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Why do the elderly people in my area complain all the time I am not entitled to the house I inherited from my parents?.

(80 Posts)
HUNTERF Thu 08-Nov-12 17:10:20

I am now 63 and had early retirement in 2008 and my mother passed away in 2007. I was widowed in 2004.
I worked in London and inherited half of my parents house and joined my father in our jointly owned house in Birmingham.
As it happened my 2 daughters went to Birmingham University and settled in Birmingham.
I found a part time job later that year and my father joined a bereaved club and befriended a woman who was also a member.
They went out together for about 18 months but my father did explain to her at the start there was no prospect of her getting any money as I owned half the house and his half was willed to me.
She suddenly came out with a statement at the end of the 18 months saying her family should now inherit the house and when my father said this was not going to happen she left slamming the door behind her.
Sadly my father passed away earlier this year and the probate is complete and the house is now fully in my name.
Every time I go shopping locally most of the time I run into somebody saying the house belongs to this lady and it should have gone to her.
Two people have even said I have stolen the house from her.
Most of the people are 75+ but why do they never think that the house was willed to me which legally makes it mine, it is now my home and I have spent a lot of money on it.

Ariadne Wed 21-Nov-12 19:10:07

So do I! Hunter you have got to get away from all this, psychologically or physically or both! You mustn't make yourself ill over all this - that was then, this is now. Look after yourself! ((hug))

Nanadog Thu 22-Nov-12 12:04:02

Has this woman been sent a solicitors letter yet?

gracesmum Thu 22-Nov-12 16:11:09

If it is merely "local elderly people", HunterF, how easy or otherwise would it be just to keep out of their way? Birmingham is a big place and while I am not suggesting you are hiding from them, avoid elderly* people* ! You should be safe enough in Lil's Barsmile

Nanadog Thu 22-Nov-12 16:34:22

Don't believe her hunter I've never visited Lil's myself but I believe it's a den of iniquity.

Ana Thu 22-Nov-12 17:07:45

Who told you that, Nanad? I'll have you know it caters for a very select clientele - ask soop! hmm

Nanadog Thu 22-Nov-12 17:10:02

I've lurked in there a few times Ana but didn't dare open the door and go in. Yes, a very select clientele I'd agree. wink

Faye Thu 22-Nov-12 18:12:01

Frank, I wonder if this woman has ever done this sort of thing before. It does seem a lot to expect to inherit just because you have kept company with someone for eighteen months. It does happen though and it is not unusual to hear about a carer or someone not related to the deceased inheriting over family. Sounds as though this woman may have spread a rumour at the club where she met your father. It wouldn't hurt to at least speak to the police and ask them look into her the reason she is spreading these rumours.

absentgrana Thu 22-Nov-12 18:27:34

HUNTERF You really have to get a grip. This is truly doing you no good and taking up a lot of your time. Please, please, please, take yourself off to the Seychelles or Brighton or somewhere to break this horrible, recurring distress.

glammanana Fri 23-Nov-12 13:30:16

Agreeing totally absent I would remortgage to the hilt and look after myself in my dotage,there's that age old saying that " you can't take it with you " and a home's value is only worth x amount of £s when you can put that cash into your back pocket.
Block yourself off from these people HUNTERF and get out and about and make a new circle of places to frequent with your friends.
Very best wishes coming to you from The Wirral.

HUNTERF Fri 23-Nov-12 19:18:58

Hi glammanana

I am on a good pension and can pay my way without taking a mortgage on the house or equity release.
The house I am in is a build up from my great grand parents and was added to by my grand parents and then my parents.
My view is it will be passed on to my daughters and hopefully to their children.
Of course it may have to be sold at some point as the house may not be suitable for future needs.

Today could have been very dangerous.
I saw one of these people in the distance and crossed to the other side of the road.
The other person saw me later and stepped out in to the road and a van driver had to slam his brakes on.
Obviously I do not like accidents to happen to anybody but I would have had more sympathy with the van driver.
As there were 2 people with this man plus the van driver I just left my mobile number with the van driver and left.

Frank

gracesmum Fri 23-Nov-12 20:08:02

It is becoming a tad farcical HunterF - could you really notjust ignore them?

annodomini Fri 23-Nov-12 20:32:21

Why are you scared of these people? Do you think they are going to attack you physically? You know they haven't a leg to stand on and you have the moral and legal high ground. They are best ignored.

