Is this harassment?

HampshireH

Frank99 said:

A few weeks ago, we noticed a young mother outside our house taking photos with her phone, we thought it strange but did not say anything.

The next week a large family arrived asking why we live in a three bedroom home when they only have one bedroom, the family claimed they are reporting us to the Council, i told them this is our house and we own it so go ahead!

Weird but ok. As it's happened twice perhaps your house has been incorrectly advertised on a council Choice Based Lettings site.

They came back the following week with a man in a suit with a clipboard who was taking notes, i told them our children have left home but we are happy in this house however, if you offer us a good price we might consider moving to the countryside for some peace. The Female said "how do you expect a person like me to afford to buy it off you" and walked away. The man in the suit told me families need somewhere to stay and told me to at least consider moving (which made me furious) and i asked him to move all of these people in with him which led to him walking away also.

Why would you disclose the fact your house may not be occupied by multiple people. I wouldn't volunteer personal info to strangers.

Nobody else in the street is being approached by these people although they are taking photos of the other homes and i wonder if because of our age we are being targeted more directly! Another family came back pointing at the house with a man in a hi-vis jacket recently but we stayed inside ignoring them.

I contacted the Police and they are prepared to issue an injunction if i can tell them who they are (but i have no idea).

Unusual they would be so interested. Who would you be getting an injunction out against? So far you have said at least 4 different sets of people have stood outside your house.

We are helping our own kids to get on the housing ladder and we still both work and understand how difficult it is but i think this is a step too far, we a concerned about leaving the house now.
Many of our neighbours have recently asked us where we are moving too which seems strange and we are getting an estate agents card through the letter box daily.
We have set up an alert with the land registry as our daughter claims it could be property title scam.

What did they say when you asked why they thought you were moving?

I get estate agent cards all the time

It is giving my other half anxiety so i hope to find a solution, any ideas folks!

Comments in bold. I'd spend more time asking questions and finding some answers

Frank99

HampshireH said:

Frank99 said:

A few weeks ago, we noticed a young mother outside our house taking photos with her phone, we thought it strange but did not say anything.

The next week a large family arrived asking why we live in a three bedroom home when they only have one bedroom, the family claimed they are reporting us to the Council, i told them this is our house and we own it so go ahead!

Weird but ok. As it's happened twice perhaps your house has been incorrectly advertised on a council Choice Based Lettings site.

They came back the following week with a man in a suit with a clipboard who was taking notes, i told them our children have left home but we are happy in this house however, if you offer us a good price we might consider moving to the countryside for some peace. The Female said "how do you expect a person like me to afford to buy it off you" and walked away. The man in the suit told me families need somewhere to stay and told me to at least consider moving (which made me furious) and i asked him to move all of these people in with him which led to him walking away also.

Why would you disclose the fact your house may not be occupied by multiple people. I wouldn't volunteer personal info to strangers.

Nobody else in the street is being approached by these people although they are taking photos of the other homes and i wonder if because of our age we are being targeted more directly! Another family came back pointing at the house with a man in a hi-vis jacket recently but we stayed inside ignoring them.

I contacted the Police and they are prepared to issue an injunction if i can tell them who they are (but i have no idea).

Unusual they would be so interested. Who would you be getting an injunction out against? So far you have said at least 4 different sets of people have stood outside your house.

We are helping our own kids to get on the housing ladder and we still both work and understand how difficult it is but i think this is a step too far, we a concerned about leaving the house now.
Many of our neighbours have recently asked us where we are moving too which seems strange and we are getting an estate agents card through the letter box daily.
We have set up an alert with the land registry as our daughter claims it could be property title scam.

What did they say when you asked why they thought you were moving?

I get estate agent cards all the time

It is giving my other half anxiety so i hope to find a solution, any ideas folks!

Comments in bold. I'd spend more time asking questions and finding some answers

True but in the heat of moment you don't always remember!

Frank99

Thankyou to the positive contributers on this thread sorry if this is the wrong section!

