House with a past.

jodami84

I know that if you dig deep enough you will unearth a something in the past of any house, but we have just discovered that the reason for the sale of the house we have had an offer accepted on is because of one of the owners being jailed.

Tbh this doesn't bother me. I dont believe it to be a rough area, but the crime was regarding a dispute and the man possessing a firearm. Apparently he was in an unstable mental condition.

My concerns, albeit only small, are that by purchasing the property we could become involved in whatever the dispute was. This happened over a year ago so i would hope that its all in the past.
Also I wouldn't want the fella to come back when he was released.

Playing on my mind at present and dont know if my doubts are unfounded. A large part of me says there is nothing to worry about, but it is niggling me a little.

Bar digging around the neighbours, is there another way of finding about any dispute?

zara*elise

Have you tried the crime map? http://www.police.uk/

That should give you more of an indication of the area and numbers of incidents. Would probably be a good idea to ask neighbours what the area's like too

jodami84

Thanks for that link.

We dont live far from the area as it stands and think we know it well enough not to be worried overall.

Think speaking to the neighbours may be best.

daisymay2008

In this circumstance I wouldn't, it's not like he's been jailed for nicking mars bars....

if firearms were involved it tends to suggest it was something quite heavy, I would be worried that past enemies of his may target your house, or like you said if he is truely a basket case he may cause problems on his release

melancholly

i'd just find out what you can and then make a decision. no point any of us suggesting vast criminal gangs attacking your home without really knowing what went on!

daisymay2008

melancholly wrote: »

i'd just find out what you can and then make a decision. no point any of us suggesting vast criminal gangs attacking your home without really knowing what went on!

yes, however if he is actually been convicted and is serving a sentence it'll be hard to get the truth even from neighbours, the police won't be releasing details to the OP due to data protection issues, I'm just saying if firearms are mentioned it would put me off but there again i have a young family so just wouldn't want to take the risk....

likewise it could have been a one off and they won't get any bother at the house at all

Ronaldo_Mconaldo

Who would be selling the house in this situation anyway? I mean who would you be buying it from?

Jenniefour

Because it's been to court the case will be in the public domain - search through past local newpapers for information that might help you make a decision.

jodami84

Went to see both neighbours and they were really nice. Couldnt hve been more helpful. It seems that there in fact wasnt a dispute, but that the man had gone off the rails slightly when his wife left and needed help. Both sides said there had been nothing untoward going on since.

We would be buying the property from his wife.

Dug out the newspaper stuff, and whilst its not an ideal thing to have to think about, we love the house and think we should go ahead and make sure this is just something buried in the past

snowberry

You'll be buying a house with a past; but you're making it your home. Put your stamp inside and out, do the garden up & sit back & relax!

gordonbennet

Sounds absolutely fine to me! Someone can be 'done' for fire arms offences for having an old pistol from the second world war lying around in their wardrobe, or holding a shot gun without a licence. Doesn't need to taint your new home! (Someone I know bought a house years ago and wondered what was up when people kept saying "oh you are brave to live there..." Turned out someone was murdered in the house and it had been in all the papers! They'd wondered why it was so cheap....)