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Original poster

How would you feel if you found out a previous owner of your house was murdered in it?

44 replies

justfliptheswitch · 09/07/2023 23:14

Would it creep you out? I just read an old article about a murder in 1906 where two people were murdered in their house and it actually listed the address.

And likely the people that own it now over 100 years later might have no clue what happened. So it made me wonder whether it would change my mind if I found out something like that about my own home.

OP posts:
FriedasCarLoad · 09/07/2023 23:16

Honestly, it would bother me. Much more so if more recent. Probably not enough to make me move!

RaggedSofa · 09/07/2023 23:18

This is interesting, as I’m about to sell my father’s house where he was murdered. No one so far seems in the least bothered, which I think is weird

DojaPhat · 09/07/2023 23:20

If I was aware then yes it would trouble me. If not then probably not. Having said that though, I do think many many tragedies have happened in many homes which people still happily live in - I suppose the question really is what would be your limit and is murder the extreme end of it.

GreenIsTheMagicColour · 09/07/2023 23:22

It wouldn't bother me at all. I imagine many unsavoury things have happened in most old houses at some point.

Motheranddaughtertotwo · 09/07/2023 23:23

I don’t think I’d buy a house that I knew someone had been murdered because it would initially freak me out. I did find out that my road was burnt down and rebuilt about 100 years ago and I didn’t think much other than “that’s interesting”. I would never move now because of it.

TimeToMoveIt · 09/07/2023 23:26

RaggedSofa · 09/07/2023 23:18

This is interesting, as I’m about to sell my father’s house where he was murdered. No one so far seems in the least bothered, which I think is weird

That's awful! I'm so sorry for your loss

I'm not sure if it would bother me or not. I'm in a council house so I've not had much choice in the matter!

Rinkydinkydoodle · 09/07/2023 23:28

I’d be getting myself in a state in case the room had absorbed the trauma of the person’s last moments, and no doubt on a dark and stormy night I’d be listening to the fridge go ping and thinking about malevolent spirits or whatever. Too many horror films and novels. And reading @RaggedSofa s post, that seems even more puerile. I’m sorry about your dad, am glad to hear people aren’t making it difficult (agree tho that their nonchalance also strikes me as weird)

alwaysmovingforwards · 09/07/2023 23:31

GreenIsTheMagicColour · 09/07/2023 23:22

It wouldn't bother me at all. I imagine many unsavoury things have happened in most old houses at some point.

Likewise.

ChocBananaSmoothie · 09/07/2023 23:31

I don't think I'd buy a home where I knew that had happened. If I found out it had happened now that I've lived here as long as I have, I'd just get on with it.

SilkTrees · 09/07/2023 23:31

Someone (not the owner) was murdered in our house just over 100 years ago -- I even know the spot, about twenty feet from where I'm sitting. I knew before we bought it, but it's never occurred to me to be bothered by it. In fact, I'm always a bit puzzled by how often this comes up on here, and how many posters claim they couldn't live in a house where there had been even a historic murder, while yet at the same time, a huge number of Mners (and judging by TV shows, society at large), seem to be fascinated by true crime shows and podcasts. I couldn't stomach those for a second, but am unconcerned by the murder in my house. I find it interesting, and have read up on it (it's covered in a fair few history books), but it doesn't frighten or appall me.

RaggedSofa · 09/07/2023 23:33

@Rinkydinkydoodle that’s what I’d do. I’m both surprised and relieved that people don’t care!

sff · 09/07/2023 23:37

Friends purchased a house soon after a grizzly murder took place there. It makes me uncomfortable- I think because things are unchanged.

If I was a long time ago it wouldn't bother me as much.

