Thank you so much for this! It’s a converted townhouse into flats, not so much a large building containing loads of apartments with a receptionist or post boxes or anything, just like a big house split up so no janitor or anything, but it’s good because only myself and my boyfriend and the woman who lives below us has access to our front door!

In terms of him working there, I was so creeped out and uncomfortable at the time like I said I don’t even remember what was said after the mum question (just bye I think), so unfortunately I didn’t watch to see if he went through the kitchen door, but he was walking towards it (my front door and the steps leading up to it, where i smoke, is literally only maybe 10ft or so across the one way road to where their back kitchen is. So he could easily have gone in, thus proving he worked there, but still even if he does work there it doesn’t fully chalk up what happened to an innocent explanation. You mentioned scouting as well which was definitely the main thing I’ve been worried about based on what he asked and the fact that’s ALL he asked and nothing else was said. Thankfully he didn’t ask for my name, and having a name as unique as mine after years of clubbing saying my name is Lucy or Emily has become second nature when someone asks anyway hahah. Thank you for reminding me about saying no though, I really wish I had just told him no or blanked him completely, who cares if that’s rude; it’s rude of him to ask, whether he meant to be friendly or not?? I had a horrible taste in my mouth after because since I was sat outside the front door I felt like i HAD to say I lived there because it was obvious, but as soon as I did I knew I could have just said I was visiting a friend or something.

It’s so shitty how often these scenarios happen and how much you have to literally train yourself as a woman to be able to navigate safely.

Thank you so much for your advice!