Best practises for investigating haunted Victorian properties

I've been invited to investigate a Victorian townhouse in Notting Hill that's been experiencing persistent poltergeist activity - objects moving, sounds, temperature fluctuations, the usual. The property's been empty for two years (surveyor wouldn't even complete the inspection) and the owners are desperate.

I've done smaller domestic investigations before but nothing on this scale. The building's five storeys, multiple rooms, and I suspect the activity might be concentrated in the basement and top floor based on previous reports. What's the best approach for mapping paranormal hotspots in a space this large? Should I be doing grid searches, or following the activity?

Also, what's your experience with Victorian properties specifically? I've read that the era's combination of structural materials and emotional trauma creates ideal conditions for hauntings, but I'm not sure if that's genuine paranormal theory or just folklore.

Victorian properties are classically haunted because of several factors: older construction materials (horsehair plaster, lead pipes) can act as electromagnetic conduits, plus the emotional density of those periods (industrial era, poverty, domestic violence) left genuine imprints. Start with baseline EMF readings throughout the entire property before anything else - that'll show you where energy concentrations are.

Grid searching is your friend. Divide the property into zones, take readings (EMF, temperature, audio baseline) in each zone, then compare data afterwards. More scientific that way. Also, don't go alone - have at least one witness for all observations. Corroboration matters massively when you're investigating poltergeist activity.

objects moving, sounds, temperature fluctuations

Basements and top floors are classic poltergeist zones - basements because they're closest to the earth (higher paranormal conductivity) and top floors because energy rises. Document everything with photos and audio. Victorian properties often have interesting architectural quirks that affect sound propagation - you might be hearing normal sounds bouncing weird off old floorboards.

Get permission in writing from the owners before you investigate. Cover yourself legally. Also bring proper equipment - don't rely on cheap eBay meters. A decent EMF detector (£80-120), infrared thermometer, and audio recorder will give you actual data rather than guesswork.

The Notting Hill area has some genuinely active paranormal hotspots. That part of London's got centuries of layered history. Be respectful but thorough. Victorian properties often have territorial spirits - establish communication protocols before you start physically investigating.