A frightening 17 million adults in the UK say they have had a paranormal experience in their own home, representing 27% of the population, according to research by Ocean Finance.

These paranormal experiences included seeing ghost-like figures (9% of people), orbs (6%), unexplained movement of objects (7%) and inexplicable noises (13%).

Women are more likely to say that they have had a paranormal encounter than men (30% of women, compared to 25% of men) with just over three million more women claiming they have witnessed a supernatural presence inside their home.

Freaked out

Unusual experiences do not just occur in your own home. Many people say that a ‘strange feeling’ has also affected their choice to buy or rent a particular home when viewing a property.

Common ‘strange feelings’ which have occurred when viewing a property include the house feeling cold, eerie, or dark, nearly 20% of people decided to buy or rent a property due to a negative feeling.

On the other hand, a greater proportion of renters or buyers report that some properties have an unexplained “positive vibe” making it seem cosy, warm and inviting. A quarter of people have decided to buy or rent a home because of a positive feeling when viewing it.

Ian Williams, from Ocean Finance, said: “During this spooky season it’s interesting to find out that many people take into account their emotional response to a property when deciding whether it’s going to be their new home.

“Perhaps it is reassuring that the vast majority of us don’t think that our homes are haunted. But it’s still surprising that quite so many people do believe they share their home with ‘something else’. Those with a rational approach might point towards noisy plumbing or creaky floorboards as more likely explanations. Either way, luckily mortgage lenders don’t yet require people to disclose non-living residents!”