Death in property

[Bubbles121]

Hi all! I'm posting here for traffic, I don't really have an AIBU...

How do you know if someone died in your house when you're moving? Is there a website or something like in America which tells you - or does the agent or vendor have to disclose it to you?

Well, if it's in Colchester or St Albans, it could be built on top of where thousands of people were slaughtered or burnt to death in their homes.

You go back far enough, looking for it, our landscape is covered in tragedy and death.

You didn't know these people, you're not affected, why does it matter? Goodness knows what tragic events have taken place on the plot of land where you currently live.

I'd feel the same as you OP, newspaper reports will be the way to go - can you ask your local library if they can help?

I must say I think all you lovely mnetters are far stronger than I am! I hate the idea of living in a house where someone met a violent and horrific death - but it seems most of you aren't really concerned?

I guess it's one too many horror movies for me that's done it!
Can I just ask to those of you who said you weren't bothered - is it that you don't believe there'd be any lingering bad feelings because you don't believe in that sort of thing, or because it wouldn't bother you if there were lingering bad vibes?

Any crime in a property must be disclosed by the current owners if your solicitor raises an enquiry regarding the same. If the crime occurred before their ownership they may know nothing about it.

When I was a student I looked at a house to rent which turned out to be the one where Rachel McLean had been murdered and hidden a year or so earlier. I did feel bad for the landlord, but we did not rent the house.

Any house that's upward of 100 years old will likely have seen deaths. It's only recently people have done their dying in hospitals or hospices, rather than at home. A friend of mine lives in a house that has been in her family from the early 1800s and probably longer (it's not a fancy house - they're farmers). She knows that generations of her family have died there and, until her parents inherited the house from her grandparents, they died in the same bed! Which is also the bed her grandfather was born in.

Violent deaths aside, it seems to me it's not unpleasant to think someone's died where you live?

is it that you don't believe there'd be any lingering bad feelings because you don't believe in that sort of thing

Yes this. For me it’s just bricks and floorboards! It’s a space and I have no interest in what anyone did here before I lived here. Actually I forget that anyone was did!

It really wouldn’t bother me. Something might or might not have happened decades ago in the house. So what, that was then, this was now. You can’t avoid history: one day you’ll be part of it!

If it really bothers you then I’m sure you could have some sort of ceremony or rite to cleanse if for you.

Any crime in a property must be disclosed by the current owners if your solicitor raises an enquiry regarding the same.

My 85 year old neighbour smokes dope. He has just sold, I wonder if he declared it as a crime

I was asked something along similar lines by a newish neighbour. I didn't and still don't know why they asked. No-one died in the house she was talking about but the family had a number of tragedies but I didn't say that

It wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. I mean, it’s sad but I wouldn’t feel connected with the crime or anything.

Bad feelings and bad vibes can only come from bad people (in my opinion ) and not from buildings or inanimate objects.

I'm with you OP. Watched Amityville Horror when way too young. My adult brain says 'no problem' but my scared, hiding behind the sofa 12 year old brain says 'no way'.

If the house had bad vibes, I definitely wouldn’t buy it. I’ve lived in houses with bad vibes before, and unpleasant things have happened in my life whilst living there. Nothing spooky or anything, just family stuff, which I obviously don’t blame the house for!

I don’t think I’d want to buy a house I knew someone had been murdered in, but have no problem knowing someone died peacefully there.

Have you considered asking around the neighbours they might be willing to help. I'm sure someone on the street has been there long enough to know..

My house has been around since about 1850 so most likely there's been deaths and births in it as well as lots of other family celebrations and occasions. I bought it from a woman in her 80s who was widowed. The bedrooms are in the original three-roomed cottage part and my bedroom is the biggest of the three rooms. There's only one place really to put a double or bigger bed so if anyone died in this room (given that people probably slept in all three rooms as was common) it was probably exactly where I sleep.

Can't say that I'm bothered.

I would want to know that too, OP.
YANBU. You can find out the past owners of a house and lots about the history if it's an old house.
Have you checked newspaper and tv reports, asked around the area.

Wouldn't bother me.

A house near me had a child murder, suicide and arson all in one night. It was all done up quite nicely afterwards (had to be - lots of fire damage) and I don't think it stayed on the market for long.

An old lady died in my old house. I actually found it immensely comforting that she'd lived most her life in that house - to me it was a happy and safe house filled with love... And forgive a little woo - I'd like to think she was still there with us.

I also lived in a 500 year old house in a former war zone. Lots of ghosties there - good and bad. Mostly the bad just passed through - but I'd have the odd hour/day where they were oppressive.

Does the house you re considering look like this? Is there a small child holding a balloon? (walk away if he called George) Was the previous owner a Clown?

You could go to the local history archives in the area and have a look at old newspapers etc... Or old copies of the phone book....

Axe murder you say?

If you go to the local library they should have copies of the local newspaper from that time and it will probably have enough detail and/or photos for you to identify whether it's 'your' house or not. The other option as a PP said, is to go to the community centre or pub. Someone will know which house it was.

There's a house near me for sale and a woman was rude red in it. In the details it says words to the effect that a serious crime took place in the property and to contact the agent for more details.

Rude red? Murdered sorry.

How did you happen to find these local paper reports dating back to "the sixties"? The account sounds quite vague for what must have been a massive story locally.

Is there a local history society? Have you tried the library for books on local history?