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Haunted Houses: The CT Statutes

Ed

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E
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I am selling a house and, in a rider, the purchaser requested information about this: (From the Connecticut General Statutes)...


PSYCHOLOGICALLY IMPACTED PROPERTY

Sec. 20-329cc. "Psychologically impacted" defined. As used in sections 20- 329cc to 20-329ff, inclusive, "psychologically impacted" means the effect of certain circumstances surrounding real estate which includes, but is not limited to: (1) The fact that an occupant of real property is, or was at any time suspected to be, infected or has been infected with the human immunodeficiency syndrome, as defined in section 19a- 581; or (2) the fact that the property was at any time suspected to have been the site of a homicide, other felony or a suicide

Sec. 20-329dd. Psychological impact. No disclosure required. No cause of action. (a) The existence of any fact or circumstance which may have a psychological impact on the purchaser or lessee is not a material fact that must be disclosed in a real estate transaction.(b) No cause of action shall arise against an owner of real estate, his or her agent or any agent of the transferee for the failure to disclose to the transferee that the transferred property was psychologically impacted, as defined in section 20-329cc.

Sec. 20-329ee. Purchaser or lessee written disclosure request. Notwithstanding sections 20-329cc and 20-329dd, if a purchaser or lessee of real estate, who was in the process of making a bona fide offer, advises an owner of real estate or his or her agent, in writing, that knowledge of a psychological impact is important to his decision to purchase or lease the property, the owner through his or her agent shall report any findings to the purchaser or lessee, in writing subject to and consistent with applicable laws of privacy. If the owner refuses to disclose such information, his or her agent shall so advise the purchaser or lessee in writing.
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It was ammended to get rid of the AIDs reference. Interesting, this is the "Haunted House" provision that I had heard about but never investigated until now.

The "request" that we received asks us to "represent that the Premises are not psychologically impacted". Aside from the silly notion that I can represent anything as never have been suspected of anything, I guess I understand the thrust of the statute. That is to say that people want to hear the stories about a house before they buy. What do you think?
 
Actually, to me this seems like a great little statute. I love the idea that a haunting will devalue a property or make it less desirable.

It's like a thinking person's discount.

Plus, if it turns out to be true, that's a cool million if you can get those rascally ghosts to prove themselves!




(I have seen some properties that are "Psychologically" imapacted with depressing wallpaper and carpet. Scary.)
 
Ed said:
...What do you think?
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I think that you really should disclose the info about that invisible fire-breathing dragon in your garage.


Seriously now, I wonder if a "haunting" would devalue the property or raise the value? I say this because back in my woo days, I would have killed to live in a haunted house. I'm sure I wasn't the only one.
That's it, make up some ghostie story and then advertise the house for sale nationwide. You'll probably make a mint.*



* Forgive me. I'm overtired and I think my caffeinated beverage is malfunctioning.
 
Just think of all the trouble Craig T. Nelson and his family could have avoided if he had thought to ask the right questions before buying his house (in Poltergeist).
 
gkat said:
Plus, if it turns out to be true, that's a cool million if you can get those rascally ghosts to prove themselves!
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If it were true a million would be as nothing after I open Ed's Ghostland(tm).
 
I think that you might be reading the statute wrong - as if it's a warning label to prevent innocent buyers from living in a haunted house. My wife was in Real Estate for a few years and this was actually a topic of discussion on a couple of occasions... I'll pass along her opinion. (As I recall it.)

Owning a home that is notorious because of historical or recent events can have an impact on resale value due to privacy issues... some people don't want to own a home that's got a "history" like that because of all the questions they'll get from the neighbors, etc. Also, potential buyers may simply feel uncomfortable with the idea of living in a place where a murder or suicide was committed. This also has an impact on resale value.

As far as having reputation of being "haunted" goes, that can also have an impact on resale.

There are a lot of people who believe in ghosts; and there are probably a lot of people who are agnostic about it in the sense that they haven't formed a firm opinion either way. Both sets might shy away from buying a "haunted" house, also affecting the resale opportunities.

As far as I'm concerned, since it's a condition (perceived or real) that can affect property value in the eyes of a prospective buyer, I think the statute is appropriate. :)
 
jmercer said:
I think that you might be reading the statute wrong - as if it's a warning label to prevent innocent buyers from living in a haunted house. My wife was in Real Estate for a few years and this was actually a topic of discussion on a couple of occasions... I'll pass along her opinion. (As I recall it.)

Owning a home that is notorious because of historical or recent events can have an impact on resale value due to privacy issues... some people don't want to own a home that's got a "history" like that because of all the questions they'll get from the neighbors, etc. Also, potential buyers may simply feel uncomfortable with the idea of living in a place where a murder or suicide was committed. This also has an impact on resale value.

As far as having reputation of being "haunted" goes, that can also have an impact on resale.

There are a lot of people who believe in ghosts; and there are probably a lot of people who are agnostic about it in the sense that they haven't formed a firm opinion either way. Both sets might shy away from buying a "haunted" house, also affecting the resale opportunities.

As far as I'm concerned, since it's a condition (perceived or real) that can affect property value in the eyes of a prospective buyer, I think the statute is appropriate. :)
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Of course. But it is impossible to be inside of a person's mind and know what the motivation is: resale or ghosts. In any event, everythig can sell it is a question of price. I don't have a problem with the stature except that one cannot know if a felony was commited on a piece of property.
 
Jmercer's response actually makes a lot of sense in reference to "murder houses" and such.

In fact, even if a house is notorious for having a devil baby ghost, the public's foolish perception can impact the real price.

But as I said above, knowing would give you negotiation leverage and, Ed's Ghostland(tm) notwithstanding, a lower price.

My point being that the statute isn't crazy, people are.
 
I guess if you sold a house to some big time woos and they perceived the house was haunted, and then found out there'd been a murder in the house for instance - in this litigious world there is every chance they'd sue because they hadn't been told.
 
Dubium said:
I guess if you sold a house to some big time woos and they perceived the house was haunted, and then found out there'd been a murder in the house for instance - in this litigious world there is every chance they'd sue because they hadn't been told.
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Which - unless my memory is playing me false - has actually been done. :)
 
jmercer said:
Which - unless my memory is playing me false - has actually been done. :)
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Amityville is about 12 miles south of me. The neighbors are sick of all the geeks who flock to see the "horror" house.
 
Jeff Corey said:
Amityville is about 12 miles south of me. The neighbors are sick of all the geeks who flock to see the "horror" house.
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Heh... used to have friends who lived 3 blocks away... and knew the then-current inhabitants. According to our friends, these poor people were pestered continually by everything from people taking pictures of the house to idiots who would ring the doorbell and ask for a tour.

:D
 
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