Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Would you buy a house where someone had recently died?

145 replies

NotSureICan · 26/11/2020 20:18

Bit of a trigger warning - suicide.

Title slightly misleading, of course lots of people have died in houses especially old ones. But how would you feel about a very recent death?

We've had our offer accepted on a house which ticks all the boxes. We like the house and it has a nice feel. We've also got a buyer for ours and now trying to take advantage of the stamp duty holiday if we can, so wanting to move quickly! However after some googling today, I've discovered that unfortunately the previous occupant committed suicide in the house a few months ago. I don't have any further details (other than cause of death but I won't mention here), so not sure where in the house it happened or if it was in one of the 2 outbuildings. I also believe the person lived alone, so without being too grisly, I'm not sure how long they were there for before discovery Sad

I phoned the agent to check what has happened and they have outright lied to me. Said the house was owned by an elderly gentleman who has since died in care. When we first viewed the house, the agent said the sale was due to a death and I asked if this was in the house and they said they didn't know. Agent today says definitely not. I'm wondering if perhaps the vendor hasn't been honest with them. It looks as though the owners relative was living there after the owner went into care.

I'm not sure what to do now. Am I being a bit silly by feeling a bit weird about it? The house actually had a nice feel when we looked around and the second viewing we were in there on our own and it didn't feel spooky or unhappy! However I feel quite annoyed that they've lied to us, and especially as the vendor really pushed us up on the price (the house needs a lot of work doing to it so the price reflects that, but we've probably offered £5k more than we wanted to).

OP posts:
EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide · 26/11/2020 20:20

Would put me off.

Pinkroses87 · 26/11/2020 20:25

Any older house will have had people die in it. People used to die at home a lot more than they do now. Tbh unless it was something particularly grim, it wouldn’t bother me.

babychange12 · 26/11/2020 20:27

Definitely would put me off

AWiseWomanOnceSaidFuckThisShit · 26/11/2020 20:28

It would probably put me off but I'd be buying and living in it on my own and I'd overthink it. But if I was moving in there with a husband and kids it wouldn't bother me.

Chasingsquirrels · 26/11/2020 20:29

Pretty sure it wouldn't bother me.
I continue to live in the house my late-DH died in.

AcornAutumn · 26/11/2020 20:30

Yes, I would.

You never know what’s happened in a house going further back - maybe through a library search.

Lots of places on the Thames are built on what were alleyways where there’d have been suicides.

SissySpacekAteMyHamster · 26/11/2020 20:31

I'm easily spooked, and knowing would put me off.

I think I'm being unreasonable, but I wouldn't buy.

Spied · 26/11/2020 20:31

It would put me right off too.

SionnachRua · 26/11/2020 20:32

Wouldn't phase me. Most older houses have had people die in them. A death is a death and while suicide is very sad, I don't think I'd feel any differently about it. Hope the person didn't suffer Sad

Having said that I think a murder would put me off!

Sheepareawesome · 26/11/2020 20:32

Wouldn't bother me that they died there but would be worried about what else they were lying about. But if you still like the house and survey is all OK I would still buy.

ParkheadParadise · 26/11/2020 20:33

My dd was murdered in her house, although she wasn't found in it.
My nephew his partner, and kids now live there.
They would never have been able to afford to live in that area ( they stay rent free)

They are happy living in the house, although I have only been back a couple of times.

Fruggalo · 26/11/2020 20:34

It would put me off. I had some friends about to sign the rental agreement on a house and looked it up online, to find the details of a tragic death and the body being kept in a misguided but no malicious fashion by another occupant in parts of the house for far too long (weeks) being described in detail in the press.

At least at that point they realised why it was a third cheaper than they expected.

lynsey91 · 26/11/2020 20:36

I am not sure to be honest. I think it might put me off but, on the other hand, if the house had a good feel and I liked it I am not sure it would.

