Having worked in the house-building industry for over a decade and now as a freelance property writer I am fascinated to hear what becomes of ‘stigmatised’ homes – these are properties which may be shunned by buyers because of their association with negative events, including suicide, murder or paranormal activity. 


Last week it was revealed that the cottage where Mark Bridger murdered five-year old April Jones was to be put up for rent again after the Local Authority allegedly refused to buy it and knock it down.

But with April’s abduction and murder still so raw in everyone’s mind, who would want to rent a property knowing it had been the site of such a horrific cirme?


Homes where particularly shocking and emotive crimes have occurred are frequently demolished - partly out of respect of the family and also to allow a grieving community to move on.

Who could forget the iron mongered sign of 25 Cromwell Street in Gloucester that became synonymous with the names of serial killers Fred and Rosemary West?

Dubbed as the ‘house of horrors’, the world’s press focussed on this unremarkable terraced home as it gave up the remains of nine victims, including their own daughter.

In view of the media attention and recognising that very few would want to live in a house with such a notorious past, in October 1996 Gloucester City Council had the house and adjoining property demolished. In its place an innocuous footpath was laid to the city centre.

More recently the home in Derby where six children tragically died in a fire caused by their parents Mick and Mairead Philpott was demolished. The plan is to build more housing on the site.

Whilst the home where 12-year old Tia Sharp was murdered by her grandmother’s partner, Stuart Hazell, was also knocked down to give way for new housing.

But what happens to less well known homes where dark events take place? A slap of fresh paint and back on the market?


Well up until very recently this appears to be the case as it was up to the vendor to decide whether to disclose details.


However, under new guidelines by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) introduced earlier this year, agents, sellers and landlords must now disclose all manner of skeletons in the closet, ranging from problem neighbours to whether the home has been the location of a serious crime.

 
For me personally, houses don’t commit crimes, people do. However whilst I would have no problem living in a house where someone died of natural causes, if the home had been the scene of a particularly unsettling crime, I would definitely have concerns. 

 
How would you feel about living in a home with a horrible history? Perhaps you have even had experience of living in a stigmatised home or know someone who has?

Let me know below or email me direct at melissa_blamey@hotmail.co.uk