Frank99

MalMonroe said:

Frank99 said:

MoodyMand45 said:

Frank99 said:

A few weeks ago, we noticed a young mother outside our house taking photos with her phone, we thought it strange but did not say anything.

The next week a large family arrived asking why we live in a three bedroom home when they only have one bedroom, the family claimed they are reporting us to the Council, i told them this is our house and we own it so go ahead!

They came back the following week with a man in a suit with a clipboard who was taking notes, i told them our children have left home but we are happy in this house however, if you offer us a good price we might consider moving to the countryside for some peace. The Female said "how do you expect a person like me to afford to buy it off you" and walked away. The man in the suit told me families need somewhere to stay and told me to at least consider moving (which made me furious) and i asked him to move all of these people in with him which led to him walking away also.

Nobody else in the street is being approached by these people although they are taking photos of the other homes and i wonder if because of our age we are being targeted more directly! Another family came back pointing at the house with a man in a hi-vis jacket recently but we stayed inside ignoring them.

I contacted the Police and they are prepared to issue an injunction if i can tell them who they are (but i have no idea).

We are helping our own kids to get on the housing ladder and we still both work and understand how difficult it is but i think this is a step too far, we a concerned about leaving the house now.
Many of our neighbours have recently asked us where we are moving too which seems strange and we are getting an estate agents card through the letter box daily.
We have set up an alert with the land registry as our daughter claims it could be property title scam.

It is giving my other half anxiety so i hope to find a solution, any ideas folks!

I'm not sure what part of the Country you live in but their is a push down south to move pensioners to see side homes to make way for young families, the demand for housing is that high but i wouldn't worry because new people arriving probably assume that all homes are council homes. It is impossible to remove a private resident from their home if they own it so i would smile to them and wave them on.

Thankyou, we are not quite pensioners we both work full time!

Hi, I AM a pensioner and would just like to add that it doesn't mean that I don't work full time. Some do. Some have to. I'm self-employed and work both full and part time, depending on demand.

Plus with you saying "Nobody else in the street is being approached by these people although they are taking photos of the other homes and i wonder if because of our age we are being targeted more directly!" some people may have assumed that you meant you were older. People do tend to make assumptions, which aren't always right. I'm finding that out more and more now I'm a (still working) pensioner!!

I agree with those who say just ignore those rude people. They should soon go away. I don't suppose you ever discovered what the council said to them?

Sorry about that i did not mean to stereotype, we are not far off retirement ourselves and i not saying pensioners are not working i know many who volunteer much of their time, i know that the older you get the more likely to be targeted by scammers.

The Council are saying that this is a distraction burglary or that is what they believe, according to them a large group has been doing this for over year by luring residents to the front whilst an accomplice sneaks around the back to get in the shed of the door, they apparently are wearing bogus council uniforms and have clipboards.

The Police have not said anything more to us but we are keeping our guard up for any more activity!

user1977

Frank99 said:

MalMonroe said:

Frank99 said:

MoodyMand45 said:

Frank99 said:

A few weeks ago, we noticed a young mother outside our house taking photos with her phone, we thought it strange but did not say anything.

The next week a large family arrived asking why we live in a three bedroom home when they only have one bedroom, the family claimed they are reporting us to the Council, i told them this is our house and we own it so go ahead!

They came back the following week with a man in a suit with a clipboard who was taking notes, i told them our children have left home but we are happy in this house however, if you offer us a good price we might consider moving to the countryside for some peace. The Female said "how do you expect a person like me to afford to buy it off you" and walked away. The man in the suit told me families need somewhere to stay and told me to at least consider moving (which made me furious) and i asked him to move all of these people in with him which led to him walking away also.

Nobody else in the street is being approached by these people although they are taking photos of the other homes and i wonder if because of our age we are being targeted more directly! Another family came back pointing at the house with a man in a hi-vis jacket recently but we stayed inside ignoring them.

I contacted the Police and they are prepared to issue an injunction if i can tell them who they are (but i have no idea).

