Landlord (?) using rented flat

Old_Git

the family friend is using the flat .
I dont thing the landlord is going to tesco to buy something to cook in his rental property .

pollydollydoodah

Does the landlord know your parents aren't using the flat?
Does the family friend have a key? Could one of their relatives/friends have got hold of the key (only asking as its a possible explanation)

I had a friend who needed to move out of a rented house early and the landlord insisted she paid the full six months even though it would be empty for 4 of those months.
...But then wanted to use the house himself . She ended up visiting it a lot to stop him ad he had the impression that it was his house to use even if it's rented out.
So it may be a landlord who knows it's empty so thinks he can use it.?

Have you actually asked him or the estate agents?
How long have they got to go on the tenancy? Could someone stay there or fit a camera just out of interest to prove that someone's not used it?

Mossfarr

My money is on the family friend being the culprit.
How far away from the flat does this person live ? Would it be unreasonable if they 'made themselves a cuppa' whilst going there to check it and collect post?

Elfbert

If the locks haven't been changed it could easily be an ex-tenant, or a friend of one. Imagine if they popped by to see if some post had come for them..and when no one was in popped by again..and again, until deciding the place was uninhabited and using a key they hadn't given back to let themselves in...and then let a mate in

You never know!