Family friend's house in Lewisham - objects moving, serious stuff happening

My wife's best mate contacted us last week because things have been escalating in her house and she doesn't know what to do. She's genuinely frightened now. I'm posting here on her behalf because she's embarrassed and doesn't want to go to anyone official.

Timeline: Started about four months ago with small things - keys moving, taps turning on by themselves. But it's gotten worse. Last week, a full dinner plate flew off the kitchen table (no one was near it). The week before, her daughter's bedroom door locked from the inside while the daughter was in there, and no one else was home. Took them twenty minutes to get the door open.

The house itself: Victorian semi in Lewisham, built around 1890s. She's lived there for six years, nothing unusual before. No recent deaths in the family, though her mum was hospitalised last year and recovered. The daughter (17) has been stressed about exams.

I know poltergeist activity is often linked to adolescents, but what do people do about this? Are we talking exorcism, professional paranormal investigators, or is there something else? She's terrified of calling someone official because she thinks they'll think she's mad or try to take her daughter away.

The teenage daughter connection is very relevant here. Poltergeist activity does statistically cluster around adolescence, particularly in cases with psychological stress (exam pressure, family tension, hormonal changes). Doesn't mean it's not "real" paranormal - but it might mean the energy is being unconsciously generated rather than an external entity.

First thing: has the activity ever happened when the daughter is definitely elsewhere? Or does it only manifest when she's home? That's usually the key diagnostic question.

She should not go to anyone official first. Recommend a private paranormal investigator - there are legitimate ones in London who document cases properly without being sensationalist. They can rule out structural issues (old pipes, settling foundations, etc.) and actually get some answers before she talks to anyone else.

Lewisham is actually a known area for paranormal activity if I remember correctly. Old Victorian properties especially. The house history is worth researching - local library might have old newspapers, planning records, death notices. Not every haunting is dangerous, but understanding the source helps.

is there something else?

- Having the house checked for gas leaks (can cause hallucinations and object displacement through vibration)
- Electromagnetic anomalies (EM fields can affect perception and physical phenomena)
- Structural issues causing objects to shift

If those are ruled out, then you're looking at either psychological (the daughter channeling stress) or genuinely paranormal. Either way, a proper investigator can help sort it.

Tell her to keep a detailed log. Date, time, what happened, who was present, weather, anything unusual. Even if it seems irrelevant. Evidence is what gives her credibility if she needs to go to someone official down the line. Right now she has anecdotes. She needs documentation.