We are helping our own kids to get on the housing ladder and we still both work and understand how difficult it is but i think this is a step too far, we a concerned about leaving the house now.
Many of our neighbours have recently asked us where we are moving too which seems strange and we are getting an estate agents card through the letter box daily.
We have set up an alert with the land registry as our daughter claims it could be property title scam.

It is giving my other half anxiety so i hope to find a solution, any ideas folks!

I'm not sure what part of the Country you live in but their is a push down south to move pensioners to see side homes to make way for young families, the demand for housing is that high but i wouldn't worry because new people arriving probably assume that all homes are council homes. It is impossible to remove a private resident from their home if they own it so i would smile to them and wave them on.

Thankyou, we are not quite pensioners we both work full time!

Hi, I AM a pensioner and would just like to add that it doesn't mean that I don't work full time. Some do. Some have to. I'm self-employed and work both full and part time, depending on demand.

Plus with you saying "Nobody else in the street is being approached by these people although they are taking photos of the other homes and i wonder if because of our age we are being targeted more directly!" some people may have assumed that you meant you were older. People do tend to make assumptions, which aren't always right. I'm finding that out more and more now I'm a (still working) pensioner!!

I agree with those who say just ignore those rude people. They should soon go away. I don't suppose you ever discovered what the council said to them?

The Council are saying that this is a distraction burglary or that is what they believe, according to them a large group has been doing this for over year by luring residents to the front whilst an accomplice sneaks around the back to get in the shed of the door, they apparently are wearing bogus council uniforms and have clipboards.

Bit odd that they came back a second time in that case, I'd have thought they'd be worried about you immediately challenging them after you'd had a chance to think about it or get advice.

Frank99

mark_cycling00 said:

I think it would be better to have some sympathy with the original poster as they don't seem to be strange in any way.

Yes, 50% chance you're at the start of a harassment campaign by some entity who wants to have your home for some reason. 50% it's a set of strangely timed events that look this way. Either way telling people they shouldn't be allowed to live in their home is just as nasty as telling someone that "they shouldn't be allowed in this country"

Which ever it is: be confident and ignore them. Don't ponder and start reading things into events. 
Don't enter into arguments or discussions about housing because you might say things that are interpreted as weakness and then make it worse. 

Chances are that the person will get bored and move on, or they'll identify themselves and write nasty letters or something that incriminate themselves. But most likely if you are confident and ignore them they'll stop.

Thanks for the advice! 

DanDare999

Frank99 said:

MalMonroe said:

Frank99 said:

MoodyMand45 said:

Frank99 said:

A few weeks ago, we noticed a young mother outside our house taking photos with her phone, we thought it strange but did not say anything.

The next week a large family arrived asking why we live in a three bedroom home when they only have one bedroom, the family claimed they are reporting us to the Council, i told them this is our house and we own it so go ahead!

They came back the following week with a man in a suit with a clipboard who was taking notes, i told them our children have left home but we are happy in this house however, if you offer us a good price we might consider moving to the countryside for some peace. The Female said "how do you expect a person like me to afford to buy it off you" and walked away. The man in the suit told me families need somewhere to stay and told me to at least consider moving (which made me furious) and i asked him to move all of these people in with him which led to him walking away also.

Nobody else in the street is being approached by these people although they are taking photos of the other homes and i wonder if because of our age we are being targeted more directly! Another family came back pointing at the house with a man in a hi-vis jacket recently but we stayed inside ignoring them.

I contacted the Police and they are prepared to issue an injunction if i can tell them who they are (but i have no idea).

We are helping our own kids to get on the housing ladder and we still both work and understand how difficult it is but i think this is a step too far, we a concerned about leaving the house now.
Many of our neighbours have recently asked us where we are moving too which seems strange and we are getting an estate agents card through the letter box daily.
We have set up an alert with the land registry as our daughter claims it could be property title scam.

It is giving my other half anxiety so i hope to find a solution, any ideas folks!

