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Original poster

Would you buy a house backing onto a cemetery?

178 replies

Olinguito · 21/11/2023 01:12

We're house hunting at the moment and like the look of a house that backs onto a cemetery. There is a substantial garden wall and high trees on the other side blocking the view of graves. The back garden has the advantages of being quiet and not overlooked.. However, would the proximity of a cemetery put you off, and do you think it would be difficult to sell in future?

OP posts:
SaltyGod · 21/11/2023 08:39

I grew up next to a church and cemetery, and it was never an issue.

Quiet neighbours, not overlooked, lots of wildlife. It was a small village and if there was a funeral we would offer extra parking on our drive to help out.

You could see some of the graves from the kitchen window and I often thought of the people buried in them (one was a teenage girl who died in the 1880s with a beautiful gravestone, she was obviously very much loved and missed, and I hope she’s happy that people would think of her)

When there were weddings you could hear the hymns and laughter during the photos etc.

For is it only had upsides and the house sold quickly, no one voiced cemetery concerns.

viques · 21/11/2023 08:41

Doingmybest12 · 21/11/2023 08:31

Not necessarily put me off but it would be an extra consideration regarding how it feels, who is in and out of there , what view it was from down stairs, neglected or not. I assume it would mean a similar consideration for others. But no different to say if there is a school behind or a supermarket or a factory or a car park or a playing field etc .

A supermarket would be dreadful, delivery lorries at the crack of dawn, bad tempered parkers banging their horns. A school is fine if you are out all day, but pick up and drop off can be tiresome. Holidays are peaceful though. Playing fields can be a pain at the weekend with interminable five a side football players and their parking needs . Factories? We still have factories in the UK, who knew.

Dead people are perfect neighbours imo.

backinthebox · 21/11/2023 08:42

I’ve lived next to our village cemetery for over 2 decades. Never had an issue with drunks or kids hanging about. Not once. They hang about at the bike park, but apparently the cemetery is just too scary for them. 🤣 I’d wondered when we moved here if it might be a problem, but it never has been.

mrsbyers · 21/11/2023 08:43

I did and loved the quiet outlook and lovely mature trees

I did have a couple of instances of antisocial behaviour where kids were congregating and drinking there but police just patrollled for a while and moved them on.

babysharkdoodoodedoodedoo · 21/11/2023 08:47

I don’t know what this means about me as a person but I would LOVE it. It would be a massive plus for me! I adore graveyards and find them peaceful and beautiful.

User18650674 · 21/11/2023 08:49

I would check out where people park for it, if it's not up your road then OK

usernother · 21/11/2023 08:51

Yes of course. No reason not to buy it.

User18650674 · 21/11/2023 08:52

Cemetery's come in all sizes, our town one is huge, that would put me off a bit because of the amount of people visiting

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 21/11/2023 08:52

My mums house backs onto a cemetery, it's lovely and quiet and there's loads of wildlife which uses the space.

It definitely wouldn't put me off in fact I'd see it as a bonus!

CurlewKate · 21/11/2023 08:53

@Olinguito My pils lived near a huge and very old cemetery. We have such happy memories of it because it was where fil taught all his grandchildren to ride their bikes in between the amazing mill owners' mausoleums and Victorian angels.

NinNinJin · 21/11/2023 08:54

Is it currently in use or is it an old one?
Small chances but if it is in use you'd need to be conscious of any loud garden parties if there is a burial ceremony nearby. The only thing I would take a mental note of. Otherwise perfect neighbours

SpeculatingRooks · 21/11/2023 08:54

I live a stone's throw away from a beautiful tiny church and a graveyard. It's still in use, although funerals are pretty rare. I love it, so peaceful and interesting, I often have a wander around in there.

But the people who live directly next to it have a thriving vegetable patch down the end of their garden, I mean literally 5 feet away from the nearest grave and that makes me feel slightly sick. I don't know if I would fancy eating any of those vegetables to be honest!

Dontjudgeme101 · 21/11/2023 08:57

Reugny · 21/11/2023 01:13

No.

You wouldn't have any noise disturbance from that side.

I wouldn’t. 😂😂😂

54isanopendoor · 21/11/2023 08:59

5YearsLeft · 21/11/2023 04:24

Some posters have asked whether it’s a quiet cemetery or the kind groups of teens go and drink in at night. It might be wise to drive by the cemetery at night, on a Friday or Saturday, before buying the house, and seeing if anyone appears to be, well, up and moving. And being slightly anti-social. In a non-zombie way.

@5YearsLeft excellent suggestion.
also see tree roots / subsidence, land level (drinking water run through), & church services / bells etc (though church bells are lovely imo).

Snugglemonkey · 21/11/2023 09:00

It would be a plus for me as long as it's not a hangout for people messing about.

cupofdecaf · 21/11/2023 09:01

When a friend bought a house backing on to a graveyard years ago I was a bit like that's not for me. But she knows it won't be built on, it's open space and quiet.
More recently we offered on a house next to a graveyard. Could see the graves from a lot of the house. It was a very old house and honestly it was more concerned about the damp roof and replacing the single glazing. I was surprised it didn't bother me. But it didn't.

FlatWhiteExtraHot · 21/11/2023 09:01

Wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. Dead people are dead and the paranormal is a load of old bunkum. I lived from 12-18 in a house that backed onto a disused cemetery and it was just a nice place to walk the dog.

As for people questioning whether you’d be able to sell it; well obviously the people living in it now are selling it to you, and most of the people on the thread have said they would buy a similarly situated house, so I don’t see this as a consideration.

Honeyroar · 21/11/2023 09:05

My
mum lives next to an old graveyard. It’s lovely and quiet. For now. Because they ARE developing it. It’s a disused church, which has been sold and has permission for three more houses in the graveyard. They’ve moved graves and everything! If the grave was over 100 years old and there are no objections they were allowed to move them.

wonkylegs · 21/11/2023 09:11

Not at all, when we were looking for our current house we looked at one (former rectory) where due to the boundary you looked straight out of the kitchen window to the ancient churchyard.
It was peaceful, lovely spot and the neighbours were predictable. Unfortunately for us it was grade 2 listed and needed a absolutely ginormous new roof (no mention in the details) which would have cost a small fortune and they hadn't really priced it accordingly.

RedRosie · 21/11/2023 09:14

I spent some of my childhood in a home like this. It was bliss with the trees and plants, wildlife and interesting things to see.

mummymummymummummum · 21/11/2023 09:15

That would be a massive plus for me! I grew up in a house backing onto a cemetery. Moving out to a house with other houses behind was very strange! The guaranteed lack of rear neighbours is a significant advantage.

BronwenFrideswide · 21/11/2023 09:23

Wouldn't bother me at all as a pp's Pop said nay lass, dead folks don’t harm you, it’s the live buggers that do” .

I'd relish the quiet and the fact it won't be built on.

LeRougeEtLeNoir · 21/11/2023 09:23

What sort of cemetery?
The one with old graves or a new cemetery?

StoatofDisarray · 21/11/2023 09:24

Sounds great! Wouldn't put me off.

DiscoBeat · 21/11/2023 09:25

Only if the neighbours aren't too rowdy!