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. 😡

Given that you will have to declare a dispute when you sell the house you take legal action to recover any devaluation of the property from them.

This can be part of the criminal proceedings.

It may also be possible to get the neighbours excluded from the area.

John knows the house is for sale. There must have been estate agents and viewers.
He must also know that the OP may come round at any point to check on the property.
It's clearly owned by the OP.

OP.....just, wow really. Hope you're not too shaken up by this..not nice after losing your mum xx

Bloody gel that’s a bit of an extreme reaction. I agree with a PP that you need to keep Anne’s name out of it.

Well, if he's using Skunk, that might explain a lot.

Really sorry that you’ve had to go through this. Managing estate after parents death is hard, so many emotions in seeing their space and things after they’ve gone - let alone after seeing this damaged.

Obviously John getting arrested doesn’t bring justice but hopefully it means that his disgusting behaviour stops.

Sending you an Un-Mumsnetty hug <not sure if this is still a thing> and hope you get some rest this weekend

Blimey. John’s a wrong un. What sort of age is he? Any signs of drugs?

Well he’s a nasty fucker isn’t he?

This is reminding me of the Mexican House Thief!

So sorry OP. This must be dreadfully upsetting. 💐

Fantastic he’s been arrested, going to be an interesting court case

You’ll need damages/compensation to fix all this

Fucking psycho. Stay safe op as he sounds unhinged.

That’s terrible for you!

How awful OP, hope you managed to secure the house. Such a stress for you.

it's a discussion site, so people ask questions. That's kind of how it works?

Why did you post what was the point in even asking the question?

wow- that's awful OP
at least you found out before it had been going on for too long - the relatives staying, not the smashing the place up. Assuming it was relatives and he didn't have it up on Airbnb.
I was reading thru planning to add a comment about white vinegar being brilliant for getting rid of the smell of smoke, Probably the least of your concerns right now.
Good luck with getting it sorted.

So awful OP. My mother is elderly although mobile, still drives etc. Her new neighbours have done a few things that have annoyed me, nothing like this, although she always gets defensive when I bring it up.

Sweet jesus, wtf?!?

John is on drugs.. not surprised Jean won’t answer their door to the police. Awful situation for you to have to deal with. You’ve surprised / unintentionally ambushed the Neighbours from hell. Hopefully he’ll get put away now, at least for long enough so you don’t need to see him again. You might have to sell the house at auction / through one of those companies that buy in cash at a lower than market value. Good luck 💐

oh my god this is awful!!

I am so sorry OP, this must be so difficult after your mothers death

I cannot believe the absolute cheek of some people!
where are the house guests!?

Well that escalated!

Yes, I'd be worried the smell of smoke would impact a sale

I’ve read lots of CF posts in my many years on MN but by goodness, this takes some beating.

Thank goodness for Anne!!

In terms of drugs - if he was growing anything there it would be unlikely he would set about destroying the furniture rather than retrieving his crop/destroying evidence. He would want to avoid bringing more attention to himself.

OP, get on to your house insurance and see if the house policy has free legal advice.

Ask the police for a crime number too for your house insurance.

Sounds like John has been humiliated in front of his relatives who he probably told that he owned your DM’s house and his fragile male ego couldn’t handle the shame and so he has lost control. What a loser.

Hopefully Anne is well connected in the neighbourhood and can fill everyone in so John’s behaviour will become well known. I hope you can get things sorted through insurance or the deranged neighbours eventually offer to pay for any damage. Many condolences on the loss of your DM - I hope this hasn’t compounded your grief too much.

Good grief this is insane. Sounds like you need a new door if someone can kick it in that easily. Thank god he’s been arrested.