A unique three-bedroom house in Middleton, Leeds, United Kingdom, is on the market for a mere £125,000 ($172,000). Yet, potential buyers are deterred by an unusual feature in the backyard. The former owner, who loved the location of the home, had a dying wish to be buried in the backyard – the place where he was born and died.
Zoopla, an online property platform, features a profile of the home that explicitly states the deceased former owner’s family fulfilled his request to be buried in the backyard. Consequently, Leeds City Council has rented a section of the yard to serve as a burial site.
The Zoopla profile reads, “Please be aware this property is being sold by family members as part of a relative’s estate. It was the deceased’s wish to be buried in the garden as he was born and died in the house. The wish has been carried out, and the property will be sold as-is.”
Along with the peculiar revelation of the deceased’s burial in the backyard, the online description highlights the house’s features:
“Three bedroom end terrace with double glazing and eco-friendly heating including gas boiler, solar panels, and also the facility to power the heating from the wood-burning stove in the living room. The accommodation briefly provides an entrance hall, living room with wood stove, sliding doors to the conservatory, ‘pine’ fitted dining kitchen, three good size bedrooms, and the bathroom having a white suite. Outside there is a shared drive and parking to the front of the house and a garden to the rear with storage/wood sheds. We have been advised that part of the garden is currently rented from the Leeds City Council. No onward chain.”
Located about four miles from the Leeds City Center, the property could be an ideal home for a young family. However, the thought of having the former owner buried in the backyard may repel potential buyers.
Social media users expressed their shock and aversion to the idea, sharing their reactions on Twitter.
One user exclaimed, “F***ing hell that is mental.”
Another user questioned, “What on earth?”
A third user humorously remarked, “All in all, I’d be more inclined to grow roses than potatoes.”
Daily Mail readers also shared their thoughts on the story.
One reader commented, “We’re probably all living on top of previous inhabitants of the earth, just some more recent than others.”
Another reader reasoned, “He’d 6 foot down so hardly going to be a problem to a lawnmower. What would certainly put me off is the shared parking and access – that’s a recipe for disaster.”
A third reader explained, “This wouldn’t bother me for the reasons it would bother most people. I’m not superstitious, don’t believe in ghosts, etc. But I would be concerned with two things. The first would be privacy. Does the family of the deceased expect to be allowed to traipse through the garden as and when they please to visit the grave? And secondly, the grave would mean restrictions on what work is done in the garden.”
In this unusual real estate story, the backyard burial has become the talk of the town, demonstrating that even in death, a person’s attachment to their home can continue to make headlines.
Source: AWM