I'm not sure what part of the Country you live in but their is a push down south to move pensioners to see side homes to make way for young families, the demand for housing is that high but i wouldn't worry because new people arriving probably assume that all homes are council homes. It is impossible to remove a private resident from their home if they own it so i would smile to them and wave them on.

Thankyou, we are not quite pensioners we both work full time!

Hi, I AM a pensioner and would just like to add that it doesn't mean that I don't work full time. Some do. Some have to. I'm self-employed and work both full and part time, depending on demand.

Plus with you saying "Nobody else in the street is being approached by these people although they are taking photos of the other homes and i wonder if because of our age we are being targeted more directly!" some people may have assumed that you meant you were older. People do tend to make assumptions, which aren't always right. I'm finding that out more and more now I'm a (still working) pensioner!!

I agree with those who say just ignore those rude people. They should soon go away. I don't suppose you ever discovered what the council said to them?

Sorry about that i did not mean to stereotype, we are not far off retirement ourselves and i not saying pensioners are not working i know many who volunteer much of their time, i know that the older you get the more likely to be targeted by scammers.

The Council are saying that this is a distraction burglary or that is what they believe, according to them a large group has been doing this for over year by luring residents to the front whilst an accomplice sneaks around the back to get in the shed of the door, they apparently are wearing bogus council uniforms and have clipboards.

The Police have not said anything more to us but we are keeping our guard up for any more activity!

Well yours certainly wasn't, not to say they weren't teeing you up for one though. 

Frank99

user1977 said:

Frank99 said:

MalMonroe said:

Frank99 said:

MoodyMand45 said:

Frank99 said:

A few weeks ago, we noticed a young mother outside our house taking photos with her phone, we thought it strange but did not say anything.

The next week a large family arrived asking why we live in a three bedroom home when they only have one bedroom, the family claimed they are reporting us to the Council, i told them this is our house and we own it so go ahead!

They came back the following week with a man in a suit with a clipboard who was taking notes, i told them our children have left home but we are happy in this house however, if you offer us a good price we might consider moving to the countryside for some peace. The Female said "how do you expect a person like me to afford to buy it off you" and walked away. The man in the suit told me families need somewhere to stay and told me to at least consider moving (which made me furious) and i asked him to move all of these people in with him which led to him walking away also.

Nobody else in the street is being approached by these people although they are taking photos of the other homes and i wonder if because of our age we are being targeted more directly! Another family came back pointing at the house with a man in a hi-vis jacket recently but we stayed inside ignoring them.

I contacted the Police and they are prepared to issue an injunction if i can tell them who they are (but i have no idea).

We are helping our own kids to get on the housing ladder and we still both work and understand how difficult it is but i think this is a step too far, we a concerned about leaving the house now.
Many of our neighbours have recently asked us where we are moving too which seems strange and we are getting an estate agents card through the letter box daily.
We have set up an alert with the land registry as our daughter claims it could be property title scam.

It is giving my other half anxiety so i hope to find a solution, any ideas folks!

I'm not sure what part of the Country you live in but their is a push down south to move pensioners to see side homes to make way for young families, the demand for housing is that high but i wouldn't worry because new people arriving probably assume that all homes are council homes. It is impossible to remove a private resident from their home if they own it so i would smile to them and wave them on.

Thankyou, we are not quite pensioners we both work full time!

Hi, I AM a pensioner and would just like to add that it doesn't mean that I don't work full time. Some do. Some have to. I'm self-employed and work both full and part time, depending on demand.

Plus with you saying "Nobody else in the street is being approached by these people although they are taking photos of the other homes and i wonder if because of our age we are being targeted more directly!" some people may have assumed that you meant you were older. People do tend to make assumptions, which aren't always right. I'm finding that out more and more now I'm a (still working) pensioner!!

I agree with those who say just ignore those rude people. They should soon go away. I don't suppose you ever discovered what the council said to them?

