SCARY PROPERTY PRICES

Barri Ghai, Sandy Lakdar and Chris Fleming

18 June 2018

In the midst of peak house buying season, a new study reveals that haunted houses sell for 17% less than the UK average, knocking a staggering £38,574 off the average UK property price

Findings could severely affect 23% of the population (6.26 million households) who believe their house is haunted

Half of Brits (55%) say theyd be put off buying a house if they suspected spooky goings on

Public reveal the bizarre techniques theyve used to ward off evil spirits their homes; from performing banishing spells to burning sage

The groundbreaking study from leading statistician Dr Geoff Ellis was commissioned to celebrate the new series Help! My House is Haunted, airing weekly on Fridays at 10pm on TV channel Really

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With the property market busiest during the summer months, a groundbreaking new study has revealed that haunted houses and properties linked to supernatural phenomena are likely to lose 17% of their value; equal to a staggering £38,574 of the average UK property price when it comes to selling.

The world first paranormal property study was specially commissioned by TV channel Really to celebrate the new series Help! My House is Haunted airing weekly on Fridays at 10pm and available to stream on UKTV Play.

The research team led by acclaimed statistician Dr Geoff Ellis analysed the sale price of 25 British haunted houses that have been sold in the last 50 years and compared the sale prices to those of similar properties (in terms of location and style) without any supernatural history. The findings were then supplemented with further detail from a poll of 2000 British adults to give a compelling overview of the real cost of owning a haunted house in the UK today.

The gloomy findings are set to send a shockwave through the 23% of British adults who believe their houses are haunted, equating to a staggering 6.26 million households witnessing a scary depreciation in price.

The study revealed that well over half of the respondents (55%) say theyd be put off buying a haunted house, whilst 28% of British property buyers have felt a spooky presence when viewing a house, which has put them off buying.

Shockingly nearly half of the country (49%) admit that they have experienced some form of unexplained paranormal activity, with the most commonly reported occurrences being: hearing unexplained noises or whispers (23%), pets acting weirdly (18%), strange shadows (18%), lights turning on and off (14%), or furniture moving unexpectedly (9%).

In the UK, June, July and August are the busiest months for property transactions as buyers flood onto the market, spurred on by the good weather.

Given the results, it was perhaps unsurprising to find that three quarters of Brits (78%) polled would lie to their estate agent to cover up the fact their house was haunted to avoid the financial consequences.

Adam Collings, channel director of UKTV Really, said:

Its staggering how much money could be wiped-off the value of your property, should you feel your house is haunted; and eye-opening to see just how many of us have experienced spooky goings-on at home. The research suggests its probably a good idea to keep your eyes peeled for paranormal activity when viewing a property, as your new house could become a very bad investment when you come to sell it, should it be found to be haunted.

Some of the bizarre tactics Brits have used to try and rid their homes of ghosts or spirits include talking to them directly (13%), cleansing the house of bad energy by lighting candles (8%) and having a religious figure bless their house (7%). Five percent of Brits also claim to have performed a banishing spell to encourage unwanted spooky residents to leave a property and the same number have resorted to a technique called smudging, which involves burning sage to ward off evil spirits.

The study revealed that six in ten (60%) Brits believe in ghosts and a third (39%) have reported seeing a ghost. A staggering 67% also claim to know someone whos experienced some sort of paranormal activity. In fact, 64% of Brits believe their pets can see ghosts or spirits that humans arent able to.

The most likely area in the home to see a ghost is under the stairs, reported by 44% of those whove seen a ghost in their property. Other rooms that rank highly for ghost sightings include the hallway (40%), bathroom (33%), cellar and bedroom (19%).

Brits have also experienced feelings in the home that have given them the creeps including: the feeling that someone else is in an empty room with them (24%), the feeling of being watched (22%) and hairs standing up on the back of their neck for no apparent reason (17%).

New series Help! My House is Haunted on TV channel Really, features leading experts in the paranormal Barri Ghai, Sandy Lakdar and Chris Fleming from the UK, US and France respectively, who come to the aid of homeowners across Europe who fear their house is haunted. To celebrate the new series, theyve provided their top tips for Brits to look out for, if they suspect their house to be haunted.

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10 top signs your house might be haunted: 1. Feeling of being watched when alone

2. Feeling a sudden and inexplicable change in temperature; or a sudden static/electrical charge in the air

3. Household objects mysteriously disappearing and then reappearing in different places

4. Hearing unexplained whispers, footsteps, thuds or someone calling your name

5. Seeing shadows or movements out the corner of your eye

6. Frequent electrical problems; such as lights inexplicably turning on or off, or appliances not working or acting up

7. Feeling of being touched by unseen hands

8. Unusual smells such as unexplained perfume scents, flowers, cigars, cigarettes, food or even the stench of death & decay

9. Waking up un

LINK:	https://corporate.uktv.co.uk/article/scary-property-prices/...
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