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. 😡

Utterly shameful of them. I’m kind of gripped though as I’m hoping the CF neighbours have a trip in a police car!

He is clearly unhinged. I’m so sorry you have to deal with all the damage!

John is unhinged. Thank goodness the police were there to witness it and arrested him, and thank goodness for Anne.
Hope you're okay.

Holy moly what an update!!!!

Omg OP. Is there drug involvement or something? His reaction is extreme!

Wow that was NOT the update I was expecting OP!!! Who the hell does he think he is!!!

This is awful! What a bizarre thing for him to do.

That’s awful OP - so sorry this happened to you

He's destroyed the sofa, thrown paint everywhere and smashed a hole in the living room wall (among other damage).

Why on earth would he do that? Surely whatever you have called your neighbours would have explained "oh shit, looks like the owners don't want you staying"? This makes no sense

What a f*cking nutter. Who the on earth does he think he is? What horrible people.

Was he already arrested by the time you got there? Did you see him do all of that literal damage?

I’m so curious to know why he feels so entitled to the house and the expression of outrage?

Glad police have arrested him. Take it as far as you can to get the damage and the theft of the gas etc repaid. Huge cfs.

That's terrifying OP. Glad you had someone with you to sort this nightmare out.

Please ensure you,ve insurance in place - god knows what these people intend to cause now!

...really? Did he have anything to say for himself?

What's happened to the relatives who were actually staying there?

So where's the people who were staying there?

Yikes. At least you can now put the locksmith cost in for damages? Hopefully they'll move away out of embarrassment.

If he's not off his trolley, he's malignant. What sort of person treats other people and their property like that?

OMG. I cannot believe this. I'm sorry you have to deal with this after the loss of your DM.

Hopefully the Police involvement will put a stop to any further issues.

Wow. Didn’t expect that update. I’d really be looking into what he has been up to. Hope all gets sorted

I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this happening to your mother's home on top of your grief.
I wouldn't try to communicate with these people at all, just do everything through the police now. Silver lining is they can definitely arrest them for something now the man has behaved like that.

Be very, very careful in the house. I'd be thinking meth.

Fucking hell what a lunatic!

He sounds crazy.

Wtf

Jeeze. Who's going to pay for the damage? I hope the insurers will, but they're a bit iffy about unoccupied properties.

Oh my goodness. OP I hope the locksmith sorts it out quickly so you can go home. You must be in bits. I’m glad the police were called. You’ve been very sensible.