ChocBananaSmoothie · 09/07/2023 23:41

SilkTrees · 09/07/2023 23:31

Someone (not the owner) was murdered in our house just over 100 years ago -- I even know the spot, about twenty feet from where I'm sitting. I knew before we bought it, but it's never occurred to me to be bothered by it. In fact, I'm always a bit puzzled by how often this comes up on here, and how many posters claim they couldn't live in a house where there had been even a historic murder, while yet at the same time, a huge number of Mners (and judging by TV shows, society at large), seem to be fascinated by true crime shows and podcasts. I couldn't stomach those for a second, but am unconcerned by the murder in my house. I find it interesting, and have read up on it (it's covered in a fair few history books), but it doesn't frighten or appall me.

I think there's a difference between one that happened a long time ago vs. one that is more recent and maybe in the minds of people now living? Example - news story in the last year or so, family group murder. I just don't think I'd want to live in 'that house' and it's too fresh.

GetWhatYouWant · 09/07/2023 23:49

An in-laws family member was murdered in their house, family had no problem selling it.

I once lived next door to a house where someone had been murdered, the people living there had full knowledge, had bought it from the victim's family and weren't bothered in the slightest.

Some people can be put off buying a house where suicide has occurred but I had no problem selling the house where my husband had killed himself, in fact it ended up being a private sale as I was approached by a friend of a neighbour who knew what had happened there.

Some people seem to think that tragic events in a house can somehow affect the property but in the end houses are just piles of bricks and mortar.

UndercoverCop · 09/07/2023 23:50

Our house is over 100 years old, it's likely some unpleasant things have happened here, who knows what. I know the wife of the last owner died here (not murdered), but a building is inanimate what difference does it make?

honeylulu · 09/07/2023 23:55

There was a feature in this very subject in the Observer magazine today. Indeed most of the new occupants weren't the slightest bit bothered.

Original poster
justfliptheswitch · 09/07/2023 23:58

ChocBananaSmoothie · 09/07/2023 23:41

I think there's a difference between one that happened a long time ago vs. one that is more recent and maybe in the minds of people now living? Example - news story in the last year or so, family group murder. I just don't think I'd want to live in 'that house' and it's too fresh.

Show quote history

I believe it’s sold now but the Chris Watts house remained unsold for years.

OP posts:
Original poster
justfliptheswitch · 09/07/2023 23:59

justfliptheswitch · 09/07/2023 23:58

I believe it’s sold now but the Chris Watts house remained unsold for years.

Show quote history

Posted too soon, so my point is that you’re probably right.

OP posts:
tarnishedsilvercolour · 10/07/2023 00:02

I lived on a street where a man murdered his wife and then set fire to the house in an attempt to cover it up. He went to prison and although the house had smoke damage, it was repaired (presumably the bank repossessed it) and it was sold in no time. I can't imagine ever wanting to buy a house where such a terrible thing had happened.

Nomorenonbinary · 10/07/2023 00:06

I'd be sad for the person who died but it wouldn't creep me out.

Nousername94 · 10/07/2023 00:11

In this instance it was well over 100 years ago so it wouldn’t bother me. The older your house the more likely someone could have died in it or something bad happened. I would be more put off if it had happened recently. That would creep me out

BringItOnxxx · 10/07/2023 00:14

Not in a million years would i buy a house with a 'past'. Because I am a wuss, with an over active imagination.

Laurelin · 10/07/2023 00:15

I wouldn't buy a house with the knowledge someone had been murdered in it. I know I would think about it all the time and imagine what happened, and I wouldn't be able to put it out if my mind.

If I found out someone had been murdered in a house I was already living in, I would probably want to move. Although I suppose the circumstances of the murder would make a difference, morbid though that is (for instance if it was a brawl that got out of hand vs. an axe murderer type situation.)

JeandeServiette · 10/07/2023 00:20

No. It's not magic. It's just people, and life and all the dramas humans experience. The older the house, the more it's inevitably "seen".

Original poster
justfliptheswitch · 10/07/2023 00:34

JeandeServiette · 10/07/2023 00:20

No. It's not magic. It's just people, and life and all the dramas humans experience. The older the house, the more it's inevitably "seen".

Who mentioned magic?

OP posts: