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

Because someone has said they are going to come round to ask about buying a house? I really don't think they would.

Inviting themselves with a set date she has no way of declining for one. I’d be livid if my mother received this. She’d be terrified.

Can’t someone else be there when they are supposed to go round and tell them to buzz off in less polite language?

If it was my house I would ignore it but if my elderly neighbour was worried I would contact the police for them

Bin it and tell them to not answer the door at 11am on Thursday.

If someone does show up and is insistent and won’t leave they can call the police then.

My elderly mother would absolutely worry about this.

Honestly in what way is it intimidating?

Yes, this.

Having said this, I wouldn’t want to leave my young teens alone in the house at the time that somebody like this had said they were going to come.

Ive had fliers of this kind pushed through the door and they end up in the bin with all the other garbage. I have a ring doorbell, cctv and a stern notice about unsolicited visitors. People still knock occasionally and I watch them toddling up and down the street. Quite amusing on cold winter days. Its not my problem f people want to waste their time because they cannot read.

You can fill out a form at the town hall to withhold your name from the publicly available electoral roll. Credit reference and mortgage companies will still be able to check it for legitimate purposes.

This is not like those letters that are obviously a template, addressed to ‘number 26’ or wherever, say something vague about how much the house might be worth and give a number to contact them on.
It’s addressed to them personally and gives a specific time and date when they will come round. It’s threatening.
There’s nothing ‘hilarious’ about calling the non-emergency police or about advising people to do so. Personally, I’ve found them knowledgeable, helpful and reassuring. They didn’t laugh at me, even though I’m sure by your standards my issue was trivial.
I would absolutely call them. I’d also have someone else at the house at the time and date given.

This is why people should opt of being on the open register. It's dead easy but I can understand why people don't know it's possible.

If they are elderly contact Age Concern and ask them to send an adviser, they may be aware of scams/issues

The intimidation comes from someone knowing their names and their ages and inferring that due to their age and there only being two of them they should move.
We get letters from estate agents but they are far more generic about there being a market for houses like ours which we know anyway, there's always a waiting list but they aren't personalised or inferring we should move.

It’s also intimidating because it says they’ll come round at a specific time and date and gives no way of contacting them to discuss or to tell them not to come round.

Honestly the police will laugh them out of the door.

I really cannot counsel strongly enough that it's not a good idea to second guess the police or what their response may be. For all the OP - or indeed any poster on this thread (myself included) knows, the police may have already received reports from other homeowners, and another would add to their finding a pattern which needs investigating.

Having re-read the OP closer, the fact the owners have lived there 58 years strikes me as noteworthy. That predates the current incarnation of the land registry and could be the entry point for all sorts of unscrupulous goings-on. To the extent my sole question at this point is whether the property is actually registered. If not - get it done as soon as possible.

I wonder about how to restore some confidence in the elderly couple. Would a video doorbell help? Do they feel their house is secure against someone trying to break in? Would CCTV help?

A younger person being around is a good plan but doesn't help the couple manage future situations independently.

If I were them I'd just go out that morning and leave a message on the door telling the developer they aren't interested in selling and to not return. If the developer sent another letter then would probably log with the police as potential harassment.

Name and address are on the Electoral Roll. Just tear the letter up.

In university cities, there are plenty of students wanting to rent them. I looked at the details of one house which the letting agents were still in the process of buying - they were probably going to make their money back in five years, even allowing for some refurbishment and gaps in the summers (although in that city, rentals are usually from 1st July, so students have to pay from then if they don't want to lose out to another group).

You can request your name be excluded from the public electoral register.

We have no idea if the homeowners in the OP have elected to do so or not.

If they have, and there is personally addressed correspondence, it looks more sinister as the only way to access the restricted register is to physically visit the local authority to request sight. And you need to have an idea of who you are looking for.

Tell them to keep their doors locked and not to answer or interact with whoever turns up.
If they start making a nuisance of them selves, tell the old dears to call the police.
Have they no family they could contact?

It's probably just a marketing letter. It's easy to get names and addresses from the electoral register.
I can understand why your friends are upset though and it might be worth lodging a complaint with the advertising standards agency

Exactly this

It's probably just a marketing letter. It's easy to get names and addresses from the electoral register.

Only for people who haven't requested their names be removed from the open register.

I myself have chosen not to have my details listed. On the rare occasion I receive something directly addressed to me, I know that it is either from an organisation I am in contact with, or (much more likely) from an outfit who regard data protection laws as optional.

You really would go out and leave a note on the door which effectively says ‘Hi, we’re not here right now so if you’d like to burgle the house, it’s empty….’ ?