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. 😡

Hi OP! I hope you are doing ok after all this nightmare.

I think you handled it very well. What a horrendous neighbour. I hope he spends a bit of time cooling down in a cell. Sending you hugs 💐

Are you ok OP? I’d be devastated and feel violated if this happened to my mum’s house after she passes. Thinking of you

I'm actually speechless!!!

Me too!

Well that really wasn’t the update I was expecting!

OP, things don’t quite add up here. That is a very extreme reaction. I don’t think they were relatives for starters & has he been telling people that he owns the house??

I think you need to go back to the house and this time have a really good look around. He may be storing something there & for his wife not to open the door…….was there something they didn’t want the Police to see?!?

County lines maybe? Is it worth telling the Police to do a search of the property?

I'm not often speechless but my jaw will forever remain on the floor! 😱😱 What an insensitive, entitled cheeky fucker! I think this has beat Mexican House Thief hands down.

@CustardCreamsfortea I'm so sorry this happened please press charges against John what he has done is cheeky and very vindictive to trash the house because you caught him out. I''d also be taking legal action to make sure he pays for the damage he did.

Bloody hell LivingwithHopenowandforever I hope you’re wrong but you might have a point! Although the other neighbour definitely said they were relatives, but is that true?!

Where is the OP?

I would imagine that she is probably busy/has more urgent things to deal with.

If charges are looming the OP needs to keep schtum now.

Oh my fucking god I'm so sorry to read that update OP!

Blimey, he has very strong legs to be able to kick a front door open that has a brand new lock! 😱

Batshit crazy!

This. We probably won't hear any more ... not until the court case hits the news anyway 😉

Was it definitely John who did the damage? I’m wondering if it was the ‘visitors’? Did you see John in action @CustardCreamsfortea

Some older upvc doors are quite easy to kick in. The panels come out.

Composite doors are much stronger.

Yes - a police officer told me that composite doors are much stronger.

Someone actually kicked in the bottom panel of my next door neighbour's upvc door. (Yes, police attended.)

Agree re uPVC v Composite. I have composite and the fitter told me that they often get calls from the police or fire service trying to gain access to a property and cant get through the door.

Whereas my ex has/had uPVC, he slipped on the stairs, slid down them and put his foot through a bottom panel and it just...popped out.

Hope all is OK with you @CustardCreamsfortea ?

It depends how long the screws are.

Short screws, very easy to kick in.

Really sorry to hear this update. Glad the police got there quick time. How distressing after your loss too.

any update OP?

Wow.

They just took being a CF to a whole new level, didn’t they?! 😮

My guess is that they were renting it out on Airbnb

Why? It's up for sale. People could come round and view it at any time. The OP could come round and check at any time. That makes no sense.