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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I'm going to get burgled or even murdered

26 replies

PerfectPennyKilledMyHusband · 03/04/2025 00:24

We currently rent our house but our landlord has just put it up for sale so we are looking to move.

Today the estate agent who it's advertised with called us and said they had someone who wanted to view but they were busy and the landlord was unavailable, so would we mind showing them round. Bit weird but I agreed.

So this couple turned up, they seemed like very nice people. I was trying to show them round the house while dealing with my toddler running round like a lunatic. They had a lot of questions and I was trying to make sure I was completely objective and honest, without appearing too enthusiastic as I don't really want them to buy it tomorrow! I think I did a pretty good job, I do actually think they will put an offer in.

Anyway one of the questions the husband asked was "do all the windows and doors lock ok?". The thing is our back door stopped locking properly a couple of weeks ago. We have told the landlord and he said he would get it sorted but he isn't the quickest with these things. It's a really safe area and there's a pretty high fence to get into the garden to access the back door, so to be honest I haven't really given it much thought. I know I should have done. But when the viewer asked the question I just said without thinking "oh the back door doesn't lock actually but it should be fixed soon".

Now I'm lying in bed thinking what a weird question that was. Surely you wouldn't go and view a house just to find out if it's easy to break into, would you? But it's not a question I'd ever think to ask if I was viewing a property.

I'll call the landlord again in the morning and if he doesn't get it sorted I'll tell him we are sorting a locksmith ourselves. But in the meantime, do I need to sleep with a baseball bat next to the bed?

YABU - The nice friendly couple want to buy the house, not break into it
YANBU - It was all part of their elaborate burglary plan, good luck surviving the night

OP posts:
Star81 · 03/04/2025 00:26

Window locks are often asked about for insurance quotes so they were probably asking for that reason

FeministUnderTheCatriarchy · 03/04/2025 00:26

It's a good question to ask. My mum purchased a house once and hadn't noticed that a couple of back windows were warped and didn't fully close. It was an unexpected expense that she had to sort after all the moving costs etc.

People tend to have quirks when buying a house. I have a friend that goes around turning on every tap and flushing toilets lol

I don't think you are going to be murdered.

Saphire123 · 03/04/2025 00:29

UABU...Put the baseball bat away and relax.😉

ThisIsMyYearToFindMyself · 03/04/2025 00:34

If you’re worried right now, put some saucepans balanced on top of each other by the back door.

Poppyseeds79 · 03/04/2025 00:36

If it's bothering you tonight just go prop a chair or something under the handle.

Original poster
PerfectPennyKilledMyHusband · 03/04/2025 00:37

ThisIsMyYearToFindMyself · 03/04/2025 00:34

If you’re worried right now, put some saucepans balanced on top of each other by the back door.

Will have to leave a note for my husband if I do this. He gets up for work before me and will think I've lost the plot!

OP posts:
SandyY2K · 03/04/2025 00:37

I couldn't sleep if my any doors didn't lock properly in my house. I'm very security conscious.

Wingedharpy · 03/04/2025 00:41

PerfectPennyKilledMyHusband · 03/04/2025 00:37

Will have to leave a note for my husband if I do this. He gets up for work before me and will think I've lost the plot!

Show quote history

You have a husband?!
Why on earth are you worrying then?
He'll protect you from any vagabonds............... won't he? 😉

Christ0nABike · 03/04/2025 00:43

ThisIsMyYearToFindMyself · 03/04/2025 00:34

If you’re worried right now, put some saucepans balanced on top of each other by the back door.

I’ve got a mate who specialises in this sort of thing. Look him up - Kevin McCallister.

Original poster
PerfectPennyKilledMyHusband · 03/04/2025 00:43

Wingedharpy · 03/04/2025 00:41

You have a husband?!
Why on earth are you worrying then?
He'll protect you from any vagabonds............... won't he? 😉

Edited
Show quote history

He sleeps like the dead. As I, like many other women, discovered when we had a baby 🙄

OP posts:
misssunshine4040 · 03/04/2025 00:49

High fence or not, the risk is someone could enter your property without even having to break in.

That would massively concern me.

Wingedharpy · 03/04/2025 00:50

Prop him up by the back door then OP.
He'll act as the perfect door stop as he sleeps and you'll sleep soundly too.
Result.

SALaw · 03/04/2025 00:55

I’d be worried but not about the guy that asked the perfectly reasonable question.

Eenameenadeeka · 03/04/2025 00:56

I'm sure he was asking because he's thinking about security if he buys the house rather than because he's going to break in. I couldn't sleep if the door wouldn't lock though

Original poster
PerfectPennyKilledMyHusband · 03/04/2025 01:04

Eenameenadeeka · 03/04/2025 00:56

I'm sure he was asking because he's thinking about security if he buys the house rather than because he's going to break in. I couldn't sleep if the door wouldn't lock though

I know this sounds crazy but I had genuinely forgot. There are 2 doors at the back of the property and this is the one we never use.

The day I realised it wouldn't lock I called the landlord straight away. Then immediately after I got a call from my little girl's nursery to pick her up as she was sick. Then something else happened, and it just completely slipped my mind. It was only today when he asked I realised the landlord never called me back and the door still doesn't bloody lock! I will definitely be sorting it tomorrow.

