Probate Company get wrong house and break in to mine!

scrub

Not sure where to post this as it's a very random event!

A probate company got the wrong number and broke into my house, changed the locks, turned the gas and electricity off and fitted a key safe on the back gate. They realised they got the wrong house as it's empty because I haven't moved in yet as I'm doing it up. I got left a contact number and a message saying sorry which I rang. A very apologetic woman said the director would call me back the next day but hasn't.

Where do I stand legally? The door and gate were old and going to be changed anyway so I've not really lost anything. I may have to call a plumber to sort the boiler though.

phoenix_w

Get onto them to put things right at their expense and be polite. If they don't play ball, tell them you're reporting them for breaking & entering and you want to claim on their public liability to put you back in the same position as before.

You're entitled to get your property in the same state as it was before they broke in so take a good look around and ensure they haven't broken anything during their forced entry (door frames and hardware especially). You're not entitled to betterment, however if they have broken your door & gate to some degree they will need to replace them.

Silver-Surfer_2

phoenix_w wrote: »

Get onto them to put things right at their expense and be polite. If they don't play ball, tell them you're reporting them for breaking & entering and you want to claim on their public liability to put you back in the same position as before.

You're entitled to get your property in the same state as it was before they broke in so take a good look around and ensure they haven't broken anything during their forced entry (door frames and hardware especially). You're not entitled to betterment, however if they have broken your door & gate to some degree they will need to replace them.

Report them to who?

phoenix_w

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

Report them to who?

Po po, five-oh, heat on the street, po-lice, feds, coppers, etc.

Silver-Surfer_2

phoenix_w wrote: »

Po po, five-oh, heat on the street, po-lice, feds, coppers, etc.

For what? The police deal with criminal offences and there hasn't been one.

phoenix_w

Breaking into someone's house and causing damage without the owner's permission nor a court order isn't a criminal act?

Marktheshark

phoenix_w wrote: »

Breaking into someone's house and causing damage without the owner's permission nor a court order isn't a criminal act?

Yes it is, however unless you are an expert in issuing private prosecutions there is nothing you can do.
Police always side with corporations and businesses over the lawful rights of lowly members of public.

phoenix_w

Marktheshark wrote: »

Police always side with corporations and businesses over the lawful rights of lowly members of public.

Can't disagree with you there. To be honest, my suggestion of reporting and asking for public liability details were just ideas of empty threats to get the company to do the right thing should they fail to make things right.

By the OP's description, all they need to do is send him/her the keys for the new locks and send a plumber to check over the gas appliances, so can't see them not playing ball. However, they should do their own careful audit just in case there is non-obvious damages that need repairing - it'll be a lot harder to prove these weeks/months down the line!

Silver-Surfer_2

phoenix_w wrote: »

Breaking into someone's house and causing damage without the owner's permission nor a court order isn't a criminal act?

I can't see any mention by the op of this happening.

The breaking and entering you talk about isn't an offence. There hasn't been any burglary so it's a civil matter and not for the police to deal with.

pendragon_arther

Another option is the small claims court used as a motivational threat.

Ozzuk

I'd talk to them politely and hold off threatening things like small claims until you know how they are going to respond. It sounds like a genuine mistake, give them a chance to sort it, they know they are in the wrong.

If they mess you around then sure, go after them all guns blazing.