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AIBU?

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Original poster

Council property possible being abused?

32 replies

daffodilss · 30/03/2025 18:40

Hi
I live on a new build estate and myself and all the neighbours pretty much all moved in the same time as they houses have just been built.

There is one particular property which I suspect is being used for illegal activity.

Firstly the curtains are closed both downstairs and upstairs 24/7.

The people who supposedly live there come for a few minutes a day and are gone again.

The bins are never put out for collection.

When they came earlier I had a good look and there aren’t even any carpets in fitted in so it’s obvious nobody is living there.

I suspect maybe a cannabis farm.

DH thinks I should stop being nosey and mind my own business.

We were very lucky and grateful to get this house, I know there is a housing crisis and I just think it’s so wrong for someone to selfishly obtain a 4 bedroom house and not even live there when a genuine family need it.

Shall I report this or just mind my own business?

OP posts:
mumofoneAlonebutokay · 30/03/2025 18:43

How long have you all lived there for? Maybe they're adapting it for someone

Original poster
daffodilss · 30/03/2025 18:44

The houses were all complete 7 months ago.

OP posts:
MugsyBalonz · 30/03/2025 18:45

When did they move in? When we last moved house, due to the way dates landed we had two months left on our old lease when we took on our new lease, it was taken on two leases or lose the new property so had to suck it up. We payed two lots of rent for those two months and lived at the old house while we did the new house up. They could be doing something similar. House next door to us was empty for ages despite the tenant having keys, they were in hospital so family were in and out getting it ready but no one was actually living there.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 30/03/2025 18:45

daffodilss · 30/03/2025 18:44

The houses were all complete 7 months ago.

So could it be somehow not ready for them yet? Adapting or similar

DorothyStorm · 30/03/2025 18:46

Why do you suspect a cannabis farm?

Ella31 · 30/03/2025 18:46

If the curtains are closed 24/7 how do you know there's no carpets

Original poster
daffodilss · 30/03/2025 18:47

We all got our keys the same day as the Housing Officer completed all our tenancy agreements on the same day to save time as there 10 houses being moved into all by HA tenants.

This was 7 months ago.

OP posts:
Original poster
daffodilss · 30/03/2025 18:50

When the guy came earlier he had the front door open and I had a good look.

He sometimes comes with a carrier bag which I think contains food for the plants.
He put up an internet hub thing in the window the other day to make it look like someone is living there.

When they come, the car is jam packed full of kids and who always remain in the car and it’s the guy/father who goes in every time.

OP posts:
Purplebunnie · 30/03/2025 19:01

Report it to the council. If it's all above board then no problems just the council have had to do a bit of work

If it's not legit then someone else who is on the waiting list gets a nice surprise

Speckyfourfries · 30/03/2025 19:02

Report
I would give anything for a council home...

If nothing untoward, nothing lost or it could get given to a family who are in desperate need

Blackcountrychik83 · 30/03/2025 19:05

Yeah I would report .
We need to stop hoarding houses especially social housing . If it’s not being lived in then it needs to be given to someone else who needs it .

MichaelandKirk · 30/03/2025 19:05

Definitely report it and if all above board it’s fine but quite honestly it sounds very dodgy

Bikergran · 30/03/2025 19:08

daffodilss · 30/03/2025 18:40

Hi
I live on a new build estate and myself and all the neighbours pretty much all moved in the same time as they houses have just been built.

There is one particular property which I suspect is being used for illegal activity.

Firstly the curtains are closed both downstairs and upstairs 24/7.

The people who supposedly live there come for a few minutes a day and are gone again.

The bins are never put out for collection.

When they came earlier I had a good look and there aren’t even any carpets in fitted in so it’s obvious nobody is living there.

I suspect maybe a cannabis farm.

DH thinks I should stop being nosey and mind my own business.

We were very lucky and grateful to get this house, I know there is a housing crisis and I just think it’s so wrong for someone to selfishly obtain a 4 bedroom house and not even live there when a genuine family need it.

Shall I report this or just mind my own business?

Go on a walk one dark evening, get up close and sniff. If it's a skunk farm you will smell it, it's very pungent.

Original poster
daffodilss · 30/03/2025 19:08

Who would I report it too?

The council - as they are the ones who decides who is allocated a house and ensures eligibility to join the waiting list?

Or directly to the HA who own the properties?

OP posts:
CheesyRaver · 30/03/2025 19:18

You can smell it, it will also have a lot of condensation on the windows. Plus normally different coloured lighting to a normal home.

HA if they manage it I would think to report it to.

LumpyandBumps · 30/03/2025 19:21

I don’t know what they are doing there but the plant food for a Cannabis Farm wouldn’t fit in a carrier bag ( I am a landlord and was unlucky enough to have this happen). It could, I suppose be groceries for the ‘gardener’
There is a social housing crisis though and it seems a real shame that the house isn’t being utilised by a family, whatever it’s current fate.
I would report it to your HA. If there is a genuine reason why someone is not currently living there then there will be no harm done. If not a family home may become available for someone who genuinely needs it.

BlondeMummyto1 · 30/03/2025 19:22

They might not be able to afford carpets yet. I’d still report it though.

ExtraOnions · 30/03/2025 19:22

Does it stink of Cannabis ? A cannabis farm will normally smell. Lights? Vents? Condensation?
It will require a lot more fertiliser than you could carry in a plastic bag.

Maybe they aren’t ready to move in yet? Their house, their business

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 30/03/2025 19:27

I'm sure they're just having it adapted and done four for the person living there

It's probably a family member

Original poster
daffodilss · 30/03/2025 19:38

They even have curtains in the kitchen which I find strange.
I can see condensation, I can’t see if the air vents are open or closed though.

I will walk past tomorrow to see if I can smell anything.
I can’t see if any lights on as the curtains are always closed. They look like very big thick thermal type of curtains.

In our area there is a massive shortage of 4 bed houses and I think it’s very unfair that a genuine may need that property and it’s not even being occupied.

OP posts:
Original poster
daffodilss · 30/03/2025 19:41

7 months now.

OP posts:
JohnofWessex · 17/04/2025 09:17

Any Updates?

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 17/04/2025 09:20

Well something weird is going on and it’s potentially depriving a family from housing, so report to anyone you can think of.

restlesslegss · 17/04/2025 09:28

Op did you ever get to the bottom of your investigation?
Probably is a cannabis farm or something of the kind. Sure we had the same above us years ago when we lived in a flat, guy would come and go within minutes on the same day.

mumda · 17/04/2025 09:28

Crime stoppers is anonymous.