OP posts:
groovergirl · 03/04/2025 01:18

As PPs have said, the prospective buyers were probably thinking ahead to insurance and repairs, not burglary.

My concern is that the agent, who is PAID to sell this house, dumped their job off on you, unpaid, in your own time, when you clearly had children to look after. As well as outrageously taking the piss, the agent was also putting you and your family at risk by allowing unknown people to enter your home. (It is your home, even if someone else owns it.)

It is the agent's legal responsibility to accompany buyers to inspections and ensure the safety of all concerned. They are licensed and paid to do this. If they don't want to do it, it's up to the landlord to do it. You, as the tenant, have absolutely no obligation. If they "don't have time" to do the work they're paid for, and will profit from, stiff shit.

Next time, say no. "You will need to make a time to visit with the buyer that suits you both. Do that, then let me know."

BlondiePortz · 03/04/2025 01:41

A person asks about security and this means you will be burgled or murdered? I dont get the connection

Huao · 03/04/2025 02:06

maybe they’re friends with me as I’ve bitched about this to everyone I know so I hope they’d heed my warning 😂
I’d have never asked that until we bought our first home and none of the fucking windows closed if you opened them and the door had similar issues among the ten million other issues. Now I will ask that about every house in the future.

Original poster
PerfectPennyKilledMyHusband · 03/04/2025 06:38

Well I survived the night!

@groovergirl Yeah that's a valid point. I was just a bit taken aback when they called so agreed, but when I thought about it afterwards it is a bit of a piss take. They were here for over half an hour and they asked so many questions! I will be telling the landlord I'm not doing that again. Or if he wants me to sell it for him he can pay me a cut 😂

@BlondiePortz the connection is that I inadvertently told a random stranger exactly how he could break into our house if he chose to. I think that's quite obvious really, nobody else seems to have struggled to understand.

OP posts:
BlondiePortz · 03/04/2025 06:44

PerfectPennyKilledMyHusband · 03/04/2025 06:38

Well I survived the night!

@groovergirl Yeah that's a valid point. I was just a bit taken aback when they called so agreed, but when I thought about it afterwards it is a bit of a piss take. They were here for over half an hour and they asked so many questions! I will be telling the landlord I'm not doing that again. Or if he wants me to sell it for him he can pay me a cut 😂

@BlondiePortz the connection is that I inadvertently told a random stranger exactly how he could break into our house if he chose to. I think that's quite obvious really, nobody else seems to have struggled to understand.

Well if they wanted to break in why would they need you tell them? I suppose they could have could have given the agents false details but if they were looking to buy I presume the agents may have real ones? and it would be odd to burgle you immediatley wouldnt they wait a bit first?

SparklyGlitterballs · 03/04/2025 06:49

I would contact the landlord again first thing and advise that if it's not sorted today then you'll be getting a new lock yourself and recharging them for it, as it's compromising your safety and security.

ETA: might be invalidating any insurance you have too.

B1indEye · 03/04/2025 06:54

PerfectPennyKilledMyHusband · 03/04/2025 06:38

Well I survived the night!

@groovergirl Yeah that's a valid point. I was just a bit taken aback when they called so agreed, but when I thought about it afterwards it is a bit of a piss take. They were here for over half an hour and they asked so many questions! I will be telling the landlord I'm not doing that again. Or if he wants me to sell it for him he can pay me a cut 😂

@BlondiePortz the connection is that I inadvertently told a random stranger exactly how he could break into our house if he chose to. I think that's quite obvious really, nobody else seems to have struggled to understand.

Do you think there are criminal gangs who spend their days making appointments to look at random houses on the off chance they might have dodgy doors?

I don't think they'd make much of a living 😁

Good that it's reminded you about the need to fix the door

TheCountofMountingCrispBags · 03/04/2025 07:26

PerfectPennyKilledMyHusband · 03/04/2025 00:43

He sleeps like the dead. As I, like many other women, discovered when we had a baby 🙄

Show quote history

Priceless!
The buyers question was quite routine, but I understand your thought processes!

Original poster
PerfectPennyKilledMyHusband · 03/04/2025 07:35

SparklyGlitterballs · 03/04/2025 06:49

I would contact the landlord again first thing and advise that if it's not sorted today then you'll be getting a new lock yourself and recharging them for it, as it's compromising your safety and security.

ETA: might be invalidating any insurance you have too.

Edited

@SparklyGlitterballs that's my plan this morning

@B1indEye well yeah possibly. Making excuses to visit houses to see if any are easy to break into/ are going to be left empty etc. Have you not seen Home Alone? 😁 (It seemed a lot more rational at 1am)

OP posts:
Cucy · 03/04/2025 07:58

You definitely won’t be murdered by them.

Their finger prints will be all over your home and it’s likely they’re on camera somewhere.

If this is a ploy to break in, then they would likely do it when no one is home during the day.

You could always set up a booby trap so if the back door opens it makes a noise.
Or you could go full home alone and have something heavy land on their head :)

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