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. 😡

The same could happen if they let relatives stay and the OP obviously did turn up when they weren't expecting her. I wouldn't be surprised if it had been a money making scam. Either way they won't be doing it again.

My point is it's surely risky to do either? As we know, the OP turned up.

@CustardCreamsfortea

Any updates?

Is there an update op?

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The police have been involved. If there has been an arrest and the neighbour is being charged then it would be inadvisable for the OP to post any more much as I'd like to know the outcome myself.

This little side-thread is such a male take! OP experiences a traumatic dispute with the neighbours at a very emotional time and suddenly we're discussing the relative strengthens of composite vs uPVC doors and how long your screws should be 😂

Did you read the OP? 😵‍💫 The neighbours have family here from abroad ..not random people from Airbnb 🤷‍♀️

That's what she was told. It's possible it wasn't true but it makes no difference really. It was wrong.

I did wonder . His reaction kicking the door in is so OTT!!!

Yes very wrong. But let’s stick to the actual events instead of making up scenarios. OP was told by a separate neighbour that it was ndn family visiting from abroad. There is no mention from separate neighbour that this has happened regularly, therefore unlikely Airbnb. I’m not sure why posters start changing the stories as threads go along 🤔

Hi guys - Sorry for the silence over the last few days. An awful lot has happened and has had to be dealt with. As some of you guessed, because the police are now involved and charges (hopefully) pending I can't say a lot with regards to the police investigation and such like. It's in hand and I will try to come back to this thread with the full story when able to do so.

We've taken the house off the market whilst sorting the insurance claim and subsequent repairs. Thanks for all your messages and support

Thanks, @CustardCreamsfortea. Good to hear it's all in hand - and well done! What an utter pain. Wishing you steady progress and a satisfactory outcome.

Sorry you've been put through so much and I'm glad the police are taking it seriously

How old is john? Can you say that. Because the way he's behaving is like a teenager

Thanks for the update. Can’t wait to hear how it all turns out. Hope they get what they deserve

Thanks for the update. It must be a lot for you to sort out.

He sounds like a 50s plus man who's behaved appallingly because he's been caught out red handed.

Rather than face up to his crime, he's gone on the defensive and damaged the property of the deceased owner.

How utterly shameful and there's no going back from this.

Sorry this happened. Wishing you lots of luck with it all.

So sorry this has happened. What an utterly bizarre and unexpected situation

I’d worry how old John is too and if he should get a gp appointment, yes they were cf’s but the reaction is so ott as to question his lucidity.

Don't suppose the cf have offered to pay for the damage or an explanation?

I wish you all the best and I hope your neighbour gets what he deserves.

I’m sure they have provided an explanation of sorts, but as OP states, the matter is now in the hands of the police so at this stage she cannot comment on the particulars. Am hoping it is resolved quickly for OP so she can move on with her life and processing her grief but confess to being very curious about the detail and outcome too, so do hope she comes back to MN with an update in a few months!

Thankyou for the update- I know you can’t say more because the police are involved- but hopefully it will soon be sorted.