New here - convinced my flat is haunted but partner thinks I'm losing it

Hi everyone, just joined because I'm genuinely concerned and my mates keep taking the piss. I've lived in my Croydon flat for about 18 months, and for the last few months weird stuff has been happening. Things moving, cold spots in the bedroom (even in summer), and I keep hearing footsteps when no one else is home.

My partner says it's just old pipes, dodgy foundations, and my imagination running wild. But this feels different. I'm not some conspiracy nut - I work in IT, I'm quite rational - but something isn't right.

Is there a section here for beginners where I can learn how to properly investigate without looking like a complete nutter? I don't want to start with full ghost-hunting kit if it's just me being paranoid about a creaky house.

Welcome to Quirk Reports! First thing - you're not mad, and this is one of the most common experiences people report. Cold spots can actually be investigated quite simply with a decent thermometer (nothing fancy needed, even a £15 one from Argos will do). Start a log: date, time, what you were doing, what you experienced. Sometimes the mundane explanation wins out, but sometimes it doesn't. The key is documentation.

Here's the uncomfortable truth: 95% of these cases are explainable by draughts, settling foundations, mice in the walls, or psychological suggestion. Your partner's skepticism is actually healthy. But if you want to rule things out properly, do some basic environmental monitoring first. Check for electrical interference (dodgy wiring can cause all sorts of weird sensations). See if the footsteps happen when traffic is heavy outside. Keep a diary for a month and see if there's a pattern.

Don't let anyone pressure you into buying expensive kit straightaway. Some of the best investigators started with just a notebook and a good torch. Post here with your experiences and we can help you work through what's likely mundane and what might warrant further investigation. Also, have you asked your neighbours if they've experienced anything similar? Sometimes entire buildings have strange reputations for solid reasons.