Splash out by the sea: Dorset beach hut on sale for record £300k — but it has no toilet or electricity
Many of us fantasise about waking up to the sight of the sea, but few can afford the record-breaking £300,000 price tag slapped on to a tiny Dorset beach hut with no toilet or mains electricity.
Found at the end of the popular Mudeford Spit near the historic town of Christchurch, the timber-built Hut 475 measures just 18ft by 11ft but can sleep up to six people comfortably in the living space and mezzanine level.
Lighting is provided by solar panels on the roof while in the kitchen, the oven runs on gas bottles, the fridge is battery-powered and the tap water comes from a pump.
The nearest communal toilet and shower block is a couple of minutes’ stroll away.
It is exclusively for use by hut owners and cleaned by the council.
One of the main attractions of Hut 475 is its large decking area for watching the sun rise over breakfast and enjoying a glass of wine as it sets again on a balmy summer’s evening.
There is also a large area under the hut which has previously been used to store a RIB boat.
Overnight stays are allowed from March to October — unusual for a beach hut — with owners able to rent huts out for more than £1,000 per week during peak holiday season.
Bear in mind, however, that council tax is £500 per year and ground rent is approximately £2,500 per year.
The spit can be accessed in 20 minutes on foot from parking available at Hengistbury Head, along which there are numerous lovely beachside, clifftop and harbour-side pathways.
There is a land train that runs regularly and a ferry during peak season, weather permitting.
If you need to transport furniture, kayaks etc, it may be possible to bring your car directly to the spit, but this is subject to prior arrangement with the council.
The nearest station is in Christchurch, just over a mile away, with direct routes to London Waterloo taking just under two hours. Other stations a touch further afield include Hinton Admiral and Pokesdown.
Rules and restrictions:
- The Mudeford Sand Spit beach huts can be used 365 days a year
- Between November 1 and February 28 (February 29 on a leap year) the huts cannot be used between 11pm and 5am
- Reduced council tax is paid on the huts, usually around £500 per year.
- There is also a ground rent/licence fee which depends on the size of the hut but can reach £4,000.
- Beach huts can only be bought by cash buyers because they do not count as habitable dwellings.
- Beach huts are exempt from stamp duty but owners must pay a £15,000 transfer fee when they sell.
- They can be insured, with insurers offering cover on the hut and its contents.
Charles Dancer, property negotiator at Denisons estate agents, who are marketing the beach hut, believes it stands to become the most expensive in the UK because of its “prime position” on the sought-after spit.
Being the last in the row of 350 huts, Hut 475 benefits from extra space to the side that, although not private, can be used by the owner.
“These huts give people the opportunity to enjoy our beautiful coastline all through the year,” he says.
“Obviously, they are primarily used in spring and summer, but many of the hut owners I know love spending time there in the winter months too, using the hut as a cosy haven.”
The previous owners have “thoroughly enjoyed” Hut 475 for 15 years but have decided to sell now that their children are older and not using it as much.
They feel it is time to let someone else enjoy it and take on a new adventure.
Denisons have dealt with the majority of huts that have sold on the spit and, as such, have a large database of active buyers waiting for the perfect hut to come to market.
There have been “numerous” enquiries for this hut so far, says Dancer, mainly from families wanting to take advantage of the sea views towards the Isle of Wight.
To put the eye-watering cost into perspective, other properties currently listed for the same price in the surrounding area include a luxury new-build apartment and a three-bedroom semi-detached house, while the same amount could buy you a one-bedroom flat in an outer zone of London.
In Yorkshire, you could buy a five-bedroom family home.
Though the £300,000 mark has yet to be broken, other beach huts on Mudeford Spit have come close.
Early last year, a 212 sq ft hut sold for £275,000 — £50,000 more than the average UK house price — and another, priced at £270,000 with harbour views, is also currently on sale with Denisons.
The beach huts have steadily increased in value over the years, in line with the rising popularity of their seaside location.
“We are very lucky to live in such a popular area, and we find both locals and buyers from out of the area all want their own coastal escape,” says Dancer.
“While the demand is still high, I can’t see any reason why the huts shouldn’t appreciate in value. A number of huts I have sold have gone for in excess of the asking price.”
Hagen Rose, founder of online community Beach-Huts.Com, believes beach huts are so popular because they are “part of our culture and often part of the family history”.
“Beach huts capture the imagination in many ways and outdoor life is booming, from camping and foraging to kayaking and outdoor swimming” he said.
“They offer a great way of coping with the challenges of the British weather — a shelter from the wind and rain to enjoy hot soup and bacon sandwiches!”