Well, it's based on a true - ish story. The novel by Shirley Jackson took some elements from real - life tales of haunted places. The show then adapted it further. There are elements like the house having a sort of malevolent presence, which could be related to stories of houses where people reported feeling an unexplainable sense of dread. But of course, a lot of it is fictionalized for the sake of creating a good horror story.
Well, it is based on a true story. Shirley Jackson, the author, was known for her interest in the supernatural. There were rumors and local tales about haunted houses, and she incorporated elements of those into the story. For example, some of the strange occurrences described in the book might have been based on stories she picked up from the places she lived or visited. So, overall, it has roots in real - life stories about the spooky and unexplained.
The Haunting of Hill House is purely fictional. It was crafted by the imagination of the writers and not based on any real events or people. However, it might draw inspiration from common horror tropes and themes.