A property where a murder took place has been put on the market by Hunters.
The property details state: “A crime has taken place at this property. Information on request.”
The particulars have been clearly drawn up with Consumer Protection Regulations in mind which mean that agents should not omit something which might put off viewers or buyers.
There has been a debate, so far untested in a court of law, as to whether something like a murder should be disclosed. The Property Ombudsman says it should be, but some lawyers have disagreed.
There is also disagreement at what stage such a disclosure should be made – at the earliest possible opportunity, before someone does any internet research on the property and before they ring up to book a viewing, during the viewing, or later.
Hunters has clearly opted for the earliest possible opportunity.
The property is a three-bedroom home combined with village shop and post office.
Robin Garbutt served customers before telling police that his wife Diana had been killed, claiming that armed robbers had done it.
In fact, Garbutt had beaten his wife to death. He was given a life sentence.
Hunters will be auctioning the property in the village of Melsonby, at York racecourse on July 30. It has a guide price of £130,000.
This is nothing new. Our firm did this many years ago where a husband had killed his wife. He was imprisoned and the property had to be sold. We had no problem mentioning it in the sales details and, of course, the property had been priced appropriately.
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Hi Mark. When you say the property 'had been priced appropriately' did you apply some sort of discount to the open market value in order to compensate for the murder that had taken place in the house? I have been asked on occasion about the 'value' of a property where something unpleasant has happened and I'm interested in how others approach the matter.
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Good question, I'd love to hear the answer too…
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I've sold two homes where, in both cases, the husband had murdered his wife, one of which even included the classic 'burying under the patio'. Neither property suffered in value I have to say and in fact one seemed to positively benefit (in terms of viewing numbers at least) as there were definitely a few 'sensitive types' that wanted to soak up the (macabre) atmosphere! There were of course a number of clients that wouldn't go near them!
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