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Original poster

Buying a murder house.

153 replies

Tiiiaa · 18/02/2022 19:16

My boyfriend and I are buying our first house together.

HOWEVER…. recently we came across information that we feel should have been disclosed by vendor/estate agents.

The house was the site of a tragic and violent murder, in which the husband killed the wife (in the living room). We have previously asked the estate agents why the house was for sale, if there was anything wrong, and why exactly the sellers wanted to sell. On each occasion this information was not disclosed to us. Typically they would just mention that they had been instructed by solicitors to sell the property, and even that it was meant to be redone as an investment but they decided not to.

My question to mumsnet is….would you continue with the purchase on the house? And why?

Please note we have already spent 1k and mortgage offer received.

OP posts:
Hermymee · 18/02/2022 19:18

I think legally the sellers have to disclose this but they might not have told the estate agent.

indecisivewoman81 · 18/02/2022 19:18

Personally I wouldn't but I'm sure many others will feel different.

I just don't think I could rest and be relaxed on a house where I knew this had happened

CorrBlimeyGG · 18/02/2022 19:18

I'd be more concerned about checking for subsidence, damp etc than what happened to the previous occupants.

CorrBlimeyGG · 18/02/2022 19:19

@Hermymee

I think legally the sellers have to disclose this but they might not have told the estate agent.
No, they don't.
Hermymee · 18/02/2022 19:19

It wouldn’t put me off though. Horrible things happen everywhere.

MadMadMadamMim · 18/02/2022 19:20

This was posted the other week - only they were huffy about a suicide I think.

Have you genuinely nothing better to do? The vendors have no responsibility to announce why they are selling a house.

We have previously asked the estate agents why the house was for sale, if there was anything wrong, and why exactly the sellers wanted to sell. On each occasion this information was not disclosed to us.

I imagine (if this is true) they thought you were odd.

sadpapercourtesan · 18/02/2022 19:20

It wouldn't bother me, but I'm fairly unsentimental about such things. Any older building has a history - you just happen to know this one's. Houses are made of bricks, they don't retain "energies" or any of that guff. As long as there aren't actual bloodstains on the floorboards it's all good.

Aquamarine1029 · 18/02/2022 19:21

It wouldn't put me off at all.

Thoosa · 18/02/2022 19:21

No such thing as a “murder house”. Reminds me of that bossy Channel 4 programme in which they prefixed everything with “benefits”. Benefits dog, benefits meal etc. If you’re going to think of it like that, better to avoid.

labyrinthlaziness · 18/02/2022 19:22

I personally would rather not.

£1k is really not much to lose in the process, I would rather withdraw.

Bagelsandbrie · 18/02/2022 19:22

It would put me off although realistically most houses / places will have had something horrible happen in them or some weird death at some point. I think it’s one of those things where now you know you can’t not think about it!

That’s one of the reasons why they tend to knock down a lot of the really well known murder houses like Cromwell Street (I mean apart from the weirdos who would want to go and visit the house) - who would ever want to life there?

Thoosa · 18/02/2022 19:22

Bossy? Crappy.

Fuckitydoodah · 18/02/2022 19:23

I think it would put me off to be honest. How far down the line are you? I'd be very pissed off I hadn't been told. Surely it's material information.

labyrinthlaziness · 18/02/2022 19:23

Not many houses have been the site of an actual recent murder, murder is rare.

Hermymee · 18/02/2022 19:25

I’ve just sold and I’m sure I read somewhere that I needed to disclose a violent death at the property. Didn’t pay much attention because AFAIK there hasn’t been a violent death at my property.

I’ve just done some googling and I’m pretty sure if you asked then you would be told. If the vendor/estate agent knows.

52andblue · 18/02/2022 19:26

This happened to me in Scotland in 2000.husband had murdered wife then committed suicide in master bedroom it turned out. No duty of disclosure. House was fine. Neighbours less so.

GinIronic · 18/02/2022 19:27

I don't think you want to continue OP - which is why you are asking MN to help you justify wasting £1k when you pull out of the sale.

labyrinthlaziness · 18/02/2022 19:28

@GinIronic

I don't think you want to continue OP - which is why you are asking MN to help you justify wasting £1k when you pull out of the sale.
It is not 'wasted' if you buy the right house rather than the wrong one!
WutheringHeights66 · 18/02/2022 19:30

Depends how long ago?ten years or more, wouldn’t bother me.

Last year?probably not.

Minfilia · 18/02/2022 19:34

There’s no duty to disclose that information in the UK.

It would depend how much I wanted the house tbh. I would go for it for a dream home, but not as an “it’ll do” house.

ParkheadParadise · 18/02/2022 19:37

My dd was Murdered in a flat we owned, although she was found outside. My nephew, partner and kids now stay there. They are happy there and could never afford to buy.
I've only been back a couple of times.

Old houses have probably had all sorts happen in them.

FAQs · 18/02/2022 19:37

Some info here @Tiiiaa

www.fonsecalaw.co.uk/blog/patricks-blog/2019/06/12/information-to-legally-declare-when-selling-a-property

www.howellslegal.co.uk/news/post/What-Do-You-Have-to-Declare-When-Selling-a-House

One is slightly more up to date than the other but they essentially say the same.

EezyOozy · 18/02/2022 19:39

It would put me off. I have always bought very old houses so expect that someone has died in them at some point. But an actual, documented , violent murder in a specific range room would put me off.

PintOfBovril · 18/02/2022 19:41

Think I'd be more worried about selling it in the future. If you're hesitant then others might be too.

WhiteJellycat · 18/02/2022 19:42

7i wouldnt. There is a house like this in the next town. Just off the high street extremely desirable area in a village within 40 minutes train to London. Almost a decade has past and no one wants to buy or rent it. Imagine selling it on? It was horrific tragic national news.