Homes belonging to singer Adele, TOWIE star James Argent and even the Royal Family have been said to have problems with the paranormal.
And if potentially house sharing with ghosts wasn’t enough of a concern, there’s a brewing conversation around whether this kind of activity should be disclosed when owners come to sell.
Complete guidance on Material Information parts A, B, and C has been live in the property industry since November 2023.
While Estate Agents have been working hard to get up to speed, questions about what is needed to stay compliant remain.
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
To support agents and their clients, iamproperty investigated the crucial details often missed when providing Material Information as well as whether it is a legal requirement to disclose paranormal activity.
The question comes as singer-songwriter Adele recently revealed she suspected the home she lived in for six months was haunted following a series of spooky encounters.
Similarly, TOWIE star James Argent recently appeared on Discovery+’s ‘Help! My House Is Haunted’ after claiming he was sharing his home with the ghost of a notorious criminal from the 1730s.
Even Buckingham Palace, which King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to call home from 2027, is said to be haunted by the ghost of a monk.
The problem isn’t just affecting the rich, famous and royalty though. Social site Reddit has been inundated with posts from homeowners revealing ghostly encounters in their new homes – an issue they weren’t aware of until the sale was complete.
HAUNTED HOUSE
One user (@RemonterLeTemps) revealed: “I live in a Haunted House now, and I pretty much know ‘who’ the ghost is, after having done some research, and experiencing a few incidents. I’ve also had a contractor see her coming down the staircase, dressed in 1920s attire. Completely unfazed by the experience (he’d apparently seen spirits in other houses as well), he said he felt she was just checking on his work; apparently satisfied, she vanished!”
But as estate agents continue to get to grips with the requirements for Material Information, is it a legal obligation to disclose paranormal activity?
In short, no, but there are other undesirable criteria which may not be on the radar that agents should be disclosing. These include problems with Japanese knotweed; a planned flight path nearby or one which is planned; neighbours who have anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs); any known burglaries in the neighbourhood and any history of neighbourhood disputes.
ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN
Ben Ridgway, Co-Founder at iamproperty, says: “Complete guidance on Material Information parts A, B, and C has been live in the property industry since 2023, but many homes across the UK continue to be listed with incomplete Material Information.
“While agents have been working hard to get up to speed, there are still some barriers to overcome – mainly the administrative burden. I’ve always said that Material Information can be a huge opportunity for agents and the industry, but only with the right tech in place to take care of the admin.
“Our movebutler solution is designed to support agents by helping to provide all NTSELAT compliant Material Information upfront.
“We’ve recently enhanced the solution with Premium Conveyancing, offering a much-needed service for a speedier Private Treaty sale by ensuring properties are exchange-ready faster. So, whether it’s disclosing a client’s neighbourhood disputes or planned flight paths, agents can find peace of mind knowing movebutler will provide agents with the tools they need to stay compliant.”
