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 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!

Thanks for alerting us to this. I would like to see this.

This does not need to be reported to the police - no crime has been committed. If they are worried just get someone else to be there at the relevant time.

@Blopi Ignore anyone saying the police should not be contacted.

From Google:

if elderly people are getting threatening anonymous letters saying they need to sell their house the police should be told

Threatening letters demanding someone sell their home are a criminal offence—often categorised as malicious communications, harassment, or intimidation. Even if the threats are vague or anonymous, they are sent with the intent to cause fear and should be investigated.

Here is how and when to report the letters, and additional steps you can take to protect the elderly person:

1. How to Contact the Police

In an Emergency: Call 999 immediately if someone has been threatened with violence, is in immediate danger, or if a suspicious person is outside the property right now.

Non-Emergency: If there is no immediate danger, report the letters using the non-emergency 101 number or online via your local police force's website.

Action Fraud: Because the threats are tied to their property, you can also report the incident to Action Fraud (the UK's national fraud reporting centre), which tracks scams and property-related crimes.

1. What to Do with the Evidence

Do not respond: Do not reply to the letters or attempt to contact the sender, as this can escalate the situation.

Preserve the letters: Handle the letters as little as possible so you don't destroy potential fingerprints or DNA. Place them in plastic wallets or envelopes.

Take photos: Take clear photographs of the letters, envelopes, and postmarks before handing them over to the police.

1. Protect Their Property

Sometimes these letters are the first step in property fraud (where criminals try to steal an identity to fraudulently sell or mortgage a house).

Register for Alerts: You can sign up for the free HM Land Registry Property Alert Service, which will send you an email notification if anyone applies to change the register of the property (such as a change of ownership).

Property Fraud Line: If you are worried the property might be targeted for a fake sale, you can call the HM Land Registry Property Fraud Line on 0300 006 7030 for practical guidance.

They should NOT ignore this. As a few posters have already said, also contact Age Concern.

Anyone can get information of home owners names by searching the register at land registry. It only costs a couple of pounds.

I would advise them to register for property alerts as suggested by a pp.

Sensible. I think the people who are saying ignore it are not putting themselves in the position of elderly people who could be threatened, bullied etc. They probably won’t turn up, but they might. I wonder if there’s a phone number on the card? If so a message saying this is pressure-selling and intimidation and the police have been informed would surely put them off.

A PP mentioned that they didn’t know how the Electoral Roll could indicate age. There used to be a marker showing if people were not eligible for Jury Duty. This would often be age- over 75- or some MH issues. Fairly sure that it still exists.

Would love to know an update. I felt so sad for the old couple reading this post.

In this case, it’s 100% the Land Registry.

I own several pieces of land and get letters from developers all the time - all addressed personally. Anyone can get any property/name information they want from
the LR.

Neighbours were there but no one showed. Cameras have been installed.

Go to 'see all' on the OPs post and scroll to the end for the most recent update.

We got a couple of letters a bit like this when we lived in a huge house in a a road where many had been made multi occupancy. Just ignored them.
Ironically when we came to sell back in peak 2022 we had masses and masses of interest from developers and large extended families but ended up selling to a single woman who just fancied a lot of space.

Many years ago I lived in a shared house in South West London, 5 professionals living together, shared kitchen, living room and bathroom, when somebody moved out there was always another friend willing to move in. The house was owned by a rather benevolent landlady who had inherited it and trusted us to look after it and post the cheques for the rent every month. Now that would be classed as an HMO, and need to be licenced.

Not all HMOs are 'funded by the taxpayer'. The ones in my street are almost entirely inhabited by young, working people. Don't generalise!

Of course, some HMOs are OK, and they do have their place, and their uses. (And it's a load of nonsense that HMOs are funded by the taxpayer as many people in them do work. This nonsense is very likely coming from someone who thinks social housing is funded 'at the taxpayers expense,' and everyone in it is on benefits!) 🙄

But to try to bully and coerce an elderly couple into giving up their 5-bed home 'so it can be turned into an HMO' is ludicrous. Utterly batshit behaviour. As I said, go and look on the market for a 5-bed house that's actually FOR SALE, instead of trying to bully people out of theirs. I strongly suspect that the people who dropped this letter through the letterbox - or posted it - would have given them waaaaay less than the house is worth.

A slightly similar thing happened to a neighbour of mine (in her late 60s,) several years ago. She has a 2-bed, end of the row, social housing bungalow with a big garden, not overlooked, and elevated, and in a lovely position. Her one DC left home 3-4 years ago in her late 20s, and moved some 15 miles away. (Her DH died about 10 years ago.)

Within about a month, 2 people from a house down the road (2 minutes walk,) came knocking at her door saying she needs to give up the property now as she is under-occupied. And the garden is way to big for her anyway, and her sister and partner and 2 kids 'could do with this place.'

They were on the social housing list, but they're a bit dim because it doesn't work like that, you can't just 'have someone's social housing property!' There's a system, and the next person on the list would be offered it if she left. Also, where was she meant to go?

If she had had a big 3-bed house, and they had been in a small 2 bed, (and had both of them had been in social housing) then a mutual exchange could have been arranged, but only if both parties wanted it. But they were in a private let property 2 bed flat....

And there's no way in hell she is ever leaving that bungalow. She said to them 'sorry no, I'm not leaving.' They contacted the social housing landlord and complained, and they laughed and said 'you can't just tell people to move because you fancy having their property, even if you're in social housing too.' As I said, the sister of these people was living in a 2 bed private let flat, and I think they genuinely wanted my neighbour to swap with them! 😆

I don't know if they had badgered other people, but my neighbour's home is very appealing because the plot is huge, not overlooked, and elevated.

Cheek of them! 😆

.

I hadn’t realised this - so if you and your family of six children are allocated a large house by the council and the children move out, the remaining parent can still live in the large house. The council takes no account of changed circumstances? That’s absolutely ridiculous.

It’s pretty clear that social housing has a lot of systemic flaws - here is yet another one.

So the police have time to sort something out

Like what?

A posse?

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

Seriously ? Have you read the thread ? Or know what you are talking about.

Either would be nice.

Edited to say: I give up. I guess the hard study for the law isn't for everyone. But I bet a lot of posters here would whine about having to pay legal fees.

I was thinking more along the lines of arranging their limited resources so that a PCSO could pop along to their house on the morning this man was due to call, but sure, if you want to show off how sharp and witty you think you are, then yeah, a posse 🙄 Fucking tedious.

Given I have a law degree and was a conveyancer for 20 years I'd say I do know what I'm talking about, yes. Unlike you though I'm not rude and patronising. Also, if you're asking a question it should end with a question mark. I guess the hard study of punctuation isn't for everyone either.

People wonder why lawyers are seen as unlikeable 🙄, perfect example right here (if you even are one)

And requires fire doors, alarms, etc

You think thats going to happen? What planet are you on?

Because people automatically assume it's asylum seeker/refugee accommodation thanks to the right wing media. I live in a city and I've seen a lot of HMOs of a very high standard and lived in several myself in my 20s. Still friends with some of the housemates now 15 years later

This. ^ There's a serious lack of critical thinking (from some) on this thread. 🙄

You think it shows critical thinking to think that the police will 'sort something out' and have a PSCO on hand for the visit?

That was the point of my post to show how ridiculous it is to think the police have any resources or indeed inclination to respond to something like this.

Thing is, it's only YOUR posts that are sounding 'ridiculous' @likelysuspect

You really need to educate yourself on what PCSOs actually are!!!