Would you view/buy this house with a dark past?

[medicinewoman182]

Hello,

I'm after your opinions or personal experiences of buying a house with a dark past.

The house in question is a really well presented, 3 x bed semi in a suburb just outside of leeds in a sought after area. Decorated fantastically, a lovely street/neighbourhood, schools, transport, shops and nightlife nearby. Basically ticks all of our boxes.

EXCEPT.......

Back in 2012, there was a murder. The father has a psychotic episdoe, killed his wife in the kitchen, daughter in the living room and his second daughter and dog were found alive but shaken.

My first thought was NO, NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS.
But I've been researching and thinking about it a lot and may be coming round to the idea.

The house didn't kill those people, he did, and he's in HMP for life!
IF, and thats a big IF, there are any ghosts, ghouls or spirirts there, it's fairly reassuring knowing that they were good people, and wouldn't be out for revenge.
I would say most houses have had somebody die in them (granted not under the circumstances) at some point.

So basically, I want to know what you guys think.
I think we are going to view it, and get a feel for the place. I might run out screaming, or get a good feel and want to make it a happy, loving home once again.

P.S. It has been lived in since then, we would be the second owners since the incident.

I had a look at the house and personally, I wouldn't want it even without the history of violent murders. It feels claustrophobic and bleak. No charm or warmth whatsoever. Sorry OP, for not being able to encourage you.

I've just read the news article and its horrific what he did to them and he only got 15 years and that was in 2013

Exactly, will probably only serve 7.5 years so could be out as early as 2020. I wouldn't live there.

I also agree with diodati, the house is a bit void of character and charm imo! Sorry op!

I know you've already made up your mind but just putting my tuppence in as I've just read the stories...how very, very tragic

I'm pretty insensitive and unemotional. I don't believe in ghosts but I don't think I could live in this house having read the stories.

Mainly because you know so many details...the way they died, where they were in the house. I don't think I would be able to stop imagining the whole thing and it would make me pretty sad.

Plus the practical issues...any DC you have will almost certainly find out because it's so recent and the wife worked at the local school, they would definitely be freaked out. Then the possibility that the guy would revisit the scene of the crime (even if just standing outside) on release.

These things would make it a no from me and a very different scenario to a historical murder, suicide or death by natural causes.

Not a problem. People die in houses all the time, from old age, heart a stack etc, spits a natural part of life. The killing but obviously isn't great, but ....

A wise decision, medicine, that's what would stop me - resale value, kids' friends not wanting to come over because it's 'that' house, plus, for that price, I wouldn't want a galley-style kitchen .

Very shocked at his sentence, too.

'(Estate agents only have to disclose a murder/stigmatised house for 5yrs.)'

They don't have to disclose anything at all, in fact.

I couldn't. Not because of ghosts etc but because I would think about its past a lot - and I wouldn't want to.

I wouldn't. Not necessarily because of the murders although it's very good reason not to but because he's still alive and likely to get out soon ! Even if I don't believe in ghosts so much, I do believe places can definitely retain trauma (eg Auschwitz, Dachau etc)

Just to be clear, she didn't work at a local school, the school was in a different town.

I hadn't thought about him returning to the house once released though. That's the only thing that would stop me.

Is that true expat? I only ask because when we looked at our house the agent said they had to disclose the history which is why they had had over 20 viewings but no takers (was a very nice house in a fab location and marketed about £200pcm less than would habe been expected).

There are loads of those style of houses around Leeds, and it doesn't seem to be any cheaper as a result of it's history. So no.

They didn't use to have to tell you, New, but perhaps they do now.

'There are loads of those style of houses around Leeds, and it doesn't seem to be any cheaper as a result of it's history. So no.'

Yeah, these owners have a cheek, especially how cheap they got the house just 2 years ago and now they want over £50k profit. Chancers.

That is also way freaky, the goings on in your former home ! There's a house near my parents (next block) where a man murdered his wife and two children and then killed himself in the 80s. No one has ever lived in it for over 2 years since. Freaky deaky.

Expat when we bought the house last year the agents said they had to disclose it to us, and we'd have to disclose it if we sold it again within 5 years of the event. Not sure who enforces it but our solicitor knew all about it when we had the initial conveyancing meetings. All it said in the listing was 'An incident took place in the property prior to its renovation, contact the office for further details' but the agent told us all about it at our first viewing, where in the house it had happened and told us how long the murderers got in prison (25 yrs each) and said she'd understand if we'd walk out as many did when they found out the details.

Yeh, there was something like that on a house in Keighley that was talked about recently. (Though that really does look haunted too...)

@whatsthecomingoverthehill oh that's this one thesteepletimes.com/an-unlucky-mansion/

Yeah, it appears the law was changed. You didn't used to have to tell, but research on the home would usually turn that up. Plenty of US states require disclosure even in historical cases.

That mansion looks like a total money pit.

@Redyellowpinkblue @whatsthecomingoverthehill
That Keighly one looks beautiful and horrifying at the same time!
I could never be alone in a place like that!

Did you read down to where somebody posted that of 11 pupils who attended that mansion when it was a school only 3 are still alive??

I couldn't live there, knowing what had happened there.

It's silly because it would probably be absolutely fine if I didn't know. But I couldn't unknow it and I imagine I would dwell on it.

Yes, I read that Low. Eeek.