For one couple, the joy of completing a house sale turned into bewilderment when they discovered their new home was left exactly as the previous owners had lived in it.

The process of moving can be incredibly taxing, with endless checks like property searches and surveys, not to mention the rigmarole of securing a mortgage. However, the stress is often forgotten once you're handed the keys and can start personalising your space. But for this pair, upon entering their newly purchased house, they were greeted by a complete set of belongings from the former occupants – furniture, trinkets, a stocked kitchen, and even food in the oven.

The baffled buyers were informed the sellers had "moved abroad". Taking to Reddit to share their bizarre experience, they recounted how they completed the purchase on Friday and were shocked upon arrival at their new property.

They posted: "The sellers have left everything. Looks like they just packed a suitcase and left. Been told they've moved abroad. All their clothes and crockery and furniture. Family pictures on the wall. Kitchen full of food including cooked rice in the oven."

The new homeowners were stunned as they started "packing it all into bin bags" and pondered the duration of their wait before they're able to "get rid of it". They continued: "I'm so confused. I think it's a case of them thinking 'f*** this' and just getting on the plane.

"Either that or they didn't realise completion means completion and their solicitors told them they had an hour to leave or something."

In a startling update, they revealed that while they hadn't heard from the sellers' solicitors, a relative of the previous owners reached out with some concerning information.

The buyers shared: "A family member of the sellers has been in touch asking if they can collect some belongings and also to give back their key which they still have. Apparently, the sellers left without telling the family member."

They continued, detailing the peculiar discovery: "I told them we need permission from the sellers before we can give anything, they said they would try to contact them. Found a bag in a cupboard taped up with the word 'quarantine' on the tape. Haven't opened it yet. I'm 99% sure it's the right house..."

The tale took Reddit by storm, with users rushing to the comments section to voice their astonishment. One flabbergasted user questioned the bizarre situation: "Who the f*** leaves half-cooked food and family pictures, OP are you sure there aren't still people living in this house?"

Another exclaimed: "Omg this is one of those stories where the real owner has gone on holiday and a scammer has sold the house from under them. I've read about this happening", which was quickly followed by another's response: "As a conveyancer I can confirm this happens. We've been educated on cases as they've happened. Scary stuff.

"Be very careful because that's pretty suspect, though people do leave properties in a state sometimes. Do you know if the sellers had a mortgage on the property? If they didn't I'd be a little more concerned about a fraudulent sale".

Meanwhile, a further comment said: "You've become an 'Involuntary Bailee'. Would be worth reading up on this as you do have legal obligations..."

Elsewhere, an individual recommended everyone to register for HM Land Registry's free Property Alert service as a precaution against fraud.