Bags Fri 23-Nov-12 20:39:20

I'm beginning to wonder if you are just being paranoid, hunterf. If not, ignore them. And if they bring the subject up tell them, coldly but politely, that it is none of their business.

jeni Fri 23-Nov-12 21:05:53

Is hunter genuine I ask?

Ana Fri 23-Nov-12 21:07:31

I think we're all getting a bit suspicious today! hmm

gracesmum Fri 23-Nov-12 21:58:51

Are you surprised? There is a strange tenor to many of the posts today which leave a bit of a bad taste..

Ana Fri 23-Nov-12 22:08:47

I agree, gracesmum, but we're supposed to report such things to GNHQ - we've been told off for accusing people of being tr*lls before!

gracesmum Fri 23-Nov-12 22:11:51

I'd better prepare myself for telling off, then - see my thread on trolls etc!! (ducks behind sofa - quack!)smile

crimson Fri 23-Nov-12 23:26:27

Couldn't sleep so thought I'd see what's been happening tonight. Have also been quite busy over the past few days so haven't checked out gransnet as much as usual, and I don't really like what it's descending into..lowest common denominator etc. It's been dragged down. Could we all try to ignore troll like threads or comments, although I know it's not easy. But there does seem to be a certain amount of encouragement methinks sad. Now I really am trying to get some sleep.

glammanana Sat 24-Nov-12 08:07:55

HUNTERF I was just making the comment about remortgage in jest as I'm sure you are more than financially stable just trying to lighten the tone a wee bit,maybe you cannot read into scouse humour whilst you are so tensed up about things going on in your life.I am feeling the same thoughts of the others here and that something is not right in the camp.

Elegran Sat 24-Nov-12 10:03:35

I'd say you need to make a decision, hunterf and either do something (inform the police, consult a lawyer, go to CAB) or make up your mind that they are a lot of ignorant gossiping old cats led by a conniving adventuress, and not worth the attention of any reasonable person.

You have had lots of advice on here, now is the time to read it all and think about your next move.

HUNTERF Sun 25-Nov-12 17:37:56

Hi everyone.

I went shopping in a different town today and did not run into any one of these people.
I did see a man who is no longer a member of the club.
He said he has tried to tell these people befriending a man does not mean they will be entitled to the estate and they even think if the offspring owns half of the house inherited from his or her mother it will have to be returned to the estate for the lady to have.
He says what he say's falls on deaf ears.
He did say he had some sympathy for a lady who married a man whose children lived 200 miles away and he told her the house was completely his and he willed it to her. When he passed away it turned out the children owned half the house. They forced a sale and took their share of the money.
He did however think she should have checked at the land registry before she married him.
He did say with me living in the house it was obvious I had some financial interest in the house.
In future I will be just walking away and if they try to hastle me I will get the police.

Frank

Ariadne Sun 25-Nov-12 17:41:02

You know, Hunter you are only 63. You could leave all this far, far behind and take time away to be calm and think.

HUNTERF Sun 02-Dec-12 09:49:19

Just come back from a very nice Tinsel and Turkey break in Bournemouth.
I did not want to say I was going before for the security of the house.
Went into a little shop to buy a bit of food to get me through till this morning and ran into one of the people who were saying the house was not mine,
I just went out of another door and left her ranting and raving to another elderly man.
I don't think he could understand what she was on about.
The house was safe and my dog settled back into the house very quick.
Everybody liked him in the hotel and I even had an offer from somebody who lives about 15 miles away to look after him if I ever went on holiday or have to go into hospital.
They even said they would collect him if I could not get to their house for some reason.

Frank

Elegran Sun 02-Dec-12 10:10:51

HunterF You are more forbearing than I would be, and I absolutely hate making scenes.

Stop agonising about it and start taking positive action, even if you delay going to a lawyer for the moment. If you act as though you are on top of things, this woman will stop blackening your character. If you creep out of the way of everyone who accuses you, you will appear to feel guilty.

Faced with that as I returned from my nice few days away, I would have taken a deep breath and replied,

"Rubbish! My mother left me half the house in her will. I looked after my father for XX years and he left me the other half! Anyone accusing me of stealing it had better watch out, as I am consulting lawyers about sueing for slander!

Turn on heel and stomp out.