CabernetSoWhat · 26/11/2020 20:37

I wouldn't give a hoot. Why would you?

Annamaywong25 · 26/11/2020 20:39

I work in an estate agency and when showing people around empty properties am often asked what happened to the owner (but never the circumstances of the actual death), but more so if the property is dated in decor. If I'm not asked a direct question about the owner's situation I see no reason to volunteer it. Can't ever see myself being asked ''well, Miss Estate Agent, did the previous owner take their own life in this property?" If the house has a nice vibe, and you feel you can be happy in it, go ahead with the purchase would be my advice OP.

strugglingtomakesenseofitall · 26/11/2020 20:40

@ParkheadParadise I couldn't read and run, so sorry to hear that Thanks

grassgreenthisside · 26/11/2020 20:41

It would put me off but If it was perfect and good price I would still consider it.

Certainly wouldn't be a 100% no. Plenty of people die at home, a lot more common than we bare to think of.

TheStripes · 26/11/2020 20:42

From what you’ve said, I’m not sure the agent has lied to you. They may just not know the details.

Yes, a suicide would put me off but I imagine once you are in and settled you will move past that.

Plonque · 26/11/2020 20:43

It would not put me off. I've lived in houses already that had known deaths in them, natural causes like but I dont think the nature of the circumstances would alter my view.

I had a home birth with my dd, born in the same room the previous occupier died in. Then we moved on and I found out the person who bought it off us also died in the very same bedroom. Circle of life and all that.

Plonque · 26/11/2020 20:45

I should add, we now live in a 17th century house so I'm pretty sure some poor beggar will have met their end here.

ihatesandpits · 26/11/2020 20:46

Wouldnt put me off. I've lived in a house before with a murder and suicide (same house, same time)

Lochroy · 26/11/2020 20:48

I know you've put a trigger warning at the top, but just to say I'm going mention some sensitive things and I really don't wish to be insensitive, I hope I pitch this correctly, I struggling for the best wording.

A house in which someone died wouldn't worry me. My Dad died at home (cancer, expected) and it doesn't worry me when I visit my mum. However, in circumstances such as you describe, I'd just be keen to know there were no concerns about hygiene and cleanliness. I don't think I'd have a weird feeling though, just practical considerations.

PixellatedPixie · 26/11/2020 20:48

Don’t be put off of the house otherwise ticks all the right boxes! It would be superstitious to do so. You have nothing to do with the previous owner being unhappy - if that so even the true story anyway!

If ghosts existed which they don’t,
I’m pretty sure they would be more concerned with people they knew and more houses they lived in! Don’t lose out on a great house because of superstition!!

NotSureICan · 26/11/2020 20:54

Thanks for your replies everyone. I have to admit, I feel so torn. Other than the stamp duty benefit, we aren't in any huge rush to move as we have space for everyone at the moment. This new purchase is a doer upper and would be something we've always wanted to do. The house is nice but not 100% perfect so I'm not sure how gutted I'll feel if we don't move forward with it. I'm going to phone the agent tomorrow and ask them outright about what I've found and see if perhaps the vendor hasn't been straight with them.

OP posts:
AcornAutumn · 26/11/2020 20:58

@NotSureICan

Thanks for your replies everyone. I have to admit, I feel so torn. Other than the stamp duty benefit, we aren't in any huge rush to move as we have space for everyone at the moment. This new purchase is a doer upper and would be something we've always wanted to do. The house is nice but not 100% perfect so I'm not sure how gutted I'll feel if we don't move forward with it. I'm going to phone the agent tomorrow and ask them outright about what I've found and see if perhaps the vendor hasn't been straight with them.
Not much point in asking though

What could they say? It’s your decision ultimately.

I’m glad we didn’t bring dad home to die, his death was appalling. His last days on he house, I try not to think about.

The last time he was taken out of there by paramedics, he was haemorrhaging.

He’d hate to think that would stop it being a happy home for someone. I might live there one day.