‘Stranger is claiming their daughter was born in my house – they want a nosy’

The woman was confused when she received a note with a number written on it asking could they come and view her property because their daughter was born in the house

If somebody left a note through your door asking could they come and have a nosy in your house because they used to live there and their daughter was born there, would you let them? This was a conundrum one woman faced as she didn’t know whether it was a scam, or someone genuine who was the previous owner of the property.

She took to Mumsnet to ask others whether they would allow the stranger to look around, but the situation became even more suspicious when she acknowledged she’d called the number they left and the line was dead and there was no way to leave a message.

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She wrote: “I have just returned home and found a note from someone who says they used to live in my house. They are asking if I would allow them to show the house to their daughter who was born here. They are staying nearby for the next few days.

“They have given the years when they say they lived here which mean nothing to me. I know how long the previous couple owned the house but not whether they lived here the whole time or rented the property out.

“My initial reaction was to ignore the note as I thought it was probably a scam of some sort. I then thought even if they are genuine and staying locally, I don’t want them in my house.

“There was a mobile number at the top of the note which I tried ringing to say nope not convenient, but the phone is turned off with no facility to leave a message.

“I know I am not being unreasonable to not want random people wandering around my house but is this a scam I haven’t come across before now? I don’t want to spend the next few days on tenterhooks every time someone knocks at the door and nervous of opening it.”

The post received a mixed reaction, with some surprisingly admitting they’d love it if someone who used to occupy their property went for a tour.

They wrote: “Doesn’t sound like a scam to me. I’d love it if someone asked to see my house because a relative lived here years ago.

“I’d just make sure I wasn’t alone with them and I’d accompany them all the time.”

Another commented: “It might be genuine, it also might not be. It would be very strange behaviour for them to just show up on your doorstep again, uninvited. I just wouldn’t try and get in touch with them again and leave it at that. I probably wouldn’t get in touch with them to say ‘no’.”

Others were more cautious, writing: “I would absolutely not allow this. You have no idea who these people are, and I wouldn’t be letting strangers into my home. Nope.”

One Mumsnetter tried to find a way to ensure it was legitimate, commenting: “If true and you were willing, you could ask to see a copy of the birth certificate, as it lists the mother’s residence. Wouldn’t blame you for saying no though.”

Would you allow a stranger to look around your house? Let us know in the comments.