Would you live in a house where there had been a murder?

[1988TBT]

Just that really… DP and I looking at buying a second property to rent out. It’s underpriced and chain free… because 18 months ago the husband murdered his wife in one of the bedrooms. It’s put me off a good amount but DP is still keen to go ahead with the sale and says there will be lots of people that won’t want t rent it but it won’t put EVERYONE off. Would it put you off?

I'm not sure. I think If the price was right I'd be tempted but there is still the ick factor

It’s not the dead that are dangerous, it’s the living

Has long as it’s been fully cleaned then I’d have no issue

It would put me off if I had heard of a murder happening there. I would be wondering where the murder took place, which room etc, and thinking all sorts. Having said that, my little cottage is about 160 years old, and possibly some nasty things happened here way back, but I have never queried anything, so dont worry about things..

I rented a house with friends where a man had murdered his wife in the attic bathroom and then slit his wrists. I found a newspaper article on it after we'd moved in but wasn't bothered as I'm a true crime fan anyway. We mostly just laughed and said "trust us to rent the murder house".

That being said, my bedroom was in the attic and I had some really violent nightmares the whole time we lived there. I guess it's coincidence but I've always thought it was a bit weird.

No it wouldn't bother me

It would put me off massively, death by natural causes would be no issue, but a murder - that's a whole world of nope for me!

I know the previous lady died in my house and it’s never bothered me, I know she was terribly disfigured with a cancer on her face but I like to think that she is very happy to have seen my children grow up here as her children did, her son once came to the house really upset and asked if he could come in and see if it still felt like his mums house - he said it didn’t but he also said she would’ve love to see my 3 boys in the house as he himself was one of 3- he later sent me flowers to thank me.

The house behind me was sold at a very reduced price because the teenage son was found dead in there one Christmas morning.

I do believe houses soak up emotions but I think there’s a lot more happiness that sadness in most homes x

Yes, it would bother me. I’m not quite sure why, but I wouldn’t consider it. I suppose it would just play on my mind too much. Some years ago a friend of mine bought a house where there had been quite a gruesome murder and he wasn’t a bit bothered.

As a Housing Officer I have let two properties where there has been a murder immediately prior to the property being available. In both cases the Police had the keys for months and had the properties thoroughly cleaned.
I was upfront with anyone interested in being a tenant both on the phone and at viewings. Some prospective tenants didn’t even want to view, some views but said no, there were various reasons eg bedrooms too small, garden too sloping, not just the murders.
The new tenants were not bothered, said they didn’t feel any different to being in any other house.
In my opinion it was much better to tell them at the beginning rather than move in and find out from neighbours.

If the house was fabulous snd the murderer had been caught and locked up, I’d light a candle for the victim, rip out anything like carpets, deep clean redecorate and enjoy the house.

This book comes to mind:
The Therapist: From the Sunday Times bestselling author of books like Behind Closed Doors comes the most gripping psychological thriller of 2021! www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0008412049/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_D016H118B18HS9Z7A7NK?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

It wouldn’t put me off, but I,I’ve in a house that was built before 1820. I’m sure many people will have died in it over the years. My next door neighbour killed himself about 5 years ago by hanging himself off the door. Didn’t affect its resale, although they did take the door out of the house.

If it’s 50-60k under market value then yes buy it. If the history puts some people off I’m sure there will be others that it doesn’t put off or who don’t know the history, so you’ll get tenants one way or the other. And if you eventually decide to resell I’m sure that by the time you do, then people will have forgotten all about the murder.

Not everyone who may rent it will be a local who's aware of the history. And people don't usually look up the history of a place they are looking to rent (because usually there isn't much to find!). So I would absolutely buy it. It's an investment - you need to look at hard numbers.

There’s no way I’d want to live or stay there. It gives me the heebie-jeebies just thinking about it.

It would put me off, I’d feel like I was in an American horror, sorry

Surely if it's to rent OP won't be living there anyway?

All done and over as far as I can see. Initially I was worried about the house I live in as the lady suddenly died in the bathroom a week prior to me moving in. 3 years down the line and I rarely think about it. If you like the place take it.

No, I live in a property where the previous owner passed away, but a natural death of an old person at home is very different than a violent death.

@stonebrambleboy

I'd buy it redecorate and ask the local priest to bless the house.

I'd also do this, it wouldn't put me off living there

Exactly what biscuitbadger said..I couldn't live there as my imagination would be working overtime and I would hate being there alone at any time.
I've lived in houses where family have died of natural causes (old age) though and I don't find that a problem.

No I couldn't do it, imagine being asked about it all the time.

About ten years ago three young children died in a house fire in a small cul de sac that runs off our street directly opposite our house. All three went to my DC's school, two in same class as two of mine etc. It was truly horrific and shocked us all to the core- as it would anyone. The cul de sac has a cut through at the end that we all used as a short cut on the school run so we walked daily past the house and it was just awful.
But the house was a rental and once it was renovated, the landlord rented it out again (cause of the fire wasn't landlord negligence or anything). I was shocked that anyone would live there as even if they weren't local, all the neighbours would surely tell them what had happened there. And yet people have lived there ever since- whether the same people or not I don't know. Now I guess a lot of the neighbours are different so new tenants may not ever get told but personally I'd never live anywhere I knew someone had died unnaturally. I walk past it less often these days as it's not really on my way anywhere very often and I rarely think of it. I certainly don't feel uncomfortable walking past but I definitely would if I lived there- or even next door I think.

No way! Where there has been a life lost to violence, there is usually a very negative energy. If you do buy it, get it blessed, or get a medium in to remove any bad stuff still lingering. Good Luck!