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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be concerned about my neighbours?

389 replies

Lynn981 · 06/10/2025 22:57

My neighbours are a young couple with a toddler. I normally seem them but I haven’t for 3 days now. All their lights and curtains hahe been drawn but their cars are still on the drive and haven’t moved. Or am I over thinking? It just seems a bit unusual. We are rural and you can’t really get to anywhere without a car, not even local shop. Also they’re not abroad or anything, as I actually spoke to the lady neighbour the other day and she said someone from the council was meant to be coming round

OP posts:
sunflowersintheday · 07/10/2025 16:20

caramac04 · 07/10/2025 15:57

Sorry, I’m getting over this nasty bug and have been doom scrolling. I’ve been upset about stuff I’ve read so probably I’m being a bit over emotional.

Don't apologise! There are some sad stories on here. With a bit of luck they've just gone on holiday, but in all honesty, it's good to check on people.
Get well soon 😊

WIcurious · 07/10/2025 16:21

TeddySchnauzer · 07/10/2025 16:06

WTF?! You don’t open your curtains? Why on earth not? Your neighbours will be thinking it’s a doss house

Curtains just happen around me. I rarely open or close them. :)

sunflowersintheday · 07/10/2025 16:23

WIcurious · 07/10/2025 16:21

Curtains just happen around me. I rarely open or close them. :)

Don't you like to open them in the morning, and let the sunshine in? Greet the day? Open the windows?.

Maddy70 · 07/10/2025 16:44

Sounds like they have gone away somewhere and been picked up in a taxi

Theextraordinaryisintheordinary · 07/10/2025 16:59

Maybe on hols. Taxi to the airport.

deeahgwitch · 07/10/2025 17:17

Owl55 · 07/10/2025 16:06

This happened to me and a neighbour .I was reluctant to knock and check and then I did after 3 days , the husband had died and his wife was wheelchair bound couldn’t call for help , we had to break in and called the police , sadly she died a few days later. I always regretted not acting sooner .

Oh Lordy @Owl55that is so sad.

wordler · 07/10/2025 17:21

Can you find the Mum on social media and message her? I managed to do that for a neighbour I didn't know when her dog turned up in my garden and I couldn't get hold of her any other way.

mnahmnah · 07/10/2025 17:43

I would assume it was a last minute trip away and they didn’t manage to catch you before they went. Airport taxi. I would still knock again though. Can you see through any windows at all?

LivelyMintViper · 07/10/2025 17:45

Knock. Peer through windows. Police and welfare check. Better safe ....

Whatinthedoopla · 07/10/2025 17:48

Are you sure someone didn't pick them up in their own car?

Maybe they left the lights on to make it look like someone is home

Skybluepinky · 07/10/2025 17:49

Go knock on the door, if no answer contact the police for a welfare check, could be a faulty boiler.

BreakfastOfChampignons · 07/10/2025 17:53

Can you track them down on something like Facebook messenger? We went away recently and my neighbour messaged to see if we were away(/ok) because they noticed we had a parcel outside and did they want us to take it in

Scandalicious · 07/10/2025 17:58

It seems by far most likely they are away but as a pp said there is a nagging concern. Some of the stories on here are so sad. Have you tried asking any other neighbours if they know if they are away?

Scandalicious · 07/10/2025 18:00

Also, why was someone from the council coming round? Did she say? That in itself seems odd.

Suednymph · 07/10/2025 18:00

Death in the family and curtains closed as a sign of respect?
Sick with flu and just wanting to huddle down and get over it?

Hundslappadrifa · 07/10/2025 18:46

Done a moonlight flit?

101Alsatians · 07/10/2025 18:47

Any movement since 10am?

LBFseBrom · 07/10/2025 18:52

Abominableday · 07/10/2025 14:29

Or, two of them might be dead and a child waiting for someone to help them!

I did also think of that, a chilling thought.

The dog would surely bark?

Gosh, I have no idea what the op can do. I just hope they suddenly appear, alive and well.

It's four days today.

OP needs to speak to other neighbours who may know something.

Tubestrike · 07/10/2025 19:00

If they've asked you to keep an eye on the house before, haven't you got their phone number? Not much point keeping an eye out if you can't contact them.

FizzPlease · 07/10/2025 19:01

Call the police and request a welfare check.

FairFuming · 07/10/2025 19:05

Do you have social media like FB or insta? Maybe look them up on there and see if there's anything posted about a holiday?

ViolaChomp · 07/10/2025 19:10

Sorry if it has been mentioned but the police will do a welfare check if you ring the non emergency number

purplepie1 · 07/10/2025 19:12

Can you have a look in the windows or through the letter box?

if the council were coming round maybe they had to move out for repairs?

Tubestrike · 07/10/2025 19:13

I had to get a welfare check done for my next door neighbour, the police smashed his front door in (sadly he had died) .

TheSquareMile · 07/10/2025 19:16

Do they own the house, OP?

I was wondering whether they needed to be re-housed because they were having financial problems. They may have been unable to take their cars with them. It might be a situation they didn't want to talk about.

the person from the Council may have been from Housing.

Does the toddler go to any groups? Might there be a local Mum or Dad with a child attending the group who could say that they had seen the child and all was well?