The Council are saying that this is a distraction burglary or that is what they believe, according to them a large group has been doing this for over year by luring residents to the front whilst an accomplice sneaks around the back to get in the shed of the door, they apparently are wearing bogus council uniforms and have clipboards.

Bit odd that they came back a second time in that case, I'd have thought they'd be worried about you immediately challenging them after you'd had a chance to think about it or get advice.

Yeah.. I'm not sure that this was a distraction crime myself but i am staying inside the house for now!

Frank99

DanDare999 said:

Frank99 said:

MalMonroe said:

Frank99 said:

MoodyMand45 said:

Frank99 said:

A few weeks ago, we noticed a young mother outside our house taking photos with her phone, we thought it strange but did not say anything.

The next week a large family arrived asking why we live in a three bedroom home when they only have one bedroom, the family claimed they are reporting us to the Council, i told them this is our house and we own it so go ahead!

They came back the following week with a man in a suit with a clipboard who was taking notes, i told them our children have left home but we are happy in this house however, if you offer us a good price we might consider moving to the countryside for some peace. The Female said "how do you expect a person like me to afford to buy it off you" and walked away. The man in the suit told me families need somewhere to stay and told me to at least consider moving (which made me furious) and i asked him to move all of these people in with him which led to him walking away also.

Nobody else in the street is being approached by these people although they are taking photos of the other homes and i wonder if because of our age we are being targeted more directly! Another family came back pointing at the house with a man in a hi-vis jacket recently but we stayed inside ignoring them.

I contacted the Police and they are prepared to issue an injunction if i can tell them who they are (but i have no idea).

We are helping our own kids to get on the housing ladder and we still both work and understand how difficult it is but i think this is a step too far, we a concerned about leaving the house now.
Many of our neighbours have recently asked us where we are moving too which seems strange and we are getting an estate agents card through the letter box daily.
We have set up an alert with the land registry as our daughter claims it could be property title scam.

It is giving my other half anxiety so i hope to find a solution, any ideas folks!

I'm not sure what part of the Country you live in but their is a push down south to move pensioners to see side homes to make way for young families, the demand for housing is that high but i wouldn't worry because new people arriving probably assume that all homes are council homes. It is impossible to remove a private resident from their home if they own it so i would smile to them and wave them on.

Thankyou, we are not quite pensioners we both work full time!

Hi, I AM a pensioner and would just like to add that it doesn't mean that I don't work full time. Some do. Some have to. I'm self-employed and work both full and part time, depending on demand.

Plus with you saying "Nobody else in the street is being approached by these people although they are taking photos of the other homes and i wonder if because of our age we are being targeted more directly!" some people may have assumed that you meant you were older. People do tend to make assumptions, which aren't always right. I'm finding that out more and more now I'm a (still working) pensioner!!

I agree with those who say just ignore those rude people. They should soon go away. I don't suppose you ever discovered what the council said to them?

Sorry about that i did not mean to stereotype, we are not far off retirement ourselves and i not saying pensioners are not working i know many who volunteer much of their time, i know that the older you get the more likely to be targeted by scammers.

The Council are saying that this is a distraction burglary or that is what they believe, according to them a large group has been doing this for over year by luring residents to the front whilst an accomplice sneaks around the back to get in the shed of the door, they apparently are wearing bogus council uniforms and have clipboards.

The Police have not said anything more to us but we are keeping our guard up for any more activity!

Well yours certainly wasn't, not to say they weren't teeing you up for one though. 

Thankfully nothing gone missing so far but it has given me something to think about, they seem to think the MO fits with distraction crime i suppose!

born_again

Undervalued said:

born_again said:

>>They came back the following week with a man in a suit with a clipboard who was taking notes, <<

So what ID did this person have?
Council? 

He doesn't need any ID to stand in the street with a clipboard and make notes. Plus, he can wear what he likes as long as it is not indecent!

I know they don't.
OP said they spoke to them. So I would expect someone dressed like that to have some ID, in the context of the post.