting.

WTF have I just read? Confused No WAY are you being serious. You would rather be KIND and trusting, even if means you getting scammed or robbed? Give over FFS! Hmm

Eastangular2000 · 28/08/2022 15:37

Endlesslypatient82 · 28/08/2022 15:30

@Eastangular2000

you do like hyperbole don’t you? 😂

I hardly think I can be the one accused of hyperbole when the OP has called the police 😂😂😂😂😂

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 28/08/2022 15:39

Eastangular2000 · 28/08/2022 15:37

I hardly think I can be the one accused of hyperbole when the OP has called the police 😂😂😂😂😂

Show quote history

It's clearly a scam, if you could be arsed to read the OP's subsequent tweets. Why should she NOT call the police? Who knows what else they have done/who else they have targeted.

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 28/08/2022 15:40

Topseyt123 · 28/08/2022 10:14

She wasn't asking to be judged. She was asking whether people thought it could be a scam or not, if you read her post.

It could well be a scam, and a way of trying to con their way into the house. People have been robbed this way before. My DH's grandma was. It isn't a new tactic.

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Sounds like it IS a scam too, after the OP's update. She said she asked around, and no-one remembers the people trying to access her house.

@NoGoAway

Very interesting. Have been to see the lady opposite and she had no recollection of the couple ever living there. She is also still in touch with the people I bought the house from so rang them up. They had never heard of the couple either and were resident the whole time they owned the house. There won't be any house tour happening!

@BreatheAndFocus

So you were right to be suspicious, OP. Clearly there are more gullible people out there who the scam has worked on. 🙄

Yup, a few like this on this thread it seems. Wink

doitwithlove · 28/08/2022 15:42

JUST NO !!!

Why would anyone ask to do this ....

No, No, No

Eastangular2000 · 28/08/2022 16:02

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 28/08/2022 15:39

It's clearly a scam, if you could be arsed to read the OP's subsequent tweets. Why should she NOT call the police? Who knows what else they have done/who else they have targeted.

Show quote history

Yes, because no one ever concocts a tall tale on the internet do they 😂😂😂. I can’t believe all these people who are so deeply suspicious of people in real life but will clearly believe any old shite someone posts online.

IcedOatLatte · 28/08/2022 16:08

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 28/08/2022 15:39

It's clearly a scam, if you could be arsed to read the OP's subsequent tweets. Why should she NOT call the police? Who knows what else they have done/who else they have targeted.

Show quote history

I don't do twitter so don't know about tweets but the op's post's on here can't prove anything. The only options aren't genuine and scam, what about a mistake in the address, confusion of memory, trying to find a property by sight only.

Why would a scammer leave a note at a specific house rather than knocking on doors hoping to find someone in? Why go to all that effort for minimum reward even if the OP did call them back and arrange a time to go round. It doesn't make any sense at all