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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

more a wwyd - cutting holiday short

209 replies

Auntieobem · 19/07/2023 08:22

Am on week long stay in rented house, with elderly mum, dp, dB and nephew and my 2 daughters. Last night was our second night here - first was uneventful. So, kitchen at back with big windows/ doors to garden which leads to public path and beach. Around midnight there's a very bright strobe light shone through kitchen. DB goes outside- its a group of kids. So we try to ignore. Goes on for about 20 minutes. Then there's knocking at front door - noone there. Light appears again and then we hear what we think are stones being thrown at back. Front door then gets kicked and windows knocked on. By now my youngest is terrified, as is my mum. DP and DB follow the kids at front and get abuse shouted at them. DP and DB stay at front door until after 1.30, when it all goes quiet.

We didn't call police, very rural here and assumed that by time they'd arrive it would be over, and that police would escalate

I messaged house owner last night to say we'd be leaving today. We don't feel safe.

This was first time I've spent time with DB and DM in years. So disappointed.

Would you leave? We spent over £1500 on house. What refund (if any?) would you expect?

OP posts:
dudsville · 19/07/2023 08:25

I would hope for a full refund, but that poor home owner, i wonder if they're the victims too of harassment by neighbours and if this is an attempt to attack their livelihood. But for you and your family this is awful, you can't holiday when you're so distressed!

Whataretheodds · 19/07/2023 08:25

No I wouldn't leave. I'd call the police non- emergency number, and I'd ask the owner to consider whether there's anything they can do to make the place more secure within the week (ring doorbell).

If the kids come back I'd be calling the police and filming them.

Dulra · 19/07/2023 08:25

Not sure I would leave but I would definitely report to police and let house owner know what has happened and what would they advise. Do they age another property you could go to instead? It s obviously kids messing about that have no idea how intimidating their behaviour is

Coffeetree · 19/07/2023 08:25

That's a real shame. I'd report to the police just so it's on record. I wonder if it happens all the time.

Making the police report will also help you get a refund/claim on insurance.

Iwantmyoldnameback · 19/07/2023 08:25

I think I'd be having a word with the police personally.

Hoppinggreen · 19/07/2023 08:27

I wouldn’t leave but if I did I wouldn’t expect any refund.
Speak to the owner again and see if they can shed any light on it and also contact the police if anything else happens

Doggymummar · 19/07/2023 08:28

I wouldn't think there would be any refund unless you give then a chance to fix things. Call them today and let them know, see how they react, police extra security etc and tell them if it happens tonight, or again you will require a full refund and compensation.

DimeStoreHooker · 19/07/2023 08:29

All sounds a bit Eden Lake 😬

Personally I would have called the police when it happened, not sure about staying

Reallybadidea · 19/07/2023 08:29

I don't understand why you didn't call the police. How would they escalate it? I think you'll have a very hard time getting a refund without a crime number.

rookiemere · 19/07/2023 08:30

If you haven't called the police or the owner, leaving seems a bit of an overreaction although I do appreciate it must have been a very scary experience.

I wouldn't expect a full refund for what you have described unfortunately. If the property is as described then it's hardly the owners fault that a gang or similar has targeted it.

Hateitissues · 19/07/2023 08:30

So you’re leaving before even trying the police?

Hateitissues · 19/07/2023 08:30

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Jimminir · 19/07/2023 08:30

I wouldn’t leave over a bunch of kids.

I also wouldn’t expect a refund if I did leave. It’s your choice.

DDivaStar · 19/07/2023 08:31

That does sound worrying. I don't think I'd leave, I'd contact police nkn emergency and thd owner. As soon as anything happened tonight I'd call the police and tell the kids. They want a reaction, don't give it, just say the police will deal with them when they arrive.

OrwellianTimes · 19/07/2023 08:31

You should have called the police, at least you’d have a reference number to show the owners.

Are you in an area where holiday homes are resented? Used to be problems like this in North Wales but not heard of it for ages.

FoodFann · 19/07/2023 08:31

Yes, speak to the police, they might tell you that it’s a common problem for that property. In which case, you’d ample have grounds for a full refund because the home owner knew they were putting you in danger

BHRK · 19/07/2023 08:32

You should have called the police obviously!
this isn’t the home owners fault. Of course you can’t ask for a refund

cyclamenqueen · 19/07/2023 08:32

Is this Cornwall , if you are next to a path to the beach then you will get people using it , but this is unacceptable. Cornwall police are having a crack down in teenagers on beaches etc so definitely worth calling

Maddy70 · 19/07/2023 08:33

I wouldn't leave but I would call the police and ask for a presence tonight

LizzieSiddal · 19/07/2023 08:34

No I wouldn’t leave today.

I would phone the police now and ask for advice on what to do if it happens again tonight. I’d also ask the owner what they suggest you do if it happens again.

Enjoy your day today then if it does happen again tonight I’d video what’s going on so you have evidence for the police and owners. If it’s very scary again then yes I would go home tomorrow, but at least you’d have given it another try.

I really wouldn’t expect any refund, it’s not the owners fault!

EsmeSusanOgg · 19/07/2023 08:35

You can't really expect a refund from the homeowner, not without calling the police. The only caveat would be if this is a known issue the homeowner did not disclose.

You need to call the police before doing anything. Give the homeowner the incident report and ask if this has happened before.

If you choose to leave, they may give you a good will partial refund. Who knows. It is worth noting in the review that there was harrasment.

gogomoto · 19/07/2023 08:35

Just call the police, it's their job to investigate harassment. It's not the owners fault, they rented to you in good faith

cocksstrideintheevening · 19/07/2023 08:35

No I wouldn't leave. I would have done something about it last night.

EsmeSusanOgg · 19/07/2023 08:36

FoodFann · 19/07/2023 08:31

Yes, speak to the police, they might tell you that it’s a common problem for that property. In which case, you’d ample have grounds for a full refund because the home owner knew they were putting you in danger

This is a good point.

Caoilte · 19/07/2023 08:36

No, I wouldn’t leave. I’d have been unnerved till I realised it was kids (by which you mean teenagers? How old?), and then just been annoyed. I’d have called the police at the time, called the owner in the morning, and tried to figure out a way forward — would probably give it a second night, at least, after asking the police/owner whether this was something recurring. It’s the owner’s issue, really, as no one is going to want to rent a holiday home where this kind of thing happens.

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