A beach hut has gone up for sale for a whopping £325,000 – and it doesn’t even face the sea.
The front of the 16ft by 10ft wooden cabin on the exclusive Mudeford Spit in Christchurch, Dorset, points inland with a view over a lagoon.
The back faces towards the sea, but there are some other huts in the way that prevent an uninterrupted view. The hut also lacks a toilet or washing facilities.
Meanwhile, a six-bedroom house in Manchester with four bathrooms and off road parking was recently listed on Zoopla for £320,000.
The hut already has a waiting list and is expected it to be snapped up quickly thanks to Covid-related demand for staycations and Brexit making it more complicated to buy holiday homes on the Continent.
The front of the 16ft by 10ft wooden cabin (circled) on the exclusive Mudeford Spit in Christchurch, Dorset, points inland with a view over a lagoon. The back faces towards the sea, but there is another hut in the way
The back faces towards the sea, but there are some other huts in the way that prevent an uninterrupted view. The site has been fitted out with a modern kitchen that includes a fridge and running water via an electric pump
The view from the front of the hut, which looks towards the estuary. The building is situated on the exclusive Mudeford Spit in Christchurch, Dorset
The rear of the beach hut, left, and a six-bedroom house in Manchester with four bathrooms and off road parking that was recently listed on Zoopla for £320,000
It was built a few years ago to replace the original hut that stood on the same site. It can sleep seven people, with three beds downstairs on converted seating and four in the loft space.
The site has been fitted out with a modern kitchen that includes a fridge and running water via an electric pump both powered by solar panels on the roof. There is also an oven connected to a gas bottle.
But it has no toilet or washing facilities. Instead the new owners will have to share a communal shower block.
Andy Denison, of local estate agents Denisons, said: ‘We had a glorious summer last year and demand for beach huts went through the roof. We saw a 10 per cent increase in the value of them.
‘We are expecting a similar demand this year, especially now that the roadmap out of lockdown has been released. We do have a waiting list of people wanting a hut so they don’t usually hang around for long.’
The Mudeford sandbank is home to the most expensive beach huts in Britain.
Buyers are attracted by its incredibly remote location from which cars are banned. To get there requires a 30 minute walk, a ride on a novelty land train or a short ferry trip across Christchurch Harbour.
Its sandy beach looks out over Christchurch Bay and to The Needles on the Isle off Wight.
The view of the lagoon from the front of the hut, which includes a large wooden terrace for alfresco dining and drinks
The hut was built a few years ago to replace the original hut that stood on the same site. It can sleep seven people, with three beds downstairs on converted seating and four in the loft space
The upstairs bedroom in the attic. There are solar panels on top of the roof which power the hut’s electric appliances
As it is impossible to secure a mortgage for the beach huts, would-be owners have to be cash-buyers. They also have to stump up £4,500 a year to the local council in ground rent.
Last year, a nearby beach-hut went for £330,000 in what was believed to be one of the highest prices ever for one in Britain.
Four potential buyers put in offers on the 12ft by 10ft hut – two of them without even viewing it. The final sale price smashes the record amount paid for a beach hut on the exclusive sandy peninsula.
The prices of Mudeford beach huts seems have been steadily increasing over the years, as the most expensive hut of 2012 sold for a comparatively small £170,000 in just two days of going on the market.
The average UK home costs £249,633, according to the latest government data.
There are about 360 beach huts on the Mudeford peninsula and they are all privately owned.
It is possible to stay in them fro April through to October.
Mr Denison said: ‘While we don’t think these beach huts will satisfy people who want a retirement home in the sun they will suit those looking for a UK holiday home.’
The Mudeford sandbank is home to the most expensive beach huts in Britain. Buyers are attracted by its incredibly remote location from which cars are banned
The new owner will need to walk to the public toilets to spend a penny because the hut has no toilets or washing facilities
Last year, a nearby beach hut (pictured) went for £330,000 in what was believed to be one of the highest prices ever for one in Britain