Scared by someone entering our house today - big argument with DP

[Lickmylegs0]

I need to know I’m not going crazy. I was in garden, and came in to see a strange lady using our toilet. Baby was asleep in room next to door, and my DD was there too. DP had opened door and let lady in to use the toilet, he claims she pushed past him - but I think he should have said ‘no’ firmly.
Man on doorstep wanted to contact previous owners of our bungalow - DP was about to get all our paperwork out. I stopped him and told them to contact estate agent.
Strange lady came back later. I spoke to her through window - she wanted to know if the previous owner had died - and then said the bungalow should belong to them.
I feel very shaken up and DP has been having a go at me saying I overreacted.

Need to give his head a wobble. Yanbu - hope you are ok going forward.
My thoughts are burglary or some odd family inheritance stuff and an entitled crazy lady.

I would be extremely concerned if my dh acted like this, what's the matter with him?
He was going through your house purchase papers at the request of some randomer who knocked on the door?

I wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t a distraction burglary but you walking in prevented it.

I think they knew too much about the property/previous owner - so I don’t think burglars - but it was how easily they got in, and that DP thought I was overreacting.

But why did he engage with them at all??

I don’t think she wanted to use the loo, she just wanted to snoop around. Especially if she thinks the property is “hers”

He was going to get the solicitors papers out. I stopped him - and told them to speak to the estate agent.

Have you just moved in?

Beef up your security too.

I would report this to the police, and if they come back I would call 999 immediately. Do NOT open your door to these people again.

It was definitely a ploy to snoop around. I’m also cross because DP was being very, very, very fussy about lockdown rules and my DM a couple of weeks ago. Yet he let a stranger in the house.

We moved i a year ago.

Yes call the police. Have it logged! Install a camera. Wtf would he get paperwork out?!?! Is he gullible?

He’s continued to annoy me greatly this afternoon. I’m really fuming.

@Lickmylegs0

We moved i a year ago.

And your husband was rooting through paperwork to convince a complete stranger that you were the legal owner?! He sounds ripe for the plucking 🤦‍♀️

Hmmm , Sounds very very odd.
I would consider reporting to 101, could easily be they were using distraction to come back when youre out next - This happened to a friend of mine!

Put a chain on the door and use it until this situation has resolved itself. I can understand that your DH doesn't want to be shoving a woman but if he uses a chain he won't have to.

It may or may not be true that there has been some illegality around inheritance, but that's nothing at all to do with you. You bought your house in good faith. If the seller didn't own it then the rightful owners will have to recover the proceeds of the sale from the seller. The time to have stopped the sale was before the sale was completed and that's well past now.

They could easily have found how much it sold for and if the previous owner had died online. V weird - speak to the police - this might have happened to others.

I would strongly recommend phoning the police. I'd also recommend getting some CCTV installed so you have an easy way to determine if this is part of an ongoing issue: it would take a lot of balls for this to be their first time observing the house. I provided some security advice on another thread some time ago, some of which may be relevant to you.

Ultimately, the house is yours. If it was wrongfully sold due to an issue with the will, it's not your problem and their money will be recouped from whoever sold it. Your DH sounds lax about security, maybe the police can scare him into being reasonable.

Double check that your toilet window is securely closed incase they planned to come back later and let themselves in.

FFS, what was he meant to do, forcibly shove her out of the house?

If he'd've laid a finger on her he could've been looking at potential assault charges. The onus would've been all on him to prove he'd acted reasonably. And the OP would be on here pissing and moaning that he may have jeopardised his job.

It may well not have been wrongfully sold - this could be a case of ‘Aunty Elsie always said Our Tony would have the house when she died’ and Auntie Elsie’s will saying otherwise. It happens! But it’s not your problem, op, and you certainly don’t need to be answering questions or letting random people in.

@thedancingbear

FFS, what was he meant to do, forcibly shove her out of the house?

If he'd've laid a finger on her he could've been looking at potential assault charges. The onus would've been all on him to prove he'd acted reasonably. And the OP would be on here pissing and moaning that he may have jeopardised his job.

Maybe say, 'get out or I'm calling the police'. Which is what I'd do if a random forcibly entered my home. Not look for paperwork for them, as a start.

Contact the police and let them know what happened - just 111, just in case there is a scam or something going on...why did he let her in? Especially right now. Really weird situation all round.

@thedancingbear

FFS, what was he meant to do, forcibly shove her out of the house?

If he'd've laid a finger on her he could've been looking at potential assault charges. The onus would've been all on him to prove he'd acted reasonably. And the OP would be on here pissing and moaning that he may have jeopardised his job.

If a complete stranger barged into my house and refused to leave I'd call the police. He didn't have to manhandle her outside, but he didn't have to let her do exactly what she pleased either. Stopping her actually barging in in the first place wouldn't count as using force against her, either. He could have just blocked her way... He must have literally moved out of her way to let her get inside