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

I'm glad they didn't come round. I'd still feel unsettled though. This is a good idea about putting it out on local social media/chat groups.

Absolutely do not do this it's evidence

Was it an Indian surname by any chance ? I have heard of this type of behavior before from the Indian / Pakkistani community

Jesus is this hysterical overreaction to a bit of junk mail still going on? Absolutely hillarious.

Definitely report it. My Grandmother got hounded by her then neighbours to sell her property to their friend. This came off the back of my Grandmother's diagnosis of terminal cancer. You can imagine how she felt. We didn't find out how bad it was until after she passed away and the neighbour hounded both myself and my parents about the house. When we said no she hurled abuse, blocked the driveway and threw dog poo into the garden where my child was supposed to play so yes report it!!

I’d ask the couple if they will agree to you contacting the local PCSO if in the uk with them present. I’ve found them very helpful. They may well arrange to pass by at the stated time.

And who's to say it isn't a scam or someone who'd force their way in? If it was a genuine caller, they'd have left their contact details for a start. Too many crooks targeting elderly people.

Generally I would agree, but this is an elderly couple and the person knows where they live. Similarly if it was someone disabled, or even a woman living alone, this could be very intimidating and also saying their house is too big for them sounds threatening. Someone might masquerade as a council employee or some such and try to claim they have to vacate because it’s “too big”. If it wasn’t a potentially vulnerable couple I’d say ignore it. But in this case I think it should be reported and other posters are wise to suggest the couple has other people at home with them if possible at the time this person has announced they will be visiting.

The police won’t laugh at scared vulnerable old people that’s a really mean thing to say.

If there's a phone number, with their consent and encouragement, I'd probably text or call and say they're definitely not interested and will consider any further correspondence to be harassment and will involve the police.

And obviously if someone does come round unannounced tell them not to answer it.

But try and reassure them it's just a chancer and there's likely no threat of immediate danger. They just want to buy the house but it's not for sale. End of.

there was no phone number or other business contact details

I doubt the police would do anything but the couple's Ward Councillor should be concerned and will be able to support them and warn others who might be targeted in the area.

I would also try to attange some kind of camera to cover the house on that day.

This happened to my parents, my mum was having chemo.

i was there when they turned up and said we weren’t interested. They were persistent.

Vulnerable couple because of their age. Worth reporting and having it logged incase anything else comes of it.

Why is it so widely assumed that all elderly people are 'vulnerable'? I would probably qualify as elderly by some standards but I would not be the least bit intimidated by this, in fact I would quite enjoy addressing the unwanted visitor from an upper window and telling them 'get orf my land'.

Ownership info for a property is a matter of public record and easily obtainable from HM Land Registry.

Whilst I understand your neighbours unease at the bully tactics I'm not sure what crime you think would be reported on the basis of the letter. They need to contact the sender to say they aren't interested in selling, he is not welcome in their home and specifically request no further contact.

If they are approached again after clearly asking not to be then at that point it's potentially harassment

There's a big difference between getting a letter from an estate agent on their business letterhead and a note from someone with no return address (which is how I understood the op).

The way the op described this makes it sound like a threatening letter

Glad there was someone there with them and also that no one turned up. I do think it's important to report. Police encourage reporting and while they may not do anything immediately the evidence is there if it escalates, there is a pattern or anything more substantial happens. Definitely regster with Land Regstry and perhaps ask neighbours if they have had anything similar.

There was a BBC R4 series on stealth takeovers of properties that was quite frightening - not quite the same MO (this was stealing homes via fake wills), but worth being aware of https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m002fvgg . Nobody would want our house but I regisitered for alerts after this porgramme! If they don't have the tech to get alerts perhaps get the nephew to get the notifications?

DH is police and said this is 100% the right thing to do. Even if they send a PCSO, it’s the presence of someone who can help. If they ask for someone from the Safer Community Team, a police officer from this team may come out.

Agreed, and it’s worth speaking to Age Concern about this too

Niot particularly nice . Rude and likely to be a tactic of a 'certain type' .

My advice is to ignore it. The police are unlikely to do anything in any case at this stage.

If however it should progress to unsolicited phone calls, more letters etc then get the police involved as it is clearly becoming intimidating

Just make sure they are out on the Thursday to completely waste the letter writers' time.

I'm sorry your friends elderly neighbours feel like this, but to be honest the only data that the company have accessed is the couple's name linked to their address, that's easily in the public domain. I'm not convinced the police would be interested unless there is a real threat in the letter like "we'll do X to you if you don't sell us your house." While morally the situation is dodge, legally the data they are using is accessible and the offer on the house is legal unless you can actually prove intimidation.

Elderly people being threatened. What are your reasons for saying to ignore it?
Would this be the sane advice for your loved one?
I'm curious

I think that this should be reported yes. It's a disgrace! Scaring the shit out of elderly people like that. Who the hell do they think they are, telling a couple with a 5 bed house that they've no right to be in it, and it could be an HMO. They can look on the market for a 5-bed house that's ya know, actually FOR SALE and buy that! The absolute stinking nerve of them!

As has been said though, it is easy to find out people names (electoral roll.) Not sure how they find out peoples ages, but there are ways and means to find out. Very likely have had people looking out, and watching people.

Police need to know about this, so they can act accordingly and warn people. And nobody is saying that ALL elderly people are vulnerable, but many are, and they are a demographic that is very likely to be targetted by scams (and fall for them!) People don't need to be getting huffy because THEY would 'never fall for a scam.' Bully for you, but many people would, (and do.)

Also, never say never!