Cuckooing - Is someone taking over your home?

Cuckooing is a form of exploitation and abuse. It happens when another person takes advantage of you to gain control of your home, often using pressure, threats or manipulation. Cuckooing is treated as a safeguarding concern.

What cuckooing can look like

Cuckooing is not always easy to recognise and may develop gradually. If something does not feel right, trust your instincts. Signs can include: 

  • Someone staying in your home and refusing to leave
  • Feeling pressured or threatened into letting someone in
  • Being told who you can see, where you can go, or what you can do
  • Other people coming and going from your home without your agreement
  • Feeling like you are no longer in control of your own home
  • Increased noise, damage to your property, or concerns raised by neighbours
  • Being asked to store items or allow activities that make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe

What to do if you are worried

  • Contact us if you are worried someone is taking over your home or making you feel unsafe. You can speak to us confidentially and we will listen without judgement.
  • If you are in immediate danger, call 999. If you feel threatened but it is not an emergency, contact the police on 101. 
  • Challenging someone alone may increase risk. Do not confront the person yourself. Contact us and we can help you manage this safely.

How we can support you

We take concerns about cuckooing sensitively and confidentially. Your safety is our priority. We can work with you to: 

  • Assess risks to your safety and wellbeing and agree practical steps to help you feel safer at home
    We can also work with police to get the person to leave your home. Once this has been done, we can assess if additional security measures are required.
  • Work with the police or local authority where appropriate
    We can refer you to specialist support services, including safeguarding, exploitation, or domestic abuse support.

If safe to do so, keep a record of times and events to share with us and partner organisations. Wherever possible, any action we take will be discussed with you, and information will only be shared when necessary to keep you or others safe.