Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

Show quote history

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. :)

Show quote history

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!

Show quote history

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?