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. 😡

WTAF. Like, just, wtaf?

Is Anne sure that these were relatives staying? It sounds like a very strange reaction. Totally disagree about drugs/dealing etc from the house, they’d have gotten everything gone in a low key fashion without attracting the coppers’ attention.

I think the smell of smoke might not be top of the list of concerns with the doors and furniture smashed and paint thrown everywhere 🤣😉

Don’t think they were drug dealing from the house or anywhere else .. but do think he’s on drugs..

Just be a little careful how you proceed with this, last thing you want scuppering a sale is an ongoing neighbour dispute.

Could that be the neighbours aim to buy at a reduced price? I can’t see why they would do something so unhinged for no reason.

Wow!

wtaf

Can't believe what I've just read. This man is either out of control on drugs or weirdly thinks he owns this house. Where were all the visiting relatives in the middle of this and what did they have to say for themselves?

Omg … he sounds properly nuts. Does he believe he owns the house ?!?!

Unbelievable!!!
Do hope you’re ok.

Not sure if this has been mentioned at all..

But have you checked the house isn't listed on air b&b or another site and they have been using it to produce income?

OMG I’m so sorry, what an awful, awful thing to happen

This is the most batshit thing I've read on here and that's saying something!

Thats CF at its finest, they probably thought as you hadn’t been by frequently they’d get away with it. When FIL died a few months back, luckily DP was visiting him when it happened and he changed the locks 2 days later so this kind of thing didn’t happen, we had no idea which neighbours had keys Barr 1 so we had to secure the house as we live 3 hours away. He’d also had people coming and going ie carers and such so no idea if anyone copied keys etc. tbh they probably won’t care as if they did they wouldn’t have done it in the first place. Just chalk it up to learning your lesson and also I’d change back door lock as well just in case.

I disagree! Furniture can be tipped, walls can be repainted, new carpets. But try getting the stench of smoke out is a lot harder.

Hopefully, as the smoke was likely short term over a few days, it should lessen if OP keeps the windows and doors open as much as possible, but of course that is difficult when she's not nearby.

When I'm house viewing, I won't even look around a house that smells of smoke. I don't care if the walls/floors are a mess and need doing.

😂 Like what?

I’m also thinking these relatives weren’t relatives at all. I too think it may be an airBnB.

What a bastard! Hope they’re charged and have to give you compensation.

An ozone generator costs about £30 and should work well for rooms that have been smoked in occasionally.

Bloody hell, wft
Can you cut the gas and electricity also guessing there ran up a bill among other things, wifi, just get it all cut off op

they are absolutely batshit!

Agreed.

This is completely crazy!

Wtf

Im so sorry op, what an awful situation

What?? This is crazy, what an awful situation