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This is probably a noobish question (I'm only 1 week into TES).

I want to know if it's possible to steal a dead NPC's house and use it as your own (why pay big gold to "buy" when you can "steal"?). I've heard that some places "refresh" after awhile, and you can lose all your stuff stored there. But here's what I'm thinking:

I got Glarthir's key before I drove him to getting himself killed. Now that he's gone forever and I've got his key, I can sneak into his house and use it anytime -- right? (obviously I need to hide the stolen key somewhere whenever I'm away, lest the guards take it whenever I get busted next). It's a really nice place, and it's got containers and lotsa books. I just need to be careful going in (mostly at night when Sneak is maximum effect).

Anyone out there ever try this? Does your stuff ever disappear, or can this place be used? Any other places I might try to "move into"?

Containers are set to respawn. That way you can loot them again, & again... That is why stuff dissappears. It is also helps make sure you get the most current leveled loot.

If you do not own a container, as in bought the house upgrade for it, then it will respawn.

There is an exception. Most containers that are directly part of a quest, will not respawn, otherwise the quest related item would dissappear.

If you take everything out of a chest, and put in one item, then leave for at least 3 game days (73 hours +), and come back, if the item you put in is still there, the contaier is safe.

Another way to beat this, is you have to be out of the cell, for 3 game days (72 hours) for the container to reset. Just make sure you visit that house/container as much as possible, so it will not respawn. Keep in mind, if you are questing, and it takes 73 hours to get back, you loose your stuff. A little to risky for me.

You can place items on the floor. items on the floor do not respawn, or get stolen. This is not totally safe, as gravety sometimes sucks items into the floor. Especially staffs. A little to risky for me as well.

Or join a guild. Easy.

i know that in morrowind you could do this but i dont think it works in oblivion. sorry, you may just need to buy a house.

Indeed, as Jeff pointed out it's rarely safe. If you don't want to spend a lot of money you should purchase the Shack in the Imperial City. It costs an initial 2000 Septims with a further 400 Septims for upgrades and while it's by no means flashy (it is in the Waterfront...) it serves the purpose of storage. Then if you need anything just jump to the Waterfront when necessary and use other homes for sleeping in on a more regular basis (and for taking regenerating loot <3). Personally I'd say if you're going to invest in buying all of the Shack's upgrades you might as well save up for a proper house.

Thanks, all.

One problem with buying a house, though: nobody likes me enough to sell one to me.

Right now I have Fame=5 for Kvatch and Infamy=1 for accidentally shooting a friendly NPC that came running right at me outside of Chorrol (that's what the bad guys normally do, right?).

I've bribed, played pursuasion, etc., and I still can't get the owners of the houses to say more than "Come back when we're better friends".

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Houses

Some of the houses you need a higher fame. I know that you do for the Chorrol & Skingrad ones.

On another note. From what I read. From a fairly reliable source. The Knights of the White Stallion house is safe for Storage. They checked the CS, and said that the containers do not respawn. I also verified that they are not set to respawn.

I also did a CS Check on Glarthirs House.

All of the Containers are set to respawn items, except three.

They are the three that are locked.

I would reccomend doing a test, just to be sure that you have the correct three.

maybe locked chests are always set to respawn. just a thought.