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?

Going to view this week, and hope to be told the story. Otherwise I will be asking them. Already knowing full well

It wouldn't bother me to live there.

When I was little I use to love a house that we use to pass each day. When I was about 9 a murder happened in the house. The house eventually went up for sale but never sold. It was on and off the market for years in the hope people would forget about the murder or that new faces would move into the area and not know it’s past. It was eventually bought by a developer who knocked it down and built flats.
Even now 30 years on I drive pass and think of that murder that happened there and the house isn’t even there now.

It would definitely put me off I wouldn’t want to even step in the house where a murder happened let alone live there.

Wouldn’t bother me, if it was for me to live in (as in, I’d not be spooked by it).

However, there’s a house on a prominent corner near me in which a man murdered his wife about 20 years ago that is still referred to as “the murder house”, not gossipy or the like, but for directions.

I.e turn right at the murder house, then second left…

It wouldn't bother me.
It would bother me even less if it was cheap

No it wouldn’t bother me I don’t think - not enough to actually not buy it.

Nope, no idea why it would put anyone off.

If it was e.g. 25 Cromwell street and was likely to attract tourists I probably wouldn’t go there, but nothing actually happened there while you were there. You weren’t witness to anything, and the person who was murdered there isn’t there and neither is the murderer.

If you buy a house that’s more than about 50 years old odds are someone has died there even if they haven’t been murdered. And lots of houses are built on historical sights where many battles and murders took place.

I wouldn't buy it. I have a very suggestible imagination. Even though I don't believe in supernatural stuff, realistically I know I'd be having nightmares and feeling spooked in the dark!

On a lighter note:

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0825s3f

I don't mind living where a life came to it's natural end, but I would not like being in a house where any sort of terrible violence occurred. I would find myself thinking about the hardships she endured not just in her final terrifying moments but the day to day life with him.

My first ever flat was were the previous tenant had died, but that was natural causes.

I'm not sure if I could but I agree with the point that it doesn't put everyone off. A house a few doors up from me sadly had a double murder in it not so long ago. The new owners did know of this and are really quite happy in there.

No I wouldn't...however if you can sit on it for a year and I'm sure people be ok with renting it unless it a very high profile murder

Someone will have died almost anywhere. I wouldn’t let it put me off.

I’m a bit morbid though really.

I couldn't. A family member if mine was murdered and it would be literally too close to home.

If its to rent to students or someone who won't be there a long time I'd go for it

Thank you all. Super helpful to get a feel of what people think before we potentially do buy and try to rent it out

It would put me off. Not sure if that translates to yabu or yanbu so didnt vote.

There's a house near me where someone murdered her children. I know which street, but not which house. Over time, I expect neighbours would move on, and new residents might not know which house it was. And many of us probably live in houses where someone died (but not murdered)

If you buy this house at a reduced price, can you afford to rent it out at a reduced price? If so, potential tenants may be more interested

And could you repurpose the bedroom where the lady was killed eg turn into a study?

It would put me off.

I don’t know if it would bother me, but you’re buying it as a business prospect and so you already know you’re going to have a narrower pool of prospective renters because of its history. You’re buying at a good price, but you may also have to rent at a good price, so it all depends on how the economics stack up. I think the fact that it’s a recent murder is more of an issue than the murder itself. It will still be in public memory. And there are always plenty of stories of people who had ‘woo’ experiences in rentals. That seed is already in people’s imagination so it might become one of those houses that struggles to keep tenants. But then again it might not.

Look at the numbers, work out how much wiggle room there is in case it lies empty for periods and decide based on that.

No, not in a house that's had such violence.

Wouldn't put me off unless I had to rent it with the murderer.

Wouldn’t bother me in the least. It’s a house, for goodness sake.

It would be a no for me.