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. 😡

OP has said that she has put the house up for sale. The estate agents wouldn't do this unless they had proof of identity and proof of ownership of the property.

Just read the update! What a complete lunatic! I’m glad he wasn’t there when you first went. He would probably have turned violent.

@CustardCreamsfortea bloody hell!! think electricity and water billing is currently the least of OP's problems!!

Oh my god! This is a problem as you'll have to declare this when you sell.

Blimey, what an update! 😮. I’m so sorry this has happened to you. As if dealing with the loss of your mum was not enough. At least the police have seen enough to charge him. What on earth were these people thinking?!

Well thats constructive - what is the OP meant to do, just let Jean and John live there/use it as a hotel?

That does seem to be an extreme reaction to being caught out being a CF...

Either he is absolutely unhinged or the depth of their cheeky fuckery hasn't been fully plumbed yet... I would check listings on AirBnB (also the 'rent out your driveway' sites too)... that reaction feels like its about WAY more, like a loss of income.

I don’t think that’s true. I sold my dad’s old house and wasn’t once asked for proof it was mine until we actually sold it. I was actually joint owner with two others and wasn’t once asked about ownership. I could have been selling it without permission of the other owners for all they knew.

Blimey, that escalated quickly. What thoroughly repulsive people. Glad he got arrested but I’m sorry there’s so much damage.

They did, electricity. Which you can be prosecuted for stealing.
Energy theft can carry a 5 year prison sentence. I’m assuming for more serious cases though.

Have you heard of rhetorical questions?

It’s not a legal, civil-matter, neighbourly dispute. There is no solicitor involvement. Nothing to do with boundaries, parking, use of amenities, tree protection orders, noise, contesting or wills or ownership or anything like that.

It’s squatting and criminal damage. It is not a ‘dispute’. The owners, once probate finalised, are entitled to sell the property unimpeded.

John could have dementia, did the cheeky fucker relatives turn up? I wonder what their story is. Did John claimed he owned the house?

John could have dementia? Is this behaviour symptomatic?

Bloody hell! We have to assume that drink or drugs involved plus dangerous anger issues. What a nasty man. I’m sorry you’ve had this happen to you op.

This is a whole new level of Cheeky Fuckery!!

That escalated - I hope he’s charged!

I think you need a ring doorbell - inside and outside the house.

I’m sorry this happened to you.

That's just batshit crazy!
Just goes to show the levels that CFs will stoop to when they're challenged. I hope you can get the money out of him for repairs.

Ring doorbells need WiFi to work, I doubt there's WiFi in an empty house

Op I can’t imagine the levels of your outrage.

These shitcunts have been using your mothers home as a fucking hotel, sleeping in her bed, using her kitchen utensils, smoking indoors like utter heathens and think they are ENTITLED to it, demonstrated by kicking in the door and smashing the place up.

I am livid for you. Livid. As if the emotional turmoil isn’t ENOUGH without these sheer bastards ruining your final memories.

Don’t sell the house, turn it into an HMO for party students who all own big noisy dogs.

Wow that escalated. Interesting that people have jumped to thinking he has dementia. I think it's more likely that he had told the relatives that he had cleared it with your family and they're all fine with them staying (possibly that he has paid money) and he is angry because his lies have been outed.

Wowser. The man is unhinged. Hope you're doing OK this morning OP, that must have really shaken you.

I am flabbergasted. What absolutely awful people. Sorry you're having to deal with this.

How did Anne know that they were family from abroad staying in the house? Did she talk to them?.

Holy shit. That’s awful.