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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

387 replies

1988TBT · 16/11/2021 07:18

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?

OP posts:
tulips27 · 17/11/2021 19:47

No way. Things like blood and tissue could be ingrained into the fabric of the building, its not like they cut out the floorboards, is it? They probably just scrub it down but I couldn't see that as clean.

CaveWoman1 · 17/11/2021 19:51

No. Houses do retain energy, good and bad. I couldn’t sleep in a room where I knew someone had been murdered. I’d literally not be able to shut my eyes.

fringecringewhinge · 17/11/2021 19:53

Nah I’d skip it

maddiemookins16mum · 17/11/2021 19:59

No from me.

Zzzsotired · 17/11/2021 20:03

My friend purchased a lovely house that was cheaper than the rest on the estate, she couldn’t believe her luck until after she moved in - turned out everyone knew a woman had taken her own life violently in the house hence the sale - all the neighbours knew and told her! She put it up for sale again within a couple of months and sold for less than purchase. The estate agent and family members selling it had known and not said anything

LidlMiddleLover · 17/11/2021 20:14

Wouldn’t bother me atall tbh

wentworthinmate · 17/11/2021 20:18

Wouldn't bother me, and you will make a killing WinkWinkWink

Leontine · 17/11/2021 20:23

Having thought about it, as it only happened fairly recently I’d say no to living there. But if the incident had occurred 10+ years ago I don’t think it’d bother me.

Heg63 · 17/11/2021 20:27

Depends on the murder

Thefuturestory · 17/11/2021 20:50

I have.

Unfortunately I always felt a bit unsettled. I did know the woman and her children though. I also got to know more details of the murder that weren’t common knowledge.

Fortunately I was only a lodger so didn’t stay long. The current occupant bought it about 2 years after I left and has been there over 15 years. He knew the family too and obviously doesn’t feel so weird by it.

Thefuturestory · 17/11/2021 20:52

And yes I’d definitely get it blessed. I’m not going into the experiences I had but I wish this house had been!

thecatneuterer · 17/11/2021 20:52

It wouldn't bother me at all. In fact someone was murdered in my porch (while I watched through the window!) and even that doesn't bother me.

RedBonnet · 17/11/2021 20:53

I wouldn't live there but then I believe houses carry past experiences. I often find myself hating being in a house for no apparent reason. I once rented a flat and loads of glass things broke. In just a few months a glass roasting dish split in half, a tray of drinks fell and every glass broke, and the front window was smashed when something hit it (no sign of a projectile). Doesn't sound that strange, except in the 30 years since I've never had any issues with broken glass 😬

Hugoslavia · 17/11/2021 20:53

I grew up in a house where the dad had hung himself. My parents knew, but decided to proceed and not say anything. I discovered on the first day on the school bus. A murder is obviously much worse. There will be some people who won't know about the murder. But if they find out, which they probably will do, it won't be nice for them.

Hugoslavia · 17/11/2021 20:55

Wouldn't bother me, and you will make a killing wink

I'm not sure that making light of a domestic violent murder is appropriate!

PickupaPenguin8 · 17/11/2021 21:02

@Hugoslavia

Wouldn't bother me, and you will make a killing wink

I'm not sure that making light of a domestic violent murder is appropriate!

I’m really surprised by how many people wouldn’t care. Making a joke about someone’s awful death is pretty low.
BlackhillMumofThree · 17/11/2021 21:07

It wouldn't faze me at all. What people don't realise is that in every spot of the world at some point in history there has been a death, many of them murders. So although you know about this one you may not know about another 10 that happened in the same building since it was built or in the buildings nearby or ones that used to be on the same land. A friend of mine is a local historian and she once researched this subject and studied 4 totally different houses, over 100 year period, from A mansion to a small council house, new and old including what stood before the current houses. The deaths, murders, traumatic events she uncovered even in the newest home would shock you. But people where totally unaware they were living where such things happened. I recall the shock regarding a 4 year old virtually new build which was considered to be built on a uneventful field. The first death they uncovered was during the build where a builder killed his work mate with a hammer in a fit of jelousy over a girl. The people who bought it had known nothing of it. They'd come from out of town locals had fast forgotten too. Then 10 years previous to that a body of a woman was found raped and mutilated in the field before houses were considered. It was also traced back to a cottage being on the land which was later demolished which was the home of at least three murders over its time including a whole family of 8 killed by a neighbour over land dispute. Prior to that it was an unrecognised site of part of a major battle where many died. It just showed people how little you know of what has gone on in the home they live in. Knowing about it is just a bonus.

PinkPomeranian · 17/11/2021 21:12

I don't know if it would totally put me off, but I wouldn't like it. I'd probably want to renovate to distance myself from it!

When I moved to my current house, a new neighbour could barely wait to tell me that a recent previous owner had tragically died at home at a young age. I've been here for almost 6 years and still think about it, so a murder would probably play on my mind even more.

SallyWD · 17/11/2021 21:31

I HAVE lived in a house where a murder was committed! I had no idea at first (was new to the area) but some neighbours told me about it when I'd already lived there a few months. When I found out, I thought the house would have a bad vibe, a sinister feeling, but it didn't at all. In fact quite the opposite - it had a lovely, cosy atmosphere. Knowing about the murder didn't change the way I felt about the house in the slightest. I'd always loved the house and felt comfortable there. When you think about it, I expect awful things have happened in nearly all houses, especially old houses.

HippyMoon · 17/11/2021 21:39

I couldn't. My friend lived in a flat where someone had been murdered and it just had an awful feeling about it. She only lived there for six months as she just couldn't get it out of her head.

The case was quite high profile though and despite being years ago it was community knowledge so maybe that made it worse.

Catscatsandmorecats · 17/11/2021 21:48

@1988TBT Personally, it wouldn't put me off, it is unpleasant but a house is a house and if you can get it for under market value, great. I am not sure as a landlord knowing the history where you'd stand legally on whether you'd have to disclose it to potential tenants and whether that would put people off.

One other thing to consider is if the case might be covered in a crime doc at any point. The house may be filmed from the street and included. If you think it's unlikely to happen with the particular case then it's not a consideration.

I think I'd still totally go for it, all else aside a good home being wasted because of its history is very sad.

Good luck

Anonymous48 · 17/11/2021 21:49

To all the people who wouldn't want to live there, why? What difference could it possibly make?

5keletor · 17/11/2021 21:50

@Anonymous48

To all the people who wouldn't want to live there, why? What difference could it possibly make?
I've been wondering this.
Gilly12345 · 17/11/2021 21:58

No I wouldn’t want to live there, it just represents an unhappy home with a violent ending.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 17/11/2021 22:01

Not my house but my neighbours (semi at attached to ours). Bloke was murdered there with a bird bath.

Neighbour bought the house no problem and we bought ours a few months layer. Both houses were an absolute steal. Not sure why mine was....

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