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Original poster

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

620 replies

CustardCreamsfortea · 15/04/2025 18:07

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. 😡

OP posts:
YesHonestly · 15/04/2025 23:20

What have I just read?

Confusedmeanderings · 15/04/2025 23:22

Wow what CFs they are!

Avatartar · 15/04/2025 23:25

Oh my what an idiot, he sounds off his head on something. Hope this doesn’t end up affecting the house saleability with Mr aggressive next door

Labragoogle · 15/04/2025 23:25

Omg!!

TheHerboriste · 15/04/2025 23:27

What a nightmare. Only lowlife would do such a thing.

FlourandFlowers · 15/04/2025 23:29

CustardCreamsfortea · 15/04/2025 22:05

Update - We got here and John had kicked the front door in and they had gained entry to the house. He's destroyed the sofa, thrown paint everywhere and smashed a hole in the living room wall (among other damage). The police have arrested him (for breaking and entering and criminal damage). He was ranting and raving and proper off his rocker 🙄 his wife has gone back into their house and is refusing to answer the door (to the police or anyone else). Just waiting for the locksmith (again) to come and make the place secure.

Oh my goodness. What a horrible, horrible person.

I'm pleased he has been arrested. I hope everything proves for you soon @CustardCreamsfortea.

Hdjdb42 · 15/04/2025 23:30

Well the latest update is breaking and entry. I'd press charges. Think he needs teaching a lesson. Who do they think they are to feel entitled to use a neighbours home?! And to break down the door?!!! Crazy!

BeeCucumber · 15/04/2025 23:31

😳

HateMyselfToo · 15/04/2025 23:31

OMG
Thank goodness they weren't around earlier. Imagine if you'd confronted them. Glad he's been arrested.

bert3400 · 15/04/2025 23:33

Jesus Christ John's a lunatic... thank God the police have him. What an awful experience for you all.

Bogginsthe3rd · 15/04/2025 23:33

This is typical from gilet jaune

JackieDaytonaLuckyBrews · 15/04/2025 23:37

How frustrating for you. As well as requiring a bloody good clean up, it's going to be a right pain in the arse sales wise. Hell is bad neighbours. I'm glad he was arrested.

mainecooncatonahottinroof · 15/04/2025 23:38

CustardCreamsfortea · 15/04/2025 22:05

Update - We got here and John had kicked the front door in and they had gained entry to the house. He's destroyed the sofa, thrown paint everywhere and smashed a hole in the living room wall (among other damage). The police have arrested him (for breaking and entering and criminal damage). He was ranting and raving and proper off his rocker 🙄 his wife has gone back into their house and is refusing to answer the door (to the police or anyone else). Just waiting for the locksmith (again) to come and make the place secure.

OMG that's insane!!! What crazy people! As I said earlier, make sure they haven't taken advantage of your mother in any other way, including financial, because they are batshit crazy! Hope you are ok xx

HeySnoodie · 15/04/2025 23:38

I’m so sorry you’ve had to endure such shocking behaviour amid a close bereavement

GarlicSmile · 15/04/2025 23:39

CustardCreamsfortea · 15/04/2025 22:05

Update - We got here and John had kicked the front door in and they had gained entry to the house. He's destroyed the sofa, thrown paint everywhere and smashed a hole in the living room wall (among other damage). The police have arrested him (for breaking and entering and criminal damage). He was ranting and raving and proper off his rocker 🙄 his wife has gone back into their house and is refusing to answer the door (to the police or anyone else). Just waiting for the locksmith (again) to come and make the place secure.

Good grief. I thought this was funny, in a horrid sort of way, until this! How incredibly awful for you, dealing with your mother's death and its aftermath, then having this viciously entitled neighbour vandalising her house!

I really, really hope he's detained and prosecuted. Wishing you better things from here on Flowers

Silvers11 · 15/04/2025 23:40

OMG!! Never expected that as an update. How awful. I hope sincerely the house is insured as unoccupied and not just running from when your Mum lived there, because if not the insurers almost certainly won't pay. I had to tell my Mum's insurers that yes, I would visit once a week check everything was ok, even so. and the insurers pay up.

I am so horrified by this. It's going to have a major impact on the sale of the house - although I'm not sure they are neighbours to you, since you don't live there - you'd need legal advice about that one, if your Mum got on ok with them. but no-one is going to want to live next door to a violent, off his rocker neighbour. Even if this is a one-off 😡😡😡

Penguinmouse · 15/04/2025 23:40

So sorry to read the update but at least this is a criminal matter now and not a civil one. Hopefully this means you can claim on your insurance and get the place cleaned up. Not what you need when grieving your mum. What a complete prick.

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 15/04/2025 23:42

What a psycho!! Sorry you’ve had to go through all that. Make sure you get them to pay!!

WhyCantIGetItTogether · 15/04/2025 23:43

FuzzyPuffling · 15/04/2025 18:17

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

This! That would have been an interesting conversation.

AdoraBell · 15/04/2025 23:45

I’ve only read the OP’s posts.

OP I’m glad the Police have arrested him and I hope you get the house sorted and sold quickly.

Sorry you are going this.

Fraaances · 15/04/2025 23:45

You poor things! Where do these people get off???

Incakewetrust · 15/04/2025 23:47

I am livid on your behalf! How utterly vile of them! I hope the police give them hell 😡

WhyCantIGetItTogether · 15/04/2025 23:49

CustardCreamsfortea · 15/04/2025 22:05

Update - We got here and John had kicked the front door in and they had gained entry to the house. He's destroyed the sofa, thrown paint everywhere and smashed a hole in the living room wall (among other damage). The police have arrested him (for breaking and entering and criminal damage). He was ranting and raving and proper off his rocker 🙄 his wife has gone back into their house and is refusing to answer the door (to the police or anyone else). Just waiting for the locksmith (again) to come and make the place secure.

Right. 🙄

pinkstripeycat · 15/04/2025 23:49

SunshineBirdSong · 15/04/2025 18:10

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!

There is no such crime as breaking and entering. It would be burglary is the stole something.

pinkstripeycat · 15/04/2025 23:50

NeringaCS · 15/04/2025 18:12

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.

Show quote history

No such crime as breaking and entering. It would be burglary if they took something.