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Original poster

Would you be put off by a house in which a tragedy had recently occurred?

26 replies

DeidreInaQuandry · 22/05/2017 20:10

DH and I are looking to downsize in a couple of years when DS has moved out.

We're looking at this recently renovated cottage in a nearby village.

The reason it's been renovated is that a woman was killed in a fire there a couple of years ago.

DS has said he wouldn't live there as "it's creepy" but that wouldn't be a bad thing

We'd need to rent it out for a couple of years. Would you rent a place with this recent history?

And if we needed to sell - do you think it could be a sticking point?

OP posts:
mynameislolita · 22/05/2017 20:12

dont know how i would feel op.. be intrested to see what others opinions are not

Original poster
DeidreInaQuandry · 22/05/2017 20:13

Sorry forgot link

Would you be put off by a house in which a tragedy had recently occurred?
OP posts:
NotEvenListening · 22/05/2017 20:13

I really don't see the problem. People die in houses quite a lot whether accidental/natural/murder. If you like the house then go for it.

PippaFawcett · 22/05/2017 20:15

This question comes around periodically on Mumsnet and the general consensus is that most people wouldn't be bothered and that many, particularly older properties, would have seen several births and deaths. And the only way to avoid it is to buy a new build! But those people that minded really really minded. HTH!

tissuesosoft · 22/05/2017 20:19

The history wouldn't put me off but the narrowness of the living space downstairs would.

NellieFiveBellies · 22/05/2017 20:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
DeidreInaQuandry · 22/05/2017 20:24

i know. We recently sold my parents' home. Both of them had died there but peacefully and of old age. The lady in the cottage was middle aged and, like I said, was killed by fire.

It's a popular village with houses moving quickly so I wonder if this could be why it's not been snapped up.

OP posts:
ajandjjmum · 22/05/2017 20:28

We were shown around a house by the son of people who were killed in an accident. Several weeks later he killed himself at the property. We couldn't bring ourselves to consider it after that :(

PolarBearGoingSomewhere · 22/05/2017 20:31

There's a house near us where a lady was tragically murdered. Being so local, I was deeply shocked at the time and saw the flowers etc laid in remembrance. I personally wouldn't be able to seperate that particular house from that particular tragedy. Deaths of natural causes that haven't been reported widely in the news, or that one wasn't party to / aware of at the time, perhaps due to the passage of time or living furher away, are a different matter imo.

1nsanityscatching · 22/05/2017 20:32

A house close to us was the scene of a fire where a mother and children died. It has been completely renovated but it hasn't been let in the last couple of years in spite of it being on Right Move/ Zoopla and there being many different EA boards outside and the price is really competitive alongside similar houses on the same road.
We are in a village but the tragedy was well publicised, of course I don't know for certain whether the past is the reason it hasn't got tenants but it is unusual for property in that area to stay empty for so long.

MollyoftheFolly · 22/05/2017 20:42

I'm very local to that village. This is a rural area where not much happens, the lady's death is well known locally, particularly as it only happened relatively recently. I would not feel comfortable buying it to be honest, but I'm sure others would not be bothered in the slightest. I think as time passes it would become less of an issue.

DancingLedge · 22/05/2017 21:34

Tbh would put me off.

Justmadeperfectflapjacks · 22/05/2017 21:36

I would feel it respectful to the woman to make it a happy home again!
I would buy it!

MrsELM21 · 22/05/2017 21:40

It would put me off, I wouldn't buy

Duck90 · 22/05/2017 23:31

the word tragedy is important to me. People passing away following illness or old age, no problem at all. Murder, esp a child, would really put me off. As polar said, if it was widely publicised it would also be a no. A near by house where a vulnerable person was killed, the news stories are still the top google hits (and this was 15 years ago).

Duck90 · 22/05/2017 23:33

Sorry, never mentioned the case of house fire, I would consider buying. But depends on the impact on the commmunity. And why it happened.

Original poster
DeidreInaQuandry · 23/05/2017 08:43

Thanks for replies. It's been refurbished to a high standard (kitchen and bathroom) but I think it's expensive for the size.

OP posts:
tiba · 23/05/2017 09:01

My friend bought a house where the elderly lady had died in the bath.

Didnt bother her and she didnt even consider replacing the bath either.

My elderly next door neighbour died earlier this year. When it went on the market it had huge interest and sold within days to a young couple who cant have been that bothered (or dont know).

tiba · 23/05/2017 09:03

Lovely house OP.
It wouldn't put me off. I would just make sure there were decent smoke detectors and decent escape routes from bedrooms.

When I was younger I lived in a house that was very old and had lots of corridors leading to different bedrooms. I was quite scared that if there was a fire we would quite easily be trapped upstairs.

My dad bought escape ladders and that put my mind at ease.

neonrainbow · 23/05/2017 09:06

I think a violent death would put me off. My houses previous owner died here suddenly I only found this out after we moved in but it wouldn't have put me off as it was a natural cause. If someone had been murdered I would think differently.

SirVixofVixHall · 23/05/2017 09:09

It would bother me, yes. Not the actual death- I live in an older house (1820), which must have seen many deaths and births- but a traumatic death, even though I know that is silly. The house next door had a traumatic death and I do think of it fairly often, even though it is a happy house full of children now.

Kokusai · 23/05/2017 09:21

Not the history but the layout sucks - there is no where to put a sofa except right by the front door and then that blocks the radiator.

TreeTop7 · 23/05/2017 16:33

It would not put me off unless I knew her/her family.

Maybe if I'd witnessed the fire I'd be reticent about buying it.... I don't know. Those images can stay with you.

dodgydonkeysdoodah · 23/05/2017 16:39

Having now read the reports I can only see her slumped at the bottom of the stairs overcome by what sounds like a mixture of alcohol and smoke. What a sad way to go. I would think of her every time I passed though that area of the house. So no, I wouldn't buy and wouldn't want to live there.

highinthesky · 23/05/2017 16:45

Its cute enough but the history would put me off - not to say that its should bother you though, OP.

Trust your gut instinct.