Odd behaviour from seller! Help!

[chickennoodless]

Hi mumsnet! Please can I have your advice or let me know what you did if you experienced something similar.

at the end of last year we bought a house, just to be clear we don’t live in this property yet as it’s undergoing renovation, the family we bought the house from live close by.

Since completion of the sale the behaviour from a member of the family has been overbearing, it started off as friendly but escalated into what I found nosey.

At first I responded politely, although finding it a little strange I thought they were trying to be helpful and welcome me to the neighbourhood.

They messaged me long winded messages about the family and their life etc I ignored these. The messages always asked what I was doing building wise to the property, asking to have a look inside.

I have not responded to any message asking to come inside our house, to cut a long story short they have now tricked a tradesman visiting the house into letting them inside, apparently they had a good look around inside making comments before they were asked to leave. The family is not aware that I know that one of them has been inside my house.

I am extremely upset, I feel like my privacy has been invaded.

any advice is welcome.

I think you’re going to have to be tough on them. Send a letter saying they have sold the house and have no business constantly messaging, plus if they ever set foot in the property without your permission again you will be taking legal action. Do not respond to any more messages - if they persist send a solicitor’s letter.

Id ask the police to have a word personally. Some people struggle to let go I think.

This.

This

Unwanted communications that cause distress is officially labeled as harassment.

Tricking the tradesman might be trespass.

A quiet word from the police should nip it in the bud.

And this is why I never share my phone number with the other party during a house purchase or sale.

Agree with previous advice - a line has been crossed here. I think in the first instance I would contact the estate agent who dealt with them but if that wasn’t sufficient would send a solicitor’s letter.

I would just start ignoring any communication from them. And warn future tradesmen about the possibility they may try to enter the house again and you absolutely forbid them from doing so. Get the locks changed if you haven’t already done so in case they kept back a key.

I doubt the police will be interested as no crime was committed & they will probably just give you general advice about changing locks & warning tradesmen not to let them enter again.

This. What she did was illegal surely?

I wouldn't go half measures with nice letters. A police visit/call to give her perspective on what she's doing sounds needed.

How was it illegal if the tradesman granted access?

They obviously shouldn't have done without getting your permission but that's another story.

How was it illegal if the tradesman granted access?

The tradesman was duped into believing it was okay - false pretences.

I just don't think false pretences is illegal or half the people on dating websites would be breaking the law! They didn't break in.

Trespass is not OLD

What weirdos. What did they want?

I don’t believe the police would count a tradesman letting someone view a property to be trespass, which isn’t normally a criminal offence anyway unless squatting.

OP can obviously contact the police if they want to, I just don’t personally believe that will be very helpful to the situation.

@Twiglets1

Not breaking in - they obviously didn’t - illegal entry. They didn’t have the owner’s permission.

It is a civil matter though, so police don't have to get involved, believe it or not.

Trespass is a civil offence not criminal so not actually against the law. Solicitors letter is the way to go. If they then continue it becomes harassment and a criminal matter that the police can deal with.

I would send a message before calling the police. E.g
“It’s always interesting to hear about the history of a house, and it must be hard to let go of a home. But we are now keen to move forwards into a new history. I am upset to learn that you have compromised one of our tradespeople by talking your way into your house. This was inappropriate. Please respect our privacy from now on”

We had a similar issue with a neighbour. Always going on about how poor he was. Yet his wife bought their house with her trust fund. We know her dad. So when we had work done, the neighbour used to come round and talk to the builders. Then we discovered he came in the house and told the village about how much money he thought we were spending and made us feel uncomfortable. Small village gossip is unpleasant. After that - builders told don’t allow him on our premises. Given clear instructions. Also block calls, his number and any contact.

Police won’t do anything. This neighbour also held my car door partially open one day, on my own drive, and I could not get out of the car and refused to leave. We got a camera for our drive.

I wouldn't go to the police or send a solicitor as a first step. Some people are unaware of boundaries and can be very nosey. I have a neighbour like this who would often talk her way into my property while it was being renovated and I wasn't there. Things are fine now, but wouldn't have been if I had made an issue of it. In your case, I would ignore them (and block their number if it persists), and just make the tradesmen aware that they are not to let anyone in without your permission. I suspect they are just curious to see what you've done to the place.