# Local Man Discovers His House Is Haunted, Immediately Tries to Sublet to Unsuspecting Roommate
Look, we’ve all been there. You’re scrolling through Zillow at 2 AM, questioning every life choice that led you to a shoebox apartment with “cozy” in the description, when you see it: a three-bedroom Victorian for $800 a month in this economy. The red flag is so bright it could guide ships to shore, but your wallet is already sweating and hitting “inquire now.”
Enter Chad, 32, of Portland, Oregon, who last week became the protagonist of a horror movie that’s also a cautionary tale about the rental market. According to a now-viral Reddit post on r/AskReddit, Chad bought a fixer-upper in October 2023 for a steal—$180,000—only to discover it came with a complimentary poltergeist who apparently didn’t sign the lease.
“I thought I was getting a good deal, bro,” Chad told local news, probably while vaping. “The realtor just said ‘previous owner passed away peacefully.’ I didn’t ask follow-ups. That’s on me.”
Here’s the kicker: Chad didn’t move out. He didn’t call a priest, a medium, or even a super with a crucifix. He went full capitalist and listed the spare room on Craigslist with the tagline: “Haunted Victorian, Cheap Rent, Must Be Cool With Ghosts. No, Seriously.”
The listing, which has since been screenshotted and memed into oblivion, reads like a fever dream written by a landlord who’s been hit in the head one too many times by a flying toaster. “Room available immediately. $400/month. Ghost is mostly friendly—just moves your stuff around and occasionally whispers your name at 3 AM. She’s really just looking for a friend. Or a sacrifice. YMMV.”
YMMV. Your mileage may vary. Because nothing says “I’ve accepted my mortality” like putting a spectral entity’s behavior in a disclaimer.
Reddit, of course, ate this alive. The top comment on the r/AmITheAsshole thread (because of course there’s one) reads: “YTA for not disclosing that the ghost has a history of opening cabinets aggressively at 2 AM. That’s a material defect, Chad. You’re gonna get sued.” Another user chimed in: “NTA. Rent is $400. I’d sleep in a coffin for $400. Sign me up, I’ll bring my Ouija board and a six-pack.”
But here’s where it gets spicy: Chad actually got a taker. A 24-year-old barista named Emily, who moved in last Thursday. Emily, who apparently has the survival instincts of a golden retriever, told reporters she was “excited to have a roommate who isn’t a dude with a god complex and a crypto portfolio.”
“I’m not scared,” Emily said, sipping a pumpkin spice latte because she’s contractually obligated to. “I grew up in a haunted house. My grandma used to talk to the dead. This is basically a vibe.”
The ghost, who Chad has named “Mildred” (because all ghosts are named Mildred, that’s just science), has reportedly been “pretty chill” so far. The worst incident? Mildred turned the thermostat down to 60 degrees at 4 AM. That’s not even scary, that’s just passive-aggressive. I’ve had roommates who did that and they were very much alive.
But here’s the real question that’s got the internet in a chokehold: Is Chad an asshole for trying to monetize a haunting? Or is he just a victim of the housing crisis who found a loophole?
Let’s break this down like we’re on Judge Judy.
First, Chad’s financial situation. Dude bought a house for $180k in Portland. In 2023. That’s basically a miracle. But he also bought a house with a “history.” The previous owner, a 78-year-old woman named Mildred (yes, really), died in the living room. She was found three days later by a mailman. The house sat on the market for eight months. Eight. Months. In this market. If that’s not a sign from God (or Satan), I don’t know what is.
Chad told the local paper that he “felt a connection” to the house. “It had good bones,” he said. “And a bad spirit. But you can’t have everything for $180k.”
Second, the ethics. Is it okay to pawn off a haunted room to some unsuspecting renter? I mean, he did disclose the ghost. That’s more than most landlords do for lead paint. The listing was transparent. He even added a “haunted house clause” to the lease: “Tenant acknowledges that the property may contain supernatural entities. Landlord is not responsible for lost socks, moved furniture, or existential dread.”
That’s legally binding, right? I’m not a lawyer, but I did watch one season of Suits.
Third, the ghost’s perspective. We haven’t heard from Mildred. Maybe she’s cool with it. Maybe she likes having a new friend. Or maybe she’s planning to yeet Emily down the stairs the first time she plays TikTok at full volume at 2 AM. We don’t know. But honestly, if I was a ghost stuck in a house with Chad and his aggressively beige IKEA furniture, I’d probably start throwing things too.
The internet is split, as always. Some people are calling Chad a “grifter” and a “parasite.” Others are saying he’s a genius. There’s a GoFundMe for Mildred’s “peaceful crossing” that’s raised $47. There’s a separate GoFundMe for Chad’s “emotional damage” that’s raised $0.
Local paranormal investigator group “Ghost Busters PDX” (
Final Thoughts
After decades of chasing shadows and debunking myths, I’ve come to see that the real ghost story isn’t about spectral figures in the dark—it’s about the human brain’s desperate need to make sense of loss, memory, and the unknown. We project our own unfinished business onto creaking floorboards and flickering lights, turning uncertainty into a narrative we can almost touch. Ultimately, the most haunting specter isn't the one that walks through walls, but the one we carry inside us: the persistent echo of questions that refuse to rest.