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Original poster

should we move in to this house

33 replies

kimi · 07/06/2006 08:57

looking to rent a new house in an area i know well (lived there for 10 years ) due to seperation with hubby need new place and want to stay near to the childrens school and keep them close to dad (split all very nice and poilte and still good friends).
Any way the house is great ticked all the boxes and i was ready to sign there and then....BUT....
the letting agent said that the people who live there (been there 4 months) are moving out on police advice as the lady had been attacked on the door step of the house, he had no other details but seemed to think it might be drugs as the partner is black (hows that for a sweeping assumption Angry).
But i love the house and thee is nothing else in the area at the moment, but with 2 small kids i am worried that there might be problems there, i called the local police but they could not tell me anything.
We need to let the agents know and i did like the house but i dont want to put my kids in any danger
Please advise

OP posts:
ruty · 07/06/2006 09:11

can't believe the letting agent said that - what a twat [sorry.] But about the attack on the doorstep, that is a worry - I mean logically I guess you can get attacked anywhere at anytime, but i think it would put me off, and it would make me feel scared for my children. Can you have a look at a few more houses to get a better perspective? Sorry it is a bit of a palava for you but might put your mind at rest.

Original poster
kimi · 07/06/2006 09:24

i went to 15 letting agents yesterday and there is nothing else at the moment, but i am worried if it is some on going thing with the people at the house and who ever, if they dont know the people have moved out they could come back.
its a real worry

OP posts:
ruty · 07/06/2006 09:51

it is a worry kimi - so sorry you are stuck - but i probably wouldn't take the house. Difficult situation for you. Sad

NomDePlume · 07/06/2006 09:53

In your shoes I probably wouldn't take the house, for my own peace of mind. I'd be jumping every time I heard the slightest noise from outside. Sad

tenalady · 07/06/2006 09:54

Its good the letting agent said that, honesty at a last and I wouldnt go there.

tracyk · 07/06/2006 09:57

Do you have the balls to knock on a few neighbours doors and ask them what the score is?

tracyk · 07/06/2006 09:58

and maybe you can get a knock down deal on the rent?

Blu · 07/06/2006 10:01

It may be that the police advised one individual person to move away somewhere she couldn't be folowed...once she's gone, I see no reason to assume that every tennant of the house would be affected. Get the letting agents to pupt a 'Ley By*' sign outside, to make it clear to anyone who comes looking that it has been re-let and the old people have gone.

It's only patchy third hand hearsay, anyway.

Original poster
kimi · 07/06/2006 10:01

thought of knocking on a few doors, also met the man who lived ther, and he seemed quite and very well spoken and nice, not really the sort to be a dealer!!!

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 07/06/2006 10:02

no, i wouldn't take it.

MrsBadger · 07/06/2006 10:05

The fact that the lady was attacked on the doorstep and the police advised her to move doesn't mean it'll be dangerous for our family - it sounds more like a domestic-type dispute and they'd been advised to move where the attacker couldn't trace them, rather than there being an ongoing problem with the house itself.

For what it's worth, the flat I lived in in London (pre-kids, and I know it makes a difference) had one of those yellow Crimestoppers boards in the doorway on the day we moved in, saying 'DID YOU SEE THIS STABBING?', and we were fine there for three years.

I would take the house.

Original poster
kimi · 07/06/2006 10:09

well it is a nice house and as i say ticked all the boxes, its just in the pit of my stomuch i have this feeling of fear about it

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 07/06/2006 10:10

i always trust my instinct in these matters. if i felt a pit of fear in my stomach for some reason, i'd walk away.

Original poster
kimi · 07/06/2006 10:15

well new partner loves it and wants to take it but says it has to be my choice as he dose not want me to be worried in the house, my dh says he thinks it would be ok, but i am worried

OP posts:
oliveoil · 07/06/2006 10:20

We bought our first house from a right dodgy sort (my friend is a solicitor and when I told her where we were moving she said "oh I have a client on that street.....what number are you buying....OH!!!!!!!!!!!!".

He was a dealer and had smashed a car into a neighbours wall and had police surveilance in the trees opposite. Lovely.

When we moved in, there were lots of car radios shoved under the sink.

I would ditto Blu and get the agent to put a huge LET BY sign up for a while.

Original poster
kimi · 07/06/2006 10:34

that sounds like a plan, new partner and dh both said that would be something to think about

OP posts:
ruty · 07/06/2006 11:39

if it was a personal issue that led to the attack i guess it is a bit different - not just a dodgy area. Making it clear that new people live in the house might make it work, as long as you feel comfortable about it.

Original poster
kimi · 07/06/2006 11:57

Think i will go talk to the neighbours tomorrow, i have lived in that area for 10 years and is a lovely area tbh, not alot of trouble and this is a nice road, but i cant get this feeling of worry to go away.

OP posts:
PrincessPeaHead · 07/06/2006 12:01

Agree with talking to neighbours and the LET sign. I would also insist that the owners changed the phone number for you, last thing you want is threatening phone calls...

LIZS · 07/06/2006 12:11

Good idea about changing the phone number and perhaps the locks (in case it was a domestic). In my first rented flat we used to get dodgy calls for the previous tenant who had legged it suddenly.

Uwila · 07/06/2006 12:32

Can you talk to the people who live there now and ask them to verify the agents story? I'm a bit baffled that the agent would offer this advice and the police not verify it. Did the police say they could not discuss the incident. Or did they say they had no knowledge of any such incident?

A bit off the topic, but I would also ask the current residents what their utility bills are like, especially with the recent hike in gas prices. We rent a house and the electrical system is faulty. Light bulbs blow out at an astonishing rate. It's a real pain. And our gas/electric last quarter was some £600! Shock I will check these things next time.

dubnobasswithmyheadman · 07/06/2006 12:33

I'd take it - the fear of 'black men' is obviously part of our society as well as in the States now (can you tell I am half way through watching Bowling for Columbine ?). If you know and like the area, then take little notice of the fearful comments by the estate agent. Why should a previous incident affect you in any way ?

Original poster
kimi · 08/06/2006 07:40

Thank you all, i would just like to point out that having met the man who lived there i thought he was nice, my worry is if it was drug related or they have p*ssed of some serious people i dont want people turning up at the house or bricking the windows or worse, thinking the old tenents are still there.
All the police would say is that they could not give me any details due to data protection.
It might have been nothing, but for a family (they have children) to pack up everything they own give up their home of 4 month and still pay rent on it till new tenents are found so as to get out of there lease 8 months early seems extream.
Will find out about bill though, good idea.

OP posts:
Original poster
kimi · 08/06/2006 10:33

OK i have told the letting agent i want the house!!!!!! Wish me luck!!
It is a lovely house and its not too far from the childrens school and DH. (Just off subject is dh still dh or d seperated h (as i said b4 its all very polite and in fact we are getting on better now then in a long long time) and what is new partner np? dp?)
Anyway, got to meet with the owners parents and sort out all the forms and things but hopefully soon we can move as going from a large 3 bed house with 200 feet of garden to a 2nd floor 2 bed flat was one hell of a shock to the old system and the kids school is a train ride away at the moment.
I will let you know how it goes, but please tell me im doing the right thing!

OP posts:
ruty · 08/06/2006 11:48

good luck kimi. hope all goes well. lots of things`in the house's favour.