Few questions about HMO's

a_fierce_bad_rabbit

Hi there, hoping someone might be able to shed a bit of light on a puzzling situation.
A house that was previously used as a HMO (non student, mainly European, single male workers) was recently sold. Landlord sold up and all tenants left, house was in a bad state and possibly unsafe.
Was purchased a few months later by overseas LL's who also purchased 20 other homes in the same local area. 

Since the sale, house was given a few coats of paint and new carpets. No furniture or other work done on it so far. This was 8 months ago.
In the past few months a key-safe was placed on the wall near the front door. Since then, occasionally, a few different guys (mid 20's or so) go in to the house, stay for about 10 mins whilst talking on phone, then leave. These guys appear to have no connection to each other or the owners and the house is not connected to any lettings agents. I had initially thought they were popping in to keep an eye on the place as the owners were not around. However.....

3 weeks ago, a middle aged guy came out of there and said hello, that he was moving in with his wife and kids and was happy to meet us! 

That as the last we saw of him. Since then, there are still random guys going in there - one yesterday sounded like he was kicking a door from it's hinges (!) then left 5 mins later. in the early evening a car full of men stopped outside whilst a guy got out, peered in through the windows of the house, then got back in and drove off. All unrelated but focused on the house. This one didnt access the key safe.

What puzzles us is that these random young guys remind us of the ones who lived in the previous HMO (all speak a different language to each other). I am wondering is it normal for a potential HMO to have a key safe when nobody is living there and nobody there to conduct viewings? It seems a bit weird and potentially risky to me. However I have no experience of this stuff so forgive me if I seem daft. Are these even 'viewings' in the regular sense? 

Does it look like the new owners are buying up local houses for new HMO's? and if so, how to explain the guy who said he was moving his family in? Perhaps his contract fell through...any thoughts?

teachfast

I think it sounds like a job for Jack Reacher

hazyjo

Blimey, do you live in your front garden? I couldn't tell you who turned up next door in the last year lol.

Could they be builders? Looking to split it into flats? Bulldoze it maybe? Airbnb? !!!!!! shoots? Drug deals? Cannabis growing in the loft? Who knows! Keep us informed Inspector 😁

a_fierce_bad_rabbit

I don't live there.
I thought it a good idea to list anything I know and put it in order in case someone could make sense of it. Then I didnt have to keep updating the thread.
It is a quiet culdesac, although in a pretty run down area. Stuff is noticeable to those who live there, probably because it is a small street. I know next to nothing about stuff like this so thought someone might help work it out. I am curious because I love a mystery, but the joined on houses are a tad concerned I suppose.

maxsteam

I've used key safes with AirBnB bookings but generally the bookings are for a few days rather than a few minutes. It does all sound very odd but there's not much that you can do unless there is a nuisance. Perhaps the visits are from potential tenants and unaccompanied viewings are considered normal in some circles.

If it was drug dealing or prostitution, I would expect there to be at least a noise nuisance. Have you tried googling the address and postcode? You might find that the accommodation is advertised somewhere.

deannagone

I am unsure why you are so curious as to what is going on in this house?  Does it matter?  Perhaps put a letter through the door.  If they answer, great but not sure how we can guess with any accuracy as to what is going on?

a_fierce_bad_rabbit

deannagone said:

I am unsure why you are so curious as to what is going on in this house?  Does it matter?  Perhaps put a letter through the door.  If they answer, great but not sure how we can guess with any accuracy as to what is going on?

Hi, nobody is interested to that extent, but having been empty for a while the joined-on houses are curious. Nothing much happens there usually so it stands out a bit. My relative lives next door, can occasionally hear someone in there during the night, but no lights ever on and no furniture in. I can honestly say this would certainly strike me as odd if it was my neighbour. And so would most of you if we are honest!

People have been going in there for about 10 minutes at a time only for months. They aren't doing work or viewing. 
I have no idea, but would. only be concerned if it was anything that could impact my relative. If it's just regular weirdness, I doubt any of us care, apart from it being a bit of an exciting mystery in an otherwise dull street!

a_fierce_bad_rabbit

maxsteam said:

I've used key safes with AirBnB bookings but generally the bookings are for a few days rather than a few minutes. It does all sound very odd but there's not much that you can do unless there is a nuisance. Perhaps the visits are from potential tenants and unaccompanied viewings are considered normal in some circles.

If it was drug dealing or prostitution, I would expect there to be at least a noise nuisance. Have you tried googling the address and postcode? You might find that the accommodation is advertised somewhere.

He has googled it but nothing, just the house being sold last year. 
As for noise, there has been some noise during the night (sound of moving around and someone watching media (like a film viewing on a phone or tablet). No lights on, etc, and occasionally a person goes in and spends about 5 mins making a pretty big racket like smashing something or something being broken - then they leave. Not workmen as all different lads, pretty well dressed and not carrying work stuff.

T'is a puzzler. 

martindow

Keep us updated.  This thread could run and run!

a_fierce_bad_rabbit

I think that when I began this thread I was interested in landlords maybe sharing whether they would -
1/ use a key safe to let tenants wander into an empty house?
2/ manage to find prospective tenants without advertising online or with an agent?
3/ perhaps know whether this was fairly regular behaviour due to the pandemic.

Several responses seem more concerned with whether we ought to 'care' about it or not, but it strikes me as a fairly reasonable thing to be puzzled by. Nobody is losing any sleep over this

I would say it isn't a 'drug farm' as no lights or smell. And why would someone pay 90k for a house just to do that? The visitors are always young, decently dressed, say hi. However, they never stay more than 5 mins and always park in a different street.
If they are prospective HMO tenants, I wonder why they would return over months just to stare at an empty house.

We did agree last night that it could turn into something exciting and action-movie-like but I doubt it very much,lol. Will possibly turn out to be fairly mundane!

elsien

Just for info, cannabis factories don’t always smell. There was a huge one at the end of my road, with no sign at all from outside.