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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
ImInStealthMode · 16/11/2021 07:56

I was trying to think whether it would bother me or not and then I realised I've got absolutely no idea what went on in my flat before I bought it, and if I found out today that someone was murdered here it's still 'my' flat now so no it wouldn't stop me (particularly for a more favourable price than alternatives).

KittenKong · 16/11/2021 07:57

Most properties will have had some tragedy happen within the walls. Some potential renters may be out off. As long as there aren’t people visiting the property to gawp.

MrsFin · 16/11/2021 07:57

Most houses in the U.K. over a certain age will have had someone die in them, although not murdered. My DF died at home.

There's a house near me where a man killed his wife and two kids. I know the lady who lives there now. She bought the house below market value and isn't bothered at all. No strange goings on in the night either.

Elderflower14 · 16/11/2021 07:58

A house near me was on the market for ages.. A man murdered a couple there. The man's body was found in a wood at the bottom of the garden. Woman's body never found. It was on the market for ages... Don't even know if it ever sold.
I was told three days after moving into this house that a man hung himself years ago. I was a little upset. DH was cross with the man who told me. Not sure if it would have put us off buying. Been here twenty two years now!

BurnedToast · 16/11/2021 07:59

It would put me off.

custardbear · 16/11/2021 08:00

I lived in a very old building and someone had committed suicide about 10 years earlier. There was a 'ghost' apparently too (an old pub) that locals saw regularly. It gave me the creeps to be honest but it was my dads place and I only stayed in holidays
I think a murder is quite horrific and not sure how I'd feel

SpookyScarySkeletons · 16/11/2021 08:01

I wouldn't be able to live there. Sorry.

KittenKong · 16/11/2021 08:01

Our local swimming pool was where (not all that long ago) a mum broke in at night with her two children and drowned them (I forget is she frowned herself). That did put me off a little - there was always children’s swimming clubs and classes. It was just because I felt so sad for those poor children.

Chanel05 · 16/11/2021 08:02

Another thread very similar to this not long ago if you're interested to see other responses, OP.

Me? Never.

Purlsandhooks · 16/11/2021 08:02

I haven't read every comment, but if you use an agent (as I think someone said) they have to declare if a crime has been committed in the property. I sold a high profile 'murder house' in my town (I'm an estate agent) and it put around 70% of people off. We also got a lot of morbid tourist viewers, quite labour intensive. But not your problem if you're not tenant finding yourself! Good luck!

JadeTrinket · 16/11/2021 08:04

Our house had a notorious murder on the landing outside what is now my son’s bedroom, and we knew when we bought it last year. It was 100 years ago, though. Local papers ran stories on it on the anniversary.

IsAnybodyListening · 16/11/2021 08:06

It wouldn't put me of. I live in an old victorian house. The brothers that lived here in 60's both killed themselves here according to my NDN who was born and bread on my street. People die in all sorts of ways in houses.

DiscoStusMoonboots · 16/11/2021 08:06

A family friend bought the most amazing little terraced house in the heart of Winchester because a murder had happened there a year before. Had the house not been so heavily discounted, there was no way she could have afforded it. Sold it on about 10 years later for over double the money. I'd do it.

icedcoffees · 16/11/2021 08:08

It wouldn't bother me at all.

WhatsWrongWithMyUsername · 16/11/2021 08:09

I did. It was about 3 years after the murder. I knew before I bought it (but didn’t know when I put the offer in, it might have impacted my decision then).

The guy was in prison and would be for some time. It was sadly a domestic, he had a gun. If it was a random murder and they’d not caught the murderer I absolutely wouldn’t have bought it (being a single woman living alone). I also wouldn’t have liked it if I knew he could be walking past.

My next door neighbour (who was also new) heard people talking about it as they walked past and was disappointed it wasn’t his house! So not everyone would be put off.

You are absolutely not legally required to tell anyone anything about the house, only to answer questions honestly. Caveat emptor (not sure if I’ve spelled it right!). There was a court case going on when I was selling my house, about a really horrific murder and the buyers hasn’t been told, but it was upheld in the sellers’ favour.

When I bought my next house I remember saying to a colleague at least there’d not been a murder in it, and he said “how do you know…?” - fair point!

52andblue · 16/11/2021 08:09

@purlsandhooks not in Scotland they don't (or I was very unlucky).
My first married house (2001) was bought not knowing reason for sale was previous couple were a murder suicide in the main bedroom sadly.
The house was fine though.
2nd house is 'haunted' according to neighbours. There IS something off here. Now Divorcing.

wtaf37 · 16/11/2021 08:10

I have to ask those of you who said you wouldn't live in such a house - Why not??

I mean, there is no such thing as ghosts, nor, presumably, is the murderer still living there. And unless you live in a new build that you were the first to move into, how much do you know about the lives of the people who lived in your house previously? Why knows what went on under your roof? Just because it didn't make the papers, doesn't mean stuff didn't happen; child deaths, old people dying at home in their beds, domestic violence, abuse of domestic staff...
The list is endless!

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 16/11/2021 08:11

It would depend on the feeling I got from the house. Even the least woo people can get feelings from places.

KaptainKaveman · 16/11/2021 08:11

@stonebrambleboy

I'd buy it redecorate and ask the local priest to bless the house.
Same here.
FAQs · 16/11/2021 08:12

It would depend who received the funds from the sale, I’d have an issue with my money going to a man who murdered his wife.

WhatsWrongWithMyUsername · 16/11/2021 08:12

Sorry the not legally required to tell people if not asked is buying/ selling, no idea about renting.

Srettel · 16/11/2021 08:14

If you google the address, does the murder come up?

Icebreaker99 · 16/11/2021 08:14

Sounds like the start of an ITV three parter.

I'd go in and spend some time in the room and see how I felt, can always get the local priest in to bless it if you like it but feel a bit uneasy.

Meruem · 16/11/2021 08:16

It’s true it won’t put everyone off but if someone views 2 very similar properties, one of which is yours, why would they choose the murder house over the other?

I think it depends what the rental market is like in your area. If there’s a lack of properties to rent then yes go for it. But if it sits there empty then it’s a false economy.

ThinWomansBrain · 16/11/2021 08:16

it wouldn't put me off.

I suppose you need to think about it in the context of the area?
Small village with not a lot of movement - it will be "that house" for a long time.
Larger city with a transitory population - will be forgotton sooner, potential renters will be from outside the area and not know about the recent history.