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A family raffling off their flat on TikTok received a poison pen letter from snobby neighbours who said they do not want 'raff raff' coming to the village.
Nick and Jess Smith, known as The Smithy Family on social media, renovated a three-bed flat in a mid-Devon village and have offered their six million followers the chance to win the house in a raffle draw.
For just £3, entrants could bag the keys to the newly-done flat, as well as £10,000 to put towards decorating, with the couple aiming to shift 65,000 tickets.
On Wednesday, it became clear that some joyless villagers failed to see the fun in the novel sale process.
The Smiths revealed they had received a sneering letter that branded the raffle 'wholly inappropriate for an established village such as ours' and bristled that the area is 'not an experiment or a marketing exercise'.
It explains residents 'do not want the area opened up to riff raff or opportunists who see the property as a prize rather than a place to live'.
The letter ends by pressing former builder Nick, 38, and Jess, 35, to ditch their plans and sell the property in the 'traditional' way that the villagers 'expect'.
The Smiths shared the letter and their disappointment to their Facebook page.
The Smithy Family was unimpressed at receiving a slide letter criticising their plan to raffle off their house
Nick, 38, and Jess, 35, are a popular influencer couple will millions of followers online
The couple has renovated a three-bedroom flat in a mid-Devon village
They said the snide interjection had been 'really upsetting', and rejected the 'assumptions made about our intentions and the kind of person who might one day live there'.
Raffling the flat was about giving a 'life-changing chance' to someone who might otherwise struggle to get onto the property ladder, they said.
Brandishing the letter to the camera, they hit back at residents and insisted that 'no one has the right to decide where someone should live'.
Nick said: 'This isn't about controversy or headlines. It's about building something meaningful over time and using what we do to create real, long term i@mpact for people who genuinely need it.
'We know not everyone will immediately understand the approach, but the end goal is what matters. If this helps even one person find safety, stability, and a fresh start, then it's worth it.'
The Smithy Family's Facebook post, which has amassed thousands of views and comments, said: 'We didn't expect to be feeling like this today but here we are.
'We've read some negative comments, messages, and even received a letter about what we're doing with the flat, and if we're honest, it's been really upsetting.
'Not because everyone has to agree with us, they don't, but because of the assumptions being made about our intentions and about the kind of person who might one day live there.
Nick held the letter up for his followers to see - who were quick to support the couple in their raffle
Neighbours moaned they did not want to see 'riff raff' coming into the village
Tickets for the raffle cost £3, and the Smiths hope to sell 65,000
'This isn't a gimmick. It's not a joke. And it's definitely not about attention or trying to be controversial.
'It's about giving someone a chance. A real, life-changing chance.
'In a housing market where so many people feel completely locked out, we wanted to do something that opens a door instead of keeping it shut.
'The hardest part to read, especially in the letter, was the idea that people think they get to decide who does or doesn't deserve to live somewhere.
'No one has the right to decide where someone else should live, or whether they're 'good enough' to be there.
'Whoever ends up with the flat will be a real person with a story, hopes, and pride in their home.
'They won't be 'riff raff' - They will be someone who's taken a leap, invested in the opportunity, and will value that home deeply.
'We truly believe what we're doing is a good thing and that it comes from a place of fairness, kindness, and trying to help someone in a tough climate.
'We know not everyone will agree, and that's okay but our hearts are in the right place and we stand by it.'
Fans flocked to reassure the couple that they were not in the wrong, with one commenting: 'Just shred it and pretend you never received it, do what you intended to do and carry on with the raffle.'
Another wrote: 'How ridiculous, even if it was in the open market anybody could buy it and nobody would have a clue who they are, where they are from or know anything about them. It's blatant jealousy.'
The letter in full...
Dear Sir or Madam,
We are writing on behalf of a number of neighbours and long-standing residents of the village to formally raise our concerns regarding the proposal to raffle off the flat.
It's come to our attention that the property is being offered via a raffle rather than through a conventional sale. We strongly disagree with this approach and feel it is wholly inappropriate for an established village such as ours.
This is a settled community with a strong sense of identity. Many residents have lived here for decades and take pride in maintaining the character, safety, and standards of the area.
Opening the property up in this way risks attracting individuals with no genuine connection to the village and little regard for the community as a whole.
There is already a growing feeling among residents that the influx of people relocating from London has placed pressure on village life, and this proposal only heightens those concerns.
There is growing concern about the wider impact this could have on the village. Turning homes into raffle prizes risks shifting the area toward novelty and short term interest rather than stable, long term residency.
Many neighbours feel this undermines the values of the community and opens the door to individuals who may not respect the character, privacy, or standards of the village.
We don't want the area opened up to riff raff or opportunists who see the property as a prize rather than a place to live.
This village is not an experiment or a marketing exercise. It is a place where people live, raise families, and look out for one another.
We respectfully urge you to reconsider this proposal and reflect on the impact it may have on the wider community.
A traditional and transparent sale would be far more in keeping with the nature of the village and the expectations of its residents.
Yours faithfully,
Your concerned neighbours
On behalf of the neighbouring residents