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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:
LizzieSiddal · 19/07/2023 11:11

Glad the owner has been u understanding and hope you have a pleasant day today.

horseyhorsey17 · 19/07/2023 11:28

Thunderisntnicebythebeach · 19/07/2023 09:30

Throwing stones and kicking the door... Hardly rampaging with an AK47 behaviour.. You must have had a sheltered life op.

I've never had this happen to me and I used to live over a brothel in Brixton, right opposite the prison.

Weird how the OP has been reported and these little sh*ts seemt to be getting more sympathy than she is. Can only assume some posters on here identify themselves with the stone-throwing kids' parents.

Beaverbridge · 19/07/2023 11:34

Have a good day out.

viques · 19/07/2023 11:35

If it is a very isolated property the chances are that it is local kids, so local police probably well aware of who they are. Call them and ask them to interevene.

MmaRra · 19/07/2023 11:44

We have stayed in lots of holiday lets in the UK, always quite or very rural, and thankfully have never experienced anything like this. I do feel for you and your family, OP. Having experienced a burglary I do understand your mum's additional anxieties about it too.

We live rurally. Policing usually operates a little differently in rural areas to cities. I would report what has happened to the police as soon as possible today on the non-emergency number. It's unlikely that this is the first time the gang has behaved like that locally and they may well be known to the police. Either the police will be able to go and speak to them or you will get a quicker response if the same happens tonight or later in the week. I would probably stay another night and see how it goes, but only after first reporting it. If they turn up again, I would report it again immediately they arrive.

However, if you do leave now, I would expect a full refund. This is based on a different situation, but relatively comparable, where we were offered a full refund or a free return at another time.

I can't understand why you wouldn't leave an honest review about the house and including it and the owner's response, as long as it is balanced, fair and factual. It's only fair to other potential holidaymakers. It might not be the first time, with others similarly not leaving an honest review. Good luck.

Can you say which county you are staying in?

itsmyp4rty · 19/07/2023 11:47

If they damaged the property by kicking the door I don't know why you wouldn't have called the police even if it was just to log the incident.

OhNoYouDidnnt · 19/07/2023 11:51

People have actually reported this post? Jeez.

SD1978 · 19/07/2023 11:52

I wouldn't leave on the back of one unpleasant night, given one night was fine. I think that's a bit if an overreaction, if there were further problems tonight, I probably would, but I'd also be calling the police

Dixiechickonhols · 19/07/2023 12:07

I’d also wonder if it’s a one off to coincide with end of term. So an off one. If you look on local Facebook community page it might shed some light. Not excusing what they did it’s awful but it sounds like kids not a break in attempt.

FANCHEA · 19/07/2023 12:25

Now you know its kids, why leave?

Hateitissues · 19/07/2023 12:29

@Thunderisntnicebythebeach

i am intrigued that you think stone throwing and kicking foot is no big deal, but you called the police when you stayed somewhere rural

what the heck for? A massacre?

Addymontgomeryfan · 19/07/2023 12:31

I don't understand why you didn't call the police. Even rural areas have police.

Hateitissues · 19/07/2023 12:34

And rural would you even be if you picked somewhere because it was close to a hospital for your DM? 😐

BoogieBoogieWoogie · 19/07/2023 12:54

Hateitissues · 19/07/2023 12:34

And rural would you even be if you picked somewhere because it was close to a hospital for your DM? 😐

Pardon? 🤔

ilovesooty · 19/07/2023 13:06

BoogieBoogieWoogie · 19/07/2023 12:54

Pardon? 🤔

Show quote history

That poster is just sniping at the OP.

AdvertisementBreak · 19/07/2023 13:14

Thunderisntnicebythebeach · 19/07/2023 09:30

Throwing stones and kicking the door... Hardly rampaging with an AK47 behaviour.. You must have had a sheltered life op.

Are you bringing up kids to think this kind of behaviour is ok? Explains a lot.

Tinkerbyebye · 19/07/2023 13:15

No I wouldn’t leave, I would report to the police now, close all curtains tonight and if it happens again call the police

Hateitissues · 19/07/2023 13:16

BoogieBoogieWoogie · 19/07/2023 12:54

Pardon? 🤔

Show quote history

How rural can you be if you specifically chose somewhere close to a hospital?

heldinadream · 19/07/2023 13:22

Hateitissues · 19/07/2023 13:16

How rural can you be if you specifically chose somewhere close to a hospital?

Show quote history

You sound a bit London-centric. I'm totally rural but there's a small local hospital 20 minutes away in what amounts to a very large village and two in towns both of which could be reached in half an hour. Yet here I am, surrounded by fields.

AIBUlandlord · 19/07/2023 13:25

If it's Cornwall it's probably unaccompanied private school kids, they break up early and cram into Airbnb's, it's a nightmare. They don't understand about the lack of ubers, fast food delivery and then often panic at night on the beach if the tide catches them out.

The local kids will still be mostly at their state schools, our catchment is 20miles ish. Local idiots get quickly identified via the school & community groups. Most kids we know are working, pot washing in the evenings, etc the head has just been round asking businesses to keep the shifts short on school nights!

It's a different world down here. I hope you stay and can relax for the rest of your break.

Caoilte · 19/07/2023 13:37

AIBUlandlord · 19/07/2023 13:25

If it's Cornwall it's probably unaccompanied private school kids, they break up early and cram into Airbnb's, it's a nightmare. They don't understand about the lack of ubers, fast food delivery and then often panic at night on the beach if the tide catches them out.

The local kids will still be mostly at their state schools, our catchment is 20miles ish. Local idiots get quickly identified via the school & community groups. Most kids we know are working, pot washing in the evenings, etc the head has just been round asking businesses to keep the shifts short on school nights!

It's a different world down here. I hope you stay and can relax for the rest of your break.

That was my thought. I’ve seen some rowdy behaviour around Newquay and Bude.

Mummyoflittledragon · 19/07/2023 13:38

If it’s near your mum’s can’t you drop her home and you stay on? If your kids are scared, you can sleep in the bedroom with them.

SaysRelaaxxx · 19/07/2023 13:38

Feeling threatened in your home is horrible. They kicked the door hard enough to damage it - terrifying. Kids have knives these days, machetes…yes they might just be messing about, but if they can kick a door in for fun, what else are they capable of? I wouldn’t feel safe staying and you are not unreasonable to leave.

Fidgety31 · 19/07/2023 13:50

I wouldn’t cut short everyone’s holiday just because of some rowdy teens . No way .

calmcoco · 19/07/2023 13:53

I think you should call the police, now if you haven't already, to get a crime reference number.

I would take the owner up on their offer of a refund and spend the money on a different holiday when you get chance.