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 police won’t even get off their arses to help a rape survivor…let alone things like this.

I'd be sending J&J a bill to cover all utilities, the locksmith and new locks and a professional deep clean of the property.

Check the household bills to try to work out of they’ve increased the costs and then bill them!

Private prosecution for the theft of electricity and water?

No we wouldn't have given permission for them to use it (if they asked). All dm's personal possessions have been removed but there was still some furniture (beds, sofa etc) in there. Luckily nothing appears to have been damaged

Massively disproportionate (and far too expensive). Small claims court would be more appropriate, but questionable whether even that is financially worth it.

Let it go OP.

Its pretty high level CFery, but making a big thing of it will just create more stress and would probably cost several hundred pounds.

I'd like to have seen their faces when they got back home!

Had you already emptied the house or have they been poking around in your mum’s things? Ah, cross posted with you there. That’s at least a good thing; they couldn’t be touching her belongings.

I’d be absolutely furious and would definitely keep phoning the police back to check if they’ve been spoken to yet.

Agree with others about ring doorbell and/or cameras. I'm glad you have a great neighbour in Anne at least! I think they'll act like the top level CFs they obviously are and brazen it out. They'll say your mum let them use it and they don't see an issue. I doubt you'll get an apology. At least you know now and have the locks changed. They are lucky you didn't bin their luggage or lock it inside. I would have.

The premeditation involved. Unbelievable. There are CFs and then there's this. I'm angry on your behalf.

What an absolute cheek, they must know, especially with Easter coming up that you could probably visit the house any day. My father in law died a month before Covid lockdown, so it was left empty for 6 months, thank goodness the neighbours had our phone number.

This is probably the cheekiest thing I have ever heard. I’d make sure you tell them that their neighbours are all aware of what they did . Let them face the judgement on daily basis.

CF of the highest order. How bloody disgusting.
i wouldn’t have followed through with this but while reading through I thought it could have been good to have a bit of fun with it, hide in the house until they get back and go to sleep and then make ghost noises or just run out and ambush them!!
Sorry to make light of the situation, it’s absolutely bang out of order of J&J to go offering something that’s not theirs in the first place. Arseholes.

I'd be presenting CF neighbours with a bill for utilities, and wear and tear, for sure (I wouldn't huge hopes of it being paid mind...).

The absolute audacity!

I'd have also wanted to stay in the property until the cunty fuckers reappeared so I could do a 'who are you, get out of my house!'.

I would love to see their faces when they realise they have been caught.

What IS it with people? Unbelievable.

OP, I'd go around the house and photograph everything that isn't how it should be. Next, send them a bill for use of the property (£150 per person/per night should cover it), additional cleaning for smokers (£100/room, this is what Premier Inn charge), plus cleaning charge (1hr/room at £25/hr) and domestic duties charge (for washing up etc. and purchase of the cleaning supplies, say £25).

That should cover it all. Give them 14 days to pay, then take them to Small Claims court or mediation if they don't.

Oh, and pop a note through all the neighbour's houses on the street, explaining what has happened, name them, etc. Put the boot in.

Agreed. It's appalling.

The least that the neighbours should do is to pay for a deep clean of the house.

What a shame your DH insisted you leave their clothing on their doorstep - I'd have taken it straight to a charity shop.

I'd still satisfy myself with waiting for them and making a very loud and public scene when they returned about using my DEAD MOTHER'S HOUSE as their fucking Air B&B.

Read all meters today OP. If there are smart meters the utilities company will be able to tell you precisely how much energy has been used over a given period. Bill the neighbours for this at the very least. Ring doorbells or similar would have been your evidence that it wasn’t you using it, so worth installing.

Absolute cheeky oportunistic cunts! I would be so angry, but I wouldn't get the police involved anymore if you're in the process of selling, fairly sure it will be classed as a neighbour dispute you'll have to declare and you'll just end up being the ones suffering.

I would however give them the fucking riot act, charge them for cleaning and using utilities and make sure the neighbours know what sort of dickheads they are!

You should charge them for professional cleaners to rid the house of smoke

A house stinking of cigarettes is seriously off-putting for buyers too so I'd be double furious about that and charging them for a deep clean and fumigation.

Absolutely.

This is unbelievably rude - I would be so furious. Go back around there until you can speak to the neighbours and then bill them for any utilities and a professional clean. Absolute bastards.

I’m sorry for your loss x

you are a far better person than me leaving their stuff on their doorstep