Tenants creeped out by 'noises' in basement make terrifying discovery behind locked door

When 10 housemates heard strange, unexplainable noises coming from their basement, they feared the property was haunted – but the reality was arguably more terrifying.

As well as hearing noises and alarms, the students also found drawers left open in the kitchen and bathroom and lights switched on in rooms they hadn't been in.

Curious and scared, they followed the sounds to the basement, where they found a locked door.

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One of the housemates, Mark Hartman, told ABC News: "A few times, when my roommate Brett was down there, he would hear noises. But, when he tried to turn the handle on a door located in the basement, it was always locked."

Then, while investigating in the basement again, Brett was shocked to find a mystery man.

Mark said Brett, who was understandably freaked out, asked the man who he was, adding: "The guy said his name was Jeremy but wouldn't answer Brett's questions and just walked out of the house.”

With the help of the police, the eight young men and two women eventually forced the door open, only to find a lived-in bedroom complete with photos, books, a TV and clothes.

The Ohio State University students were struck with the realisation that Jeremy had been living in their basement without paying rent, using a side door to get in, evading detection.

It transpired that his cousin had lived in the house the year before, which is how he got into the property in the first place.

The chilling discovery was made at the property in Columbus, Ohio, in 2013.

Leasing company NorthSteppe Reality changed the locks the night he was discovered, but the students were concerned the company had not noticed someone squatting in their property.

The landlord posted a note on the house, asking Jeremy to call them. He got in touch later that evening before moving his belongings out of the room.

He had access to a bathroom in the basement along with a sink, which he could have used to do his laundry. The students did not believe he ate any their food or went in their rooms.

Mark told The Lantern.com: “They hadn’t changed the locks from the year before and the keys do not say ‘do not duplicate’. There could be hundreds of people with keys to the house. We are hoping for discounted rent for a few months. We've talked to student legal services.”

Jeremy turned out to be a “nice enough guy”, according to another housemate, Jimmy Alderman. He added: “It was a dangerous situation. It could definitely have been a lot worse.”