AIBU to think this intimidating house buying letter should be reported to police?

[Blopi]

Friend’s elderly neighbours came back from holiday to find a letter delivered by person. It has made them upset and frightened.

It was addressed to them personally Mr and Mrs (surname)
They said that their home is too big for the couple and would be suitable for a 5 bedroom HMO. Willing to pay £Xk for it (properties have been selling for 10-15% more) and will visit them on Thursday at 11am to discuss things. Signed by Mr (common surname). No phone number or email address.

Her neighbours have zero intention of moving home as they have lived there for 58 years. They are upset on how they are targeted and wondering how did they get their names?

In the past I had these letters which have been sent to others down the estate. Though not intimidating like this letter, nor personalised.

Unfortunately my friend is working on Thursday. She would have loved to have seen if the person turned up and told

Should my friend phone the police on the non emergency line about this? As maybe something else dodgy going on

you know you don't have to give the ACTUAL MMN don't you? Provided you keep a note of what you said, you can use any word you like to answer any of those security questions. In many circumstances, you can even give different answers on different websites to the same security question.

Asked and answered 😄

I'd call the police that's terrible!

I am not saying it isn't. I am saying you don't, however, have to be Inspector Clueso to get the information. It is very easily accessible if you are prepared to pay 7 quid.

Gangs cuckooing vulnerable people to live in/ work from or purchase their homes is a big problem. I would definitely report it. The reason for doing so is that even though initially the police will just log the details- should anything intimidating happen and 999 need to be called, the police will already have the details and are more likely to take it seriously and attend.

Agree 100%

I think definitely make the police aware of this as they’re vulnerable, plus it was addressed to them by name which is very creepy. Maybe help them get cctv/camera or a camera doorbell like Ring to help identify the letter writer if they try again at their home or nearby, and also for their personal safety.
YANBU, OP.

This 💯

Cheeky bastard.
That letter doesnt read like asking, it reads like telling!
I can see how that would feel intimidating.

Your friend should stress they have no obligation to answer the door.

Maybe suggest they write no in big red letters across the letter and tape it to their front door on Thursday.

Absolutely! Disgraceful, older people can get vulnerable (especially someone living alone).
Please make sure they have someone else with them (stronger & younger), so they don't appear as easy pickings at that specific time!
And if anyone DOES turn up, send them off with a flea in their ear! It will also re-assure the couple who's house it is, otherwise they'll worry about a repeat scenario! CF's 😡

Absolutely right IMO.

How, pray tell ?

The fact they are elderly and vulnerable and could get conned into doing something they don’t want to do, I would report this.

Also, who the fuck do people think they are. ‘We think your house is too big for you so we want to take it off you to house multiple people’

Makes my blood boil that people think they are entitled to do this to poor elderly vulnerable people. So what if someone thinks their house is ‘too big’ is their bloody house!!!!!

If nobody can be around to see to this ‘meeting’ please advise them not to answer the door to anyone.

I think this is more common than you think. They should ignore it. If the person turns up, then don't answer the door. It's intimidating but I wouldn't say it's threatening.

I think on Thursday under no uncertain terms should these elderly people answer the door,keep doors locked. Your neighbour could ring the none emergency police number for advice as if they turn up,it could be deemed as harassment

Yes, report to the police and monitor who comes around.

The last thing you need is an estate full of HMOs, full of illegals drug dealing, car jacking, burglarising, mugging people, shoplifting, littering, stabbing teenagers, graping girls, filming leering at little kids.

once you get one HMO, the whole street will turn HMO. It’s like one bad apple. Soon the whole street is a no-go zone.

watch your house value plummet in value.

watch the neighbour become totally unsafe. Then you have riots, civil unrest as a locals gets attacked.

I would be wary of assuming the people calling around are the people who actually sent the letter. Quite a lot of scammers like to outsource the grunt work to keep themselves out of harms way. It's entirely possible some poor soul is trying to earn a crust and has been hired by scammers to make the approach.

(Anyone who has dealt with franchise outfits will know the score).

Not contemptuous, just bloody busy....

@Blopi
Because the housing market has become what it is
You'll always get some dodgy type who will try anything to obtain properties in this case by bullying it seems
I suggest your friends neighbours speak to the police and Citizens Advice just to belt and brace themselves and put their minds at rest
Then get on with their lives

You do know you don’t have to use your mother’s actual maiden name? My mothers maiden name was very common so I just use the surname of an old school friend that I feel is quite hard to guess.

Definitely log with the police, who may have someone, e.g. community support, available for advice. This couple are unlikely to be the only couple who have received a letter.

Assuming they own the property, their names are probably on the land registry title, and it will show when it last changed hands - that's enough for an interested party to guess at their age. Ownership hasn't changed for 58 years, which means they're at least mid-70s in age.

It's great that you, your friend and your friend's brother are taking this seriously.

I do the same.
First pet name is the one I have the most fun with.

Either that or from the Land Registry.

The Police with absolutely not ‘laugh them out the door’ as stated above. These are elderly people who have been put in a state of fear and alarm and certainly in Scotland that constitutes a Breach of the Peace which is an offence at Common Law. At the very least it should be recorded.

10-1 ‘they’ won’t turn up at 11.00 am from
previous experience they’ll know the householders will either won’t answer the door or have sought some help.
It’s likely to be on another day or different time if they turn up at all.
Better to give whatever details on the circular to the police who may have already received complaints about these sales tactics
More worrying IMO is these people are checking out vulnerabilities to burglary