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Shunned 'unlucky' 13 sheltered houses get rebrand Shunned 'unlucky' 13 sheltered houses get rebrand
(about 11 hours later)
Sheltered housing properties bearing the number 13 are to be renumbered because they are proving harder to let.Sheltered housing properties bearing the number 13 are to be renumbered because they are proving harder to let.
Charnwood Borough Council in Leicestershire said records showed number 13s stood empty for longer, with one unoccupied since December 2014. Charnwood Borough Council in Leicestershire said number 13s stood empty for longer, with one unoccupied since December 2014.
The authority has 560 units across 14 developments which provide warden-controlled homes for the over 60s.The authority has 560 units across 14 developments which provide warden-controlled homes for the over 60s.
Councillor Paul Mercer, a member of the council's cabinet, said vacant properties would be renumbered 12A. Councillor Paul Mercer said vacant properties would be renumbered 12A, as reported in the Loughborough Echo.
Mr Mercer said the issue was spotted during a meeting to discuss maximising the use of sheltered housing.Mr Mercer said the issue was spotted during a meeting to discuss maximising the use of sheltered housing.
"We noticed that those with the number 13 were not actually being rented out and we concluded, I think correctly, that people didn't like the number 13," he said."We noticed that those with the number 13 were not actually being rented out and we concluded, I think correctly, that people didn't like the number 13," he said.
"If you look at some modern housing estates, they don't have a number 13, so obviously the market decides. Some people may like it, clearly the majority don't.""If you look at some modern housing estates, they don't have a number 13, so obviously the market decides. Some people may like it, clearly the majority don't."
Numbers gameNumbers game
Mr Mercer said occupied addresses would be unaltered and agreement would have to secured from the Royal Mail before changes were finalised. Mr Mercer said occupied addresses would be unaltered and agreement would have to be secured from the Royal Mail before changes were finalised.
While no other sheltered housing providers have reported a similar problem, the effect can be seen elsewhere.While no other sheltered housing providers have reported a similar problem, the effect can be seen elsewhere.
In January, a survey showed a private house numbered 13 typically sold for nearly £9,000 less than the average.In January, a survey showed a private house numbered 13 typically sold for nearly £9,000 less than the average.
Prof Bruce Hood, who studies developmental psychology at the University of Bristol, said: "Our brains seek patterns and try to link random or unconnected events - for example bad experiences with the number 13.Prof Bruce Hood, who studies developmental psychology at the University of Bristol, said: "Our brains seek patterns and try to link random or unconnected events - for example bad experiences with the number 13.
"It often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy - the rituals of sportspeople boost their confidence and therefore the performance - but also plays out in the housing market with people being less likely to buy a number 13 because it might be harder to sell.""It often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy - the rituals of sportspeople boost their confidence and therefore the performance - but also plays out in the housing market with people being less likely to buy a number 13 because it might be harder to sell."