Few questions about HMO's

a_fierce_bad_rabbit · 6 April 2021 at 1:51AM

Holeydel said:

Best read I've had all day. My thoughts echo MD258's in that it's a stash house. A slave will keep an eye on the premises / cash / products whilst the gangs (well dressed) come & go using the same key in the lockbox. It's a stretch, but the banging you heard may have been floorboards etc as stash compartments within the house were created. Keep us updated!

Well, without wanting to sound ignorant, why did the elderly Chinese man put the key safe on then the only people who go inside are eastern European?

Holeydel · 6 April 2021 at 2:54AM

a_fierce_bad_rabbit said:

Holeydel said:

Best read I've had all day. My thoughts echo MD258's in that it's a stash house. A slave will keep an eye on the premises / cash / products whilst the gangs (well dressed) come & go using the same key in the lockbox. It's a stretch, but the banging you heard may have been floorboards etc as stash compartments within the house were created. Keep us updated!

Well, without wanting to sound ignorant, why did the elderly Chinese man put the key safe on then the only people who go inside are eastern European?

Just one of the many burning questions we all want to find the answer to. The trade of illicit drug & slavery will often involve numerous nationalities as it's an international trade.

HampshireH · 6 April 2021 at 9:11AM

a_fierce_bad_rabbit said:

Holeydel said:

Best read I've had all day. My thoughts echo MD258's in that it's a stash house. A slave will keep an eye on the premises / cash / products whilst the gangs (well dressed) come & go using the same key in the lockbox. It's a stretch, but the banging you heard may have been floorboards etc as stash compartments within the house were created. Keep us updated!

Well, without wanting to sound ignorant, why did the elderly Chinese man put the key safe on then the only people who go inside are eastern European?

Because he is related to the Chinese owner?

There are foreign websites/companies used to recruit Eastern Europeans for work/accommodation or just word of mouth. I doubt you would find the advert online. As you say the previous landlord didn't need to so why would this one?

Doing a land registry check should give you current owner then you can Google them and see what comes up. If a prolific landlord with over 20 properties it's likely something will be there at the very least.

It's not uncommon for homes to be used as drug drops as previously advised. One person empties their pockets/backpack and days later someone else collects and/or does the same.

You seem very fixated on the keysafe. Why wouldn't you use one? Seemingly it makes a property seem legitimate by your reasoning in posts so it's done its job right? It's made the comings and goings seem legitimate to you.

IF there is a young person in their I'm sure wherever they have been kept will be set up so that no noise is heard.

Why don't you get your neighbour a ring doorbell. Sounds better than EastEnders and could be very helpful later down the line of indeed it is being used for criminal purposes.

A0812 · 6 April 2021 at 1:06PM

I do apologise OP if my reply contributed to the feeling of animosity on this thread - completely unintentional 👍.
Whatever the answer to this mystery is, I hope you find out soon. It sounds as if you may have put in the reports now and that is probably the best course of action for the time being. For the record, I really do hope it's nothing dodgy / suspicious (though it doesn't sound like it being a legit HMO is an ideal outcome either)

a_fierce_bad_rabbit · 6 April 2021 at 6:23PM

Thanks everyone. Lots to think about. Relative is having a look at the modern slavery site now so will see how to give them a heads up. I think he is worried about sticking his nose into anything drug related though in case of personal repercussions as he thinks he would be suspected because he is the only one any of them have ever spoken to in the street. I guess he needs to make himself less conspicuous!

I still largely think it will turn out to be another problematic HMO, but the area isn't set to improve one way or the other - best to leave if you can really.

Back to the mystery - we are wondering why there have been around 3 episodes of them drilling and smashing at an internal door (what you'd call a vestibule). Work takes about 10 mins then they leave, presuming they take the tools all the way around to the next street where they park.
My relative, spurred on by you lot, lol, wonders if they are trying to make the doors less noisy for their possibly covert operations, but I have no idea what someone would keep doing to one door over the pace of 3 weeks. No other work is ever done on the house.

Relative - again spurred on by you lot - now wonders if the 'Spanish' family was the head honcho.

a_fierce_bad_rabbit · 8 April 2021 at 9:06PM

Update - again, not terribly interesting but would still love any suggestions from landlords as to whether this is regular.

Young guy went in there yesterday for few mins then left. No car.

Group of guys arrived at 7pm this evening next door and began slamming around, electric screwdriver, some work being done in front of house. Same age and nationality as the usual visitors, but didnt see them.

Left after 30 mins. Car parked on another street as usual. God knows if they carried work tools etc.

Nosy us peered in later as door is glass, and nothing whatsoever had altered. The work was done in front vestibule, same old fashioned door with push handle, no new locks anywhere (rusty old HMO locks are still intact) or any debris on floor. Only other thing in vestibule is electricity cupboard which is old and unchanged.
Could see through to entire downstairs of house and it is completely empty and unchanged.

I mention this only in the light of suggestions that the house might be being used for criminal activity.
If so, why would they do this?
And also for landlords, would you allow potential HMO tenants to enter your empty property to do work on it?

hazyjo · 8 April 2021 at 9:14PM

Not a landlord, but can tell you potential tenants would not be allowed access to do work.

You seem VERY determined to believe there's nowt dodgy going on here, and are waiting for that one poster to come along and say "yeah, I give keys to strangers and let them do imaginary work to my property".

Mate, it sounds like a money drop, prob for slave labour, possibly drugs or prostitution, etc. Don't think I'll mention it again as I'm bored of the sound of my own voice (and everyone else's lol). Six pages and you still don't want to hear it...

Have you discussed your concerns with the police yet?

a_fierce_bad_rabbit · 8 April 2021 at 9:28PM

hazyjo said:

Not a landlord, but can tell you potential tenants would not be allowed access to do work.

You seem VERY determined to believe there's nowt dodgy going on here, and are waiting for that one poster to come along and say "yeah, I give keys to strangers and let them do imaginary work to my property".

Mate, it sounds like a money drop, prob for slave labour, possibly drugs or prostitution, etc. Don't think I'll mention it again as I'm bored of the sound of my own voice (and everyone else's lol). Six pages and you still don't want to hear it...

Have you discussed your concerns with the police yet?

He's filed a report at the modern slavery helpline website yesterday, but not called police. Since he has stuck his nose in a bit and spoke to these visitors he is worried they will suspect him. What can you do?

But I don't disagree, I am honestly intrigued, it does not seem regular to me at all, but my general instincts about the area, after the last HMO is that it wouldn't be that unusual to have bonkers goings-on. Perhaps this crosses the line somewhat, so this is why I started the thread.

I hope that makes sense.

Any thoughts are appreciated, and your inclination to believe landlords wouldn't want tenants in an empty property buggering about is very helpful. I might have thought they were workmen, but they are all so similar, dressed for going to the pub, and never park in the street or arrive in the earlier parts of the day.

Thanks.