So, you’ve just moved into your new home. Beautiful house, fantastic location, and you got it for a good price. The previous owners seemed very keen for a quick sale. Wondering why? Well, could it be they thought it was haunted? Stranger things have happened. Beautiful properties have become houses of horror thanks to unexplained happenings. Some families decide to move out. Others learn to live with their ghosts,or resort to exorcism. Being saddled with an unwelcome spectral guest is more common than you might think. According to a study in 2015, one in three people surveyed claimed to have lived in a house that was haunted, or rumoured to be. The question is, if you’ve got a resident spook, do you come clean about it to prospective buyers? And if you don’t,could you be prosecuted under the Property Mis descriptions Act?“The 1991 Act does not refer to haunted houses” says the London-based lawyer Conor Walsh. “But it does create a general duty to avoid making false or misleading statements.” Theoretically, this should stop a false or misleading statements.” Theoretically, this should stop a seller from claiming that a house is not haunted or, indeed, that seller from claiming that a house is not haunted or, indeed, that is haunted when they believe otherwise.
In one extreme case of apparent supernatural activity, the owners fled in terror and left the bank to repossess their £3.6m property when they couldn’t sell it. Businessman Anwar Rashid moved into Clifton Hall in Nottinghamshire in early 2007. The 52 room mansion, which dates back to the Norman Conquest, was the dream home for Anwar, his wife and their four young children until the resident ghosts came out.
“I fell for its beauty, but behind the façade, it’s haunted” says Anwar. The spooky happenings started the day they moved in. And over time, they experienced everything from tapping on the walls and unexplained voices, to screaming in the passageways. Investigators of the paranormal activity were called in, but failed to solve the problem.In the end, the Rashids couldn’t take any more.The property went on the market again in October 2008 (at £2.75m, nearly £1m less than Anwar paid for it), and is now a conference centre rather than a private residence.
Thinking of selling or letting your home this Halloween?..
For a devilishly good service at frighteningly competitive rates please contact Claytons on
Need a property valuation?
Looking to Sell or Let Your Property? Book Your Free Property Valuation
Claytons blog was created to give light hearted but hopefully useful property related thoughts and advice.
David started his career at former family firm, Weller Hill Hubble aged 17. The company was later purchased by General Accident property services and David went on to become their youngest ever manager and Area Director. However, disenchanted with corporate life he decided to return to his old roots and start a personal, service driven Estate agency. In 1991 Claytons was born and has grown into one of Watfords most well known and successful businesses. Outside of work David , who still lives locally is married with 3 children and a cockapoo called Teddy.
