CF's have been using my mums house as a hotel!!

[CustardCreamsfortea]

My dm died last year. Her house is currently empty and we're in the process of selling it (on the market but no buyer yet). The house next door is owned by a couple. I knew that DM was friendly with them, but (apart from first names) I don't really know them at all. I'll call them "Jean and John" for this

I went round yesterday to check on the property (we live about 45 mins away) and to do some gardening. When I entered the house I noticed immediately that there was a strong smell of cigarettes. Dm didn't smoke so I thought that was very strange.. 🤔

I went into the kitchen and there's dirty dishes in the sink!? My next thought was that squatters must have moved in. I went back to my car and called Dh and then 101 for advice. The police said they could come out but it would likely be a few hours (at least) before they turned up.

Dh arrived and went into have a look. Nobody appeared to be in the house. No obvious signs of a break in, though there's clothes and stuff everywhere. So we decide, ok fine - let's take this as a warning and get the locks changed before the squatters come back.

I called a locksmith and he's in the process of changing the locks. As he's doing this another neighbour from across the road (let's call her "Anne") comes over to ask what's happening. I explain that I think we've had squatters in the house.

Anne then proceeds to tell me that Jean and John (from next door) have currently got family visiting from abroad at the moment.

But it seems rather than pay for a hotel, The CF's been letting them stay in mothers house!!! 😡😡😡 Anne has seen them coming and going since they arrived on Friday. She didn't have our contact details to check with us, but assumed we'd given permission because they seemingly had a key. We had no idea that they had this key.

When the police eventually turned up we explained all this. They went round to speak to Jean and John but they weren't at home. Said they would try again later in the week. We've bagged up the relatives things and left them on their doorstep (I wanted to burn them but DH talked me out of it). 🙄

Will they police be able to charge them with trespassing or something similar? Or are we just going to have to accept that we were (admittedly) stupid for not changing the locks in the first place and move on? I'm beyond angry with them. 😡

That's absolutely awful!! I suppose it's not breaking and entering as they had a key but it's extremely immoral and wrong! I hope the police give them a string talking to! Well done for changing the locks... it's like Mexican house thief!

I’d just chalk this up to a very bad experience. They had keys so didn’t break in. They are absolutely out of order though. Hopefully they’ll feel suitably embarrassed that the neighbours know how outrageous they’ve been.

Youve done all you can. Youve dumped their stuff and changed the locks. The CF can stay next door

Trespassing is a civil offence, not a criminal one, so there’s no chance of them facing criminal charges.

You could maybe try to take them to small claims court if they’ve damaged the property in any way - not sure if stinking the place out with cigarettes falls into that category. But if you’re involving a lawyer, it’ll probably cost you more than any compensation you would get from them.

I don't know if the police will charge them with anything but at the same time I don't think you were stupid/unreasonable to expect the cheeky fuckers not to use your DM's house as they saw fit, key or no key. Completely out of order.

Awful behaviour towards a grieving family.

The legal definition of ‘breaking and entering’ is gaining access to a property without authorisation in order to commit a crime (e.g. burglary). If they’d gained access to the property with keys and then robbed it, it would still be breaking and entering.

But they didn’t commit a crime once inside the property, so it’s not B&E.

What a cheek! But no harm done and you've changed the locks now so hopefully that will be the end of J and J free hotels.

(All the signs that say ‘Trespassers will be prosecuted’ are lying to you - they can’t be prosecuted, only sued for damages.)

I'd have sat outside next doors til they came home to have it out with them.

That's appalling. Still no contact from Jean and John, I suppose.

I cannot even tell you how angry I would be in your situation. I'd be waiting at my mums to go confront them. This must be the worst cf I have ever heard of. What would they have done if estate agents turned up to show potential buyers around?

I’d have thrown those stuff over the fence, sans bags.

No way would I have given any of the stuff back. It would have been dumped far away and locks changed. Disgraceful behaviour and the smoking is just next level disrespect. Let everyone know never to let them enter their homes never mind have a key.

That is shocking! I would certainly hope that they would be charged with trespassing at the very least.

I'm pretty sure if they had burned the house down or flooded it your insurance wouldn't have covered it. Unless you reported them to the police maybe. But still very reckless and cheeky of the neighbours.

I would have tossed the belongings all over the street

I'd have left the belongings in the house so they had to fess up and grovel to get them back.

Some people are awful. I prefer my dog.

Would you know if anything had been stolen?
Worth checking your Mums bank accounts?

I can’t stand the smell of smoke. I’d get it professionally cleaned and send them the bill! I’m furious on your behalf.

I wouldn’t have left until I saw CF’s & Jean/John. I would have ripped them a new a’hole 🤬🤬🤬

I would have put a note through the door of john and Jean. I would have to observe until they got home to see their faces when all their bags were dumped outside too.
Hopefully there were no valuables to steal. Did you check?

That’s the absolute height of cheek! You couldn’t mark their necks with a blow torch. I’d not wait for the police to have a word next week, I’d be chapping the door myself and making my thoughts crystal clear. I’d also have chucked the visitor’s belongings over the fence.

This is what I said. Please tell me you didn't just go home @CustardCreamsfortea

Apart from changing the locks I would also put up cameras and swap details with Anne.