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Original poster

Buying a house you think someone might have died in? Yes or no?

156 replies

Aaaghbuying · 18/06/2021 21:00

Saw a lovely house that's just come on. House here go pretty much within a day - think we saw it first.

It clearly belonged to an old person. And was told it's a probate sale.

What I hadn't expected was that the house still had the hospital bed with all the wipes etc by it. All the personal possessions etc. Looks like nothing has been moved or tidied AT ALL since the owner passed away. Which is a bit creepy.

I asked the estate agent if he knew if anyone had died there and he wisely said he hadn't asked as it's an uncomfortable question to ask, which is true.

Genuinely not sure what to do. It will go very soon whatever and ticks all our boxes in terms of size, location and price.

But I'm not sure if I could buy a house someone could have died in? Is that over-sensitive? It's a Victorian property so someone may well have passed away there in the last 140 years.

Views please. Have you done this and regretted it? Or done this and not regretted it? Or couldn't do it?

Thanks.

OP posts:
Countrylane · 18/06/2021 21:01

I’d be v surprised if any house over a century old hadn’t had someone die in it. Wouldn’t bother me at all. A gruesome murder might make me hesitate, but not much tbh.

MaybeInAnotherLife · 18/06/2021 21:04

Wouldn’t bother me at all.

BunnyRuddington · 18/06/2021 21:04

Our house was built in the early 30s and I've lived in one built in 1910. I'd be very surprised if there hadn't been a few births and deaths in both of them.

tarapinn · 18/06/2021 21:06

Goodness me. Death is a part of life. You didn't know the person. Confused
If it ticks all your boxes, why on earth would you not?

Mangomoonlight · 18/06/2021 21:06

I’d be more than a little creeped out by the hospital bed and bits and pieces. But on the other hand, our house is a couple of hundred years old and someone must’ve died here and it doesn’t bother me….

flightofthecrow · 18/06/2021 21:07

The older the house the greater the chance of someone dying in it. It would bother me unless I felt "uneasy " in the house

LouNatics · 18/06/2021 21:08

Someone has died in every single house I’ve owned. I don’t see the problem.

Remember people may well have been born there too. Does that even it out?

Somanysocks · 18/06/2021 21:08

People die all the time in houses, it's just the way it is. Concentrate on the fact that it was likely a happy home with a happy family.

marryberrycookbook · 18/06/2021 21:08

My grandma died in her house. Didn't stop it from selling.

Way overthinking it.

Clickbait · 18/06/2021 21:08

I'd be fine with that.

raspberrymuffin · 18/06/2021 21:08

I'd say if someone hasn't died in a house that's been standing 140 years and was built in an era when the vast majority of people died at home, it would be astonishing.

I used to live in a new build house which was on a probable site of a big medieval battle, so even then it was likely someone had died violently in my garden. The UK isn't very big and people have been living and dying here for millennia.

Gladimnotcampinginthisweather · 18/06/2021 21:09

The husband of the previous owner of this house collapsed and died in the main bedroom of our house. We didn't find out until the next door neighbour told us, but it hasn't made any difference.

clary · 18/06/2021 21:09

A house that no one had died in would be a very unusual thing indeed, unless only a few years old.

My dad died in our house (which was about 20 years old at the time). I am sure someone will have died in the house I now live in. It's really not an issue. If the house is 100+ years old then for sure someone will have died in it - and someone else will have been born there.

Dizzy1234 · 18/06/2021 21:09

Don't fixate on the death, think of the life, a life lived, a life loved, marriage, children, grandchildren, a life time of memories for another family in your potential new home.

Librariesmakeshhhhappen · 18/06/2021 21:09

You realise that unless it's a new build house that you buy then there's quite a massive chance that someone, at some point, has died in it.

ItsSnowJokes · 18/06/2021 21:09

I gave birth in our last house 😂

It wouldn't bother me as I think a vast majority of houses will have had someone die in them.

CheerfulBunny · 18/06/2021 21:09

My mum died at home. My dad continued to live there after and my brother lives there now after Dad died. When my brother sells, someone else will live there and probably will never ever know my mum died there. If you like the house, put it out of your mind. I am guessing it happens more than you think.

Nohomemadecandles · 18/06/2021 21:10

Make sure it's emptied as part of the sale.

You'll soon forget

NothingIsWrong · 18/06/2021 21:10

We bought a house in a probate sale, he deffo died here. Doesn't bother me in the slightest. We gutted the place before we moved in anyway as he clearly had not touched it in the last 50 years.

frogswimming · 18/06/2021 21:10

Well I think you'd be hard pressed to buy a house that someone hasn't died in! All people die, 44% in their usual residence (thank you mr google).

BasiliskStare · 18/06/2021 21:11

Done it - never thought twice - moved in to one house and next door neighbour told us that neighbour died in the house. Also sold DPIL's house - DMIL died there. But they had such happy times in that house.

I think unless you go for a new build there is half a chance someone could have died there. ( especially if house is 140 years old)

If a probate sale - is there someone who is going to inherit who could / will clear the place out ?

So to be honest - I would not be the slight bit worried. I think if this is a walk away point for you - then it must be - would not worry me one iota.

If it is the sort of thing that worries you - I bet , playing the percentages , that family had more happy times than sad in that house.

Verbena87 · 18/06/2021 21:11

Our previous house was 1750s so would have seen plenty of deaths, and I’m fairly sure (though haven’t asked!) the previous owner of our current house’s wife might have died in our room. I do know they had a long loving marriage and both loved the house, and since moving in I quite often have a chat with elderly seller on the phone to ask his advice about the garden/let him know how his rhubarb is doing and what we’ve baked with it. It doesn’t bother me a bit - I feel safe and welcome here. The bed/wipes etc won’t be there when you move in.

CompleteBarstool · 18/06/2021 21:12

The only houses we've owned have been old (over 100+ years) so I know people must have died in them. It doesn't bother me.

You could in fact look at it that if someone wanted to be at home for the end of their life then it must have been a lovely home/house and held wonderful memories for that person.

I think the only time it would bother me is if I knew for definite that someone had died there through murder or suicide, but that's just a personal thing.

saraclara · 18/06/2021 21:12

Well I hope people do, because my DH died (peacefully and it was expected) in a hospital bed in our front room.

Having said that, I'm very surprised that the agent didn't request that the hospital bed and equipment be removed before any viewings. They will normally advise on the presentation of any property.

Hottubtimemachine · 18/06/2021 21:12

Of course! Both owners definitely died in my house, all the medications etc were still lying around when we viewed. I feel privileged to bring love